↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.
1. Qi Deficiency Causing Blood Stagnation
Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing pain worse with pressure; persistent fatigue; shortness of breath; pale or dusky complexion; numbness or tingling.
Tongue: Pale with a purplish tinge, stasis spots, tooth marks, thin white coat. Pulse: Deep, fine or weak, and choppy.
Treatment principle: Tonifies Qi and invigorates Blood to address both the root deficiency and the branch stagnation.
Note: Mixed Deficiency/Excess. No single deck slide combines Qi deficiency with Blood stagnation — no pattern link is given here.
Clinical manifestations: Dull, aching joint pain worse at night; soreness of the lower back and knees; night sweats with heat in the palms, soles and chest; dry eyes; flushed cheekbones; insomnia with vivid dreams.
Tongue: Red, thin, cracked, little or no coat, dry. Pulse: Fine, rapid, wiry; weak at the left rear position.
Treatment principle: Nourishes Kidney and Liver Yin to restore lubrication and cool Empty-Heat.
Note: no moxa (Yin deficiency with heat signs).
3. Spleen Deficiency with Dampness
Clinical manifestations: Heaviness in the limbs and joints; loose or unformed stools; abdominal bloating; poor appetite; a sticky sensation in the mouth; difficulty with weight.
Tongue: Pale, swollen, tooth-marked, white greasy moist coat. Pulse: Soggy and slow, soft, lacking force at the right middle position.
Treatment principle: Strengthens the Spleen and drains Dampness to restore nourishment to the connective tissues.
Note: Mixed Deficiency/Excess. No deck slide combines Spleen deficiency with Dampness — no pattern link is given here.
4. Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp
Clinical manifestations: Aversion to cold; cold hands and feet; joint pain worse in cold, damp weather; heavy limbs; preference for only warm drinks.
Tongue: Pale, swollen, tooth-marked, white greasy moist coat. Pulse: Deep, slow, fine; may feel soggy if Dampness dominates.
Treatment principle: Warms Yang and dispels Cold-Dampness to restore the body's internal fire.
Note: moxa is strongly indicated.
Clinical manifestations: Low-grade afternoon or evening fever; night sweats; heat sensation in the palms, soles and chest; dry mouth and throat worse at night; flushed cheekbones; restlessness and insomnia; dry stools.
Tongue: Red, thin, dry, cracked, little or no coat. Pulse: Fine and rapid.
Treatment principle: Nourishes Yin and clears deficiency Heat to cool from within.
Note: no moxa (Yin deficiency with heat signs).