↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.
Clinical manifestations: Feeling of fullness or stuffiness in the chest, chest distension that worsens with emotional upset, frequent sighing or desire to take deep breaths, irritability, belching that temporarily relieves discomfort.
Tongue: Normal body colour with thin white coating, possibly dusky on the sides. Pulse: Wiry, especially at left Guan.
Treatment principle: Soothe the Liver and move stagnant Qi to relieve chest distension and oppression.
Note: no moxa. Direct match with this site's own Liver-Qi-stagnation slide.
Clinical manifestations: Stabbing or pricking pain in a fixed location, worsens at night or with pressure, purple or dark lips and nails, cold hands, anxiety or restlessness during pain episodes.
Tongue: Dark purple body with stasis spots, distended sublingual veins, thin white coat. Pulse: Choppy or knotted, especially at left Cun.
Treatment principle: Invigorate Blood, dispel stasis, and open the chest to relieve fixed stabbing pain.
Note: no moxa. Direct match with this site's own Heart-Blood-stasis slide.
3. Phlegm in Chest
Clinical manifestations: Heavy stuffy sensation in the chest, dull aching discomfort behind the breastbone, cough with copious white sticky phlegm, overall heaviness.
Tongue: Pale, swollen tongue with teeth marks and a thick white greasy coating. Pulse: Slippery, possibly wiry.
Treatment principle: Open the chest, transform Phlegm, and unblock Yang to resolve oppressive heaviness.
Note: no moxa. No deck on this site has a combined Damp-Phlegm category outside the Lungs, a confirmed and recurring absence, so no pattern link is given here.
Clinical manifestations: Distending or pressure-like pain in the chest and ribs, worsens with emotional stress, frequent sighing, irritability or mood swings, pain that comes and goes with mood.
Tongue: Normal or slightly red body with red/purplish sides, thin white coat. Pulse: Wiry, especially at left middle position.
Treatment principle: Soothe the Liver, move Qi, and relieve chest and rib-side distension caused by emotional constraint.
Note: no moxa. Same underlying Liver-Qi-stagnation slide as pattern 1 — the source distinguishes a chest-focused presentation from a rib/emotional-focused one, but this site's single slide covers both.
Clinical manifestations: Dull constricting chest pain, pain improves with warmth and rest, cold hands and feet, bright pale or white face, palpitations worsening with exertion, fatigue and low energy.
Tongue: Pale, puffy and tender with teeth marks and a white slippery coating. Pulse: Deep and weak, especially at left Cun, may be knotted with irregular pauses.
Treatment principle: Warm and restore Heart-Yang to unblock chest constriction and restore warmth and circulation.
Note: moxibustion strongly indicated on REN-17 and BL-15. Direct match with this site's own Heart-Yang-deficiency slide.
6. Qi and Yin Deficiency
Clinical manifestations: Mild lingering chest discomfort (not sharp or stabbing), worsens with exertion, fatigue and shortness of breath, dry mouth with little desire to drink.
Tongue: Red or pale-red body with a thin or absent coating, dry surface, possibly cracked. Pulse: Fine and weak, may feel rapid.
Treatment principle: Nourish both Qi and Yin to restore vitality and moisten the Heart and chest.
Note: moxa applicable, none on the Yin-nourishing aspect. No deck on this site has a combined Qi-and-Yin-deficiency slide, a confirmed and recurring absence, so no pattern link is given here.