↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method — technique below follows standard Excess/Deficiency treatment principle for each pattern, not tied to a specific point-by-point source.
1. Wind-Cold
Clinical manifestations: Sudden-onset facial paralysis; facial muscle tightness and pain; aversion to cold and chills; no sweating; headache and a stiff neck; clear runny nose and sneezing; brought on by sudden exposure to cold wind or drafts, especially on the face, cold air-conditioning, or seasonal changes; eased by warmth and covering the face and neck, warm ginger tea, rest, or a warm compress.
Tongue: Normal or slightly pale body, thin white moist coating. Pulse: Floating, Tight.
Treatment principle: Warm and relax the muscles, reopen the channels blocked by cold contraction, expel Wind-Cold.
Note: moxa applicable.
2. Wind-Heat
Clinical manifestations: Facial redness and warmth; a fever or a sensation of body heat; a sore throat and thirst; sudden-onset facial paralysis; brought on by a hot environment, spicy or fried food, or an acute Wind-Heat invasion; eased by cool drinks, fresh air, avoiding spicy or fried food, or a cool environment.
Tongue: Red tip and edges, thin yellow coating (may be thin white early on). Pulse: Floating, Rapid.
Treatment principle: Disperse Wind-Heat, clear Heat from the face and channels.
Note: no moxa.
3. Wind-Phlegm
Clinical manifestations: Facial numbness and stiffness; a sensation of heaviness in the face; dizziness or vertigo; copious white frothy sputum; chest stuffiness or fullness; brought on by a diet heavy in greasy or sweet food, damp weather, a sedentary lifestyle, or chronic Spleen weakness feeding Phlegm production; eased by warm, plainly-cooked food, staying active, or a dry warm environment.
Tongue: Swollen body with tooth marks, white greasy coating. Pulse: Wiry, Slippery.
Treatment principle: Support the Spleen, resolve Phlegm, expel Wind from the facial channels.
Transform Phlegm, expel Wind
Note: no moxa.
4. Qi Deficiency causing Blood Stagnation
Clinical manifestations: Flaccid facial muscles without tightness; a dull or dusky facial complexion; persistent fatigue and weakness; long-standing or recurrent facial paralysis; fixed, stabbing pain that worsens with pressure; brought on by a long illness left untreated, chronic overwork, or a weak constitution unable to clear the initial Wind invasion; eased by rest, warm nourishing food, gentle facial exercises, or moxibustion.
Tongue: Pale-dark or pale-purple body, possible stasis spots, tooth marks, distended sublingual veins, thin white coating. Pulse: Deep, Fine or Weak, Choppy.
Treatment principle: Rebuild Qi to propel Blood through the facial channels, nourish and activate Blood to heal stagnation.
Note: moxa applicable on the tonifying points.
Clinical manifestations: Dizziness or vertigo; a throbbing or distending headache, especially at the temples; a flushed face and red eyes; irritability and a quick temper; a sensation of heat rising to the face; ringing in the ears; insomnia with vivid dreams; brought on by anger and frustration, stress, lack of sleep, or overwork; eased by a calm environment, avoiding stress and stimulants, rest, or gentle exercise.
Tongue: Red body with red sides, thin dry yellow or scanty coating. Pulse: Wiry, forceful at the left Guan position, may be Fine and Rapid.
Treatment principle: Anchor rising Yang, clear Heat, subdue interior Wind disrupting the facial channels.
Note: no moxa.