↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.
Clinical manifestations: Irritability or short temper, frequent sighing, chest tightness or rib-side distension, feeling of a lump in the throat, speech delay worsens with emotional upset.
Tongue: Normal or slightly dark body with red or purplish sides, thin white coat. Pulse: Wiry.
Treatment principle: Soothe Liver-Qi to restore the smooth flow of Qi to the tongue and mind, enabling emotional expression through speech.
Note: no moxa. Direct match with this site's own Liver-Qi-stagnation slide.
Clinical manifestations: Intense irritability and quick temper, flushed red face, bitter taste in the mouth and thirst, restless sleep or disturbing dreams.
Tongue: Red body with redder sides, dry yellow coating, possible red prickles. Pulse: Wiry and rapid.
Treatment principle: Drain excess Liver-Fire and cool Heat to calm the spirit and restore clarity for speech development.
Note: no moxa. Direct match with this site's own Liver-Fire-blazing slide.
Clinical manifestations: Pale/sallow complexion, poor appetite with bloating and loose stools, fatigue and lack of energy, easily startled or anxious, quiet withdrawn demeanor, speech delay without obvious frustration.
Tongue: Pale, tender body with teeth marks and a thin white coating. Pulse: Fine and weak, especially at left Cun and right Guan.
Treatment principle: Tonify Heart-Blood and Spleen-Qi to nourish the tongue and anchor the mind, providing energy for language development.
Note: moxa applicable on tonifying points. This site's own Spleen-and-Heart-Blood-deficiency slide is a near-exact match — palpitations, poor memory, propensity to be startled, loose stools and poor appetite appear there almost word for word.
Clinical manifestations: Overall developmental delay (late walking, late teething), poor memory and concentration, weak lower back and legs, frequent urination especially at night, pale face lacking vitality.
Tongue: Pale, thin body with little or no coating, possible fine cracks. Pulse: Fine and deep, weak at both rear positions.
Treatment principle: Nourish Kidney-Yin and Essence to support brain maturation, marrow development, and tongue function underlying more profound developmental delays.
Note: moxa strongly indicated throughout. Direct match with this site's own Kidney-Essence-deficiency slide.
Clinical manifestations: Delayed or slurred speech, blank staring expression, excessive drooling or saliva, rattling or gurgling sound in the throat, mental dullness or apathy.
Tongue: Pale and swollen with a thick white greasy coating, possibly stiff or sluggish. Pulse: Slippery.
Treatment principle: Clear pathological Phlegm obstructing the Heart's orifice and free the tongue, restoring mental clarity and speech articulation.
Note: no moxa. This site's Phlegm-misting-the-Mind slide is functionally the same category (Phlegm obstructing the Heart's orifices) under a different name, so it is linked here.