↑ 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. Qi and Blood Stagnation
Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing pain that worsens with pressure; a distending or bloating sensation in the chest and ribs; emotional tension, irritability, or mood swings; brought on by stress and emotional upset, pressure on the ribs, prolonged inactivity, or cold weather; eased by gentle movement, warmth on the chest, deep breathing, or emotional calm.
Tongue: Dark purple with scattered stasis spots, distended sublingual veins, thin white coating. Pulse: Wiry, like a taut guitar string, and Choppy, like a knife scraping bamboo.
Treatment principle: Move Qi and invigorate Blood, disperse stagnation in the chest, alleviate fixed rib pain.
Note: no moxa. This site's "Liver-Blood stasis" slide is gynecological/hepatic-framed with no chest or rib-pain content, so no pattern link is given here.
2. Blood Stagnation with Heat
Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing rib pain at the costochondral junctions; local redness and swelling; a sensation of heat in the chest or a low-grade fever; irritability and restlessness, especially in the evening; pain that is worse at night and with pressure; thirst with a desire to rinse the mouth but not swallow; brought on by stress, spicy or greasy food, hot weather, pressure on the ribs, or alcohol; eased by gentle movement, cool compresses, rest, emotional calm, or cooling foods.
Tongue: Reddish-purple with dark stasis spots, distended veins underneath, thin dry yellow coating. Pulse: Choppy and Rapid, often with a Wiry quality at the left Guan position.
Treatment principle: Invigorate Blood and dispel stasis, clear Heat, open the chest and disperse stagnation.
Note: no moxa. No deck slide on this site combines Blood stasis with Heat and a local chest/rib-pain framing, so no pattern link is given here.
3. Wind-Heat
Clinical manifestations: An acute onset with fever and chills; sharp rib pain; a sore throat; thirst; a sudden onset; brought on by exposure to wind and heat, or an external pathogen; eased by rest in a calm environment, cooling foods and drinks, or gentle chest breathing exercises.
Tongue: Red tip and edges with thin yellow coating. Pulse: Floating, Rapid.
Treatment principle: Disperse Wind-Heat, clear Heat, resolve toxicity, release the exterior.
Note: no moxa. This site's "Invasion of Lungs by Wind-Heat" slide is purely respiratory with no rib or chest-pain content, so no pattern link is given here.
4. Qi Deficiency Causing Blood Stagnation
Clinical manifestations: Fixed, dull or stabbing rib pain that worsens with pressure; persistent fatigue and a lack of strength; shortness of breath, especially on exertion; a pale or dusky complexion with possible dark spots; brought on by overexertion, stress, cold weather, raw or cold food, or prolonged inactivity; eased by rest, warmth on the chest, nourishing warm meals, gentle movement, or deep breathing.
Tongue: Pale base with a dark or purplish tinge, possible stasis spots, tooth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Deep, Fine or Weak, Choppy.
Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, invigorate Blood and dispel stasis, unblock the channels and collaterals.
Note: moxa applicable on the Tonify-Qi point. No deck slide combines Qi deficiency with Blood stagnation as its own distinct clinical picture, so no pattern link is given here.
Clinical manifestations: A dull, lingering rib pain that is worse at night; soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees; poor memory and difficulty concentrating; premature greying, hair loss, or loose teeth; general fatigue and a lack of vitality; dizziness, tinnitus, or blurred vision; brought on by overwork, late nights, excessive sexual activity, cold or damp weather, or prolonged standing or heavy lifting; eased by rest, early nights, warmth on the lower back, or nourishing warm meals.
Tongue: Pale, thin, little or no coating, possible fine cracks. Pulse: Fine, Deep, Weak, especially at both Chi (rear) positions.
Treatment principle: Nourish Kidney-Yin, benefit Essence and fill the marrow, strengthen the bones, relieve chronic chest pain.
Note: moxa applicable on the tonify points.