↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.
1. Toxic-Heat
Clinical manifestations: Purple-red heliotrope rash on the eyelids, raised scaly papules on the knuckles, burning sensation in the muscles and skin, intense thirst with desire for cold drinks, restlessness and irritability.
Tongue: C Pulse: l
Treatment principle: red body with prickly raised papillae, dry yellow coating,rapid and forceful, often slippery and full
2. Wind-Damp
Clinical manifestations: Heaviness and soreness in the limbs, muscle stiffness especially in the morning, moist or weeping skin rashes, wandering muscle or joint pain, worse with damp weather.
Tongue: D Pulse: i
Treatment principle: normal or slightly pale body with a white greasy coating,floating and soggy
Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing or boring pain in the muscles, pain worsens at night, purplish or dark skin patches or mottling, dark complexion or purplish lips, muscle stiffness with tender hard spots.
Tongue: I Pulse: n
Treatment principle: dark purple body with stasis spots, distended dark sublingual veins,choppy or wiry
4. Qi and Blood Deficiency
Clinical manifestations: Progressive muscle weakness and atrophy, dry pale or sallow skin, pale lips and nail beds, persistent fatigue and shortness of breath, poor appetite and loose stools.
Tongue: T Pulse: o
Treatment principle: pale body, may be thin or show teeth marks on the edges, thin white coating,fine and weak, especially in the right middle position
Clinical manifestations: Muscle weakness with atrophy, night sweats, heat in the palms, soles and chest, lower back and knee soreness, dry mouth and throat.
Tongue: N Pulse: o
Treatment principle: red, thin body with cracks, little or no coating, dry surface,fine, rapid, and wiry, weak at the left rear position