A Discussion on the Treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome from the Perspective of the Liver, Based on the Liver’s Role in Storing Blood and Housing the Soul

Abstract

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), a common sensorimotor disorder of the nervous system, substantially compromises patients’ quality of life and sleep integrity. Within the framework of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the theory that “the liver stores blood and houses the soul” provides a distinctive lens for understanding the pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies of RLS. In this paper, the theoretical connotations of this principle were thoroughly analyzed, and the association between RLS and dysregulated hepatic physiological and pathological functions was systematically explored. Various liver-based therapeutic approaches were elaborated, including the methods of nourishing Liver blood, soothing Liver qi, pacifying Liver yang, and clearing Liver heat, along with the corresponding formulas and herbal applications. The clinical efficacy of these strategies was substantiated by case studies. Collectively, this review aims to furnish novel insights and a robust theoretical groundwork for the precise and effective clinical management of RLS in TCM practice, thereby broadening the therapeutic horizons of TCM for this disorder.