Does this mean my liver is unhealthy?

The 'liver' in Korean medicine refers to a broader functional system than the anatomical liver. The pattern identification of Gan-yang-sang-hang and abnormal liver enzyme levels are different concepts.

What other patterns are observed together?

We check for heat sensations in the face and head, redness, headache, dizziness, tension in the neck and shoulders, irritability, and changes in sleep and blood pressure.

What should be differentiated first?

If there are urgent signs such as sudden severe headache, paralysis, slurred speech, or chest pain, immediate medical evaluation is required.

How is it distinguished from Gan-hwa?

While both are associated with upper body heat and tension, Gan-yang-sang-hang emphasizes patterns that shift upward, such as dizziness and headaches. In actual practice, we distinguish them by checking blood pressure and neurological symptoms within the overall pattern identification.

Gan-yang-sang-hang is not the same as elevated liver enzymes or high blood pressure

In Korean medicine, Gan-yang-sang-hang describes a pattern where symptoms such as dizziness, headache, facial heat, tinnitus, and tension are biased toward the upper body. It does not mean the anatomical liver moves upward or that actual body temperature concentrates in the head, and it is not determined by a single symptom alone.

Commonly confused terms and their differences: Liver diseases are confirmed through blood tests and imaging, while hypertension and arrhythmia are confirmed through blood pressure, pulse, and necessary cardiac tests. The term Gan-yang-sang-hang is not a diagnostic name for these diseases, and sudden headaches or neurological symptoms should not be dismissed as the same as a usual pattern identification.
Information to record before your visit: Please record the onset time and location of the headache or dizziness, whether it occurred suddenly or gradually, and the blood pressure and pulse at that time. You should also provide information on facial flushing, tinnitus, vision changes, nausea, sleep, tension, caffeine, alcohol, new medications, and a history of cerebrovascular or cardiac diseases.
Scope of this material: WHO data was used to define the scope of the traditional medicine term Gan-yang-sang-hang, and MedlinePlus data was used to explain the differentiation process through symptoms, medical history, and tests. This page does not diagnose headaches or hypertension, nor does it guarantee the efficacy of Korean medicine treatments. In case of sudden extreme headache, one-sided paralysis, slurred speech, loss of vision, or fainting, contact 119 immediately.

Official References

Medical staff who wrote and reviewed this article

Choi Yeon-seung

Chief Director of Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic

The meaning of Gan-yang-sang-hang, the scope of differentiation, and patient guidance expressions have been reviewed. The last review date was August 25, 2026.

Graduated from Kyung Hee University College of Korean Medicine
Providing Korean medicine treatment since 2010
Symptom treatment from the perspective of heat-cold balance and constitution

Check medical evaluation criteria for my symptoms View full profile

Check the guides where these terms are used

Symptom and Disease GuideFacial Flushing

Symptom and Disease GuideUpper-Heat Lower-Cold Syndrome

Symptom and Disease GuideHwabyeong

Heat and Cold ColumnCauses of facial flushing: How to distinguish between thyroid issues, menopause, medication, and heat-cold imbalance?

We categorize the causes of facial flushing into thyroid issues, menopause, medication, skin reactions, and heat-cold imbalance, and explain how the direction of herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment varies by cause.

Heat and Cold ColumnMy face feels hot; the cause varies depending on redness, sweating, and palpitations

When the face feels hot, we distinguish between actual skin temperature and the sensation of burning, and provide guidance on the causes and directions for Korean herbal medicine treatment based on redness, sweating, palpitations, and coldness in the hands and feet.

Heat and Cold ColumnTreatment varies depending on the cause of chest heat sensation, such as heartburn, throbbing, or tension

We distinguish whether chest heat sensation is heartburn after meals or upper-body heat accompanying throbbing, and explain herbal medicine and acupuncture treatments that vary based on digestion, tension, or deficiency heat.

Medical GuideWhat else should I examine when my face feels hot or heat rises to my face?

Facial heat sensations can be divided into facial flushing where redness is visible, upper body heat where only heat is felt, and patterns where sweating and palpitations occur together. Even if there are no abnormalities in tests, sharing the time of occurrence and accompanying symptoms can help find a more specific direction for Korean medicine treatment.

Medical GuideIf my face is hot and my feet are cold, is it Sangyeol-Hahan (upper heat, lower cold)?

Even if test results are normal, heat in the face and coldness in the feet and lower abdomen are real symptoms that can disrupt sleep, meals, and outings. In Korean medicine, this is viewed as a distribution of heat and cold known as Sangyeol-Hahan, and the treatment direction is determined based on the timing and sequence of upper and lower symptoms and their connection to sweating, throbbing, digestion, and sleep.

Comparison of similar terms

Symptom ExpressionUpper Body Heat Sensation

Facial heat sensation is a term used to describe symptoms where the face, head, or chest feels flushed or as if heat is surging upward. We distinguish between menopausal symptoms, thyroid issues, medication side effects, and tension responses; for symptoms that persist after medical tests, we examine the distribution of heat and cold along with accompanying changes.

Korean Medicine ConceptLiver fire

Liver fire is a category in Korean medicine used to determine if heat sensations in the face, eyes, and head, redness, headaches, and dry mouth appear following irritability or tension. This is not the same as hepatitis or liver dysfunction.

Korean Medicine ConceptHeat syndrome

Heat syndrome refers to a tendency where various body signals converge toward a 'hot' direction. It is not a disease name referring to fever caused by infection or thyroid disease, so necessary differential diagnosis is required first.

Medical TerminologyCold-Heat Pattern Identification

Pattern identification (Byeon-jeung) is the process of examining the location and timing of heat or cold sensations, as well as accompanying patterns such as sleep, digestion, and sweating, through medical interviews and physical examinations. It is not a substitute for medical tests or diagnoses.