↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.
Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing chest pain; purple or dark lips and nails; pain radiating to the shoulder and arm; choppy or knotted pulse.
Tongue: Dark purple with stasis spots, distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Choppy or knotted, especially at the left front position.
Treatment principle: Invigorates Blood, dispels stasis and opens the chest.
Note: no moxa.
2. Phlegm in the Chest
Clinical manifestations: Heavy, oppressive chest sensation; nausea or vomiting of sticky phlegm; fullness behind the breastbone; poor appetite; cough with white sticky sputum.
Tongue: Pale, swollen, tooth-marked, thick white greasy coat. Pulse: Slippery, often wiry.
Treatment principle: Unblocks Yang, resolves Phlegm, regulates Qi and widens the chest.
Note: Mixed Deficiency/Excess. This site's decks have no Phlegm-in-the-Chest slide — no pattern link is given here.
Clinical manifestations: Severe, vice-like chest pain worse with cold; cold sweating; dark or purplish lips; pain radiating to the shoulder and inner arm.
Tongue: Purple or dark, possible stasis spots, thin white coat. Pulse: Knotted or deep and slow.
Treatment principle: Warms chest Yang, expels Cold, opens the vessels and relieves constriction.
Note: moxa on REN-8 is appropriate.
4. Qi and Yin Deficiency
Clinical manifestations: Dull, oppressive chest discomfort; profound fatigue worse on exertion; dry mouth with little thirst; night sweats; palpitations when tired; dizziness; weak voice.
Tongue: Red or pale-red, thin or absent coat, possibly cracked and dry. Pulse: Fine, weak, often rapid.
Treatment principle: Tonifies Qi, generates fluids and nourishes Yin.
Note: no moxa (Yin deficiency with heat signs). No combined Qi-and-Yin-deficiency slide exists — no pattern link is given here.
5. Qi Deficiency Causing Blood Stagnation
Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing chest pain; severe fatigue at rest; shortness of breath on minimal exertion; pale face with a greyish tinge; weak voice; reluctance to speak.
Tongue: Pale with a purplish tinge, stasis spots, tooth marks, distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Deep, fine or weak, and choppy.
Treatment principle: Tonifies Qi, invigorates Blood, dispels stasis and unblocks the channels.
Note: Mixed Deficiency/Excess. No single deck slide combines Qi deficiency with Blood stasis — no pattern link is given here.
6. Heart and Kidney Disharmony with Kidney Yang Deficiency
Clinical manifestations: Severe constricting chest pain worse with cold and fatigue; cold lower back, knees and legs; heat or flushing in the upper body; palpitations with restlessness; frequent clear urination.
Tongue: Pale, puffy, tooth-marked, moist white coat; tip may be slightly redder. Pulse: Deep, slow, weak, especially at the left rear position.
Treatment principle: Tonifies Kidney Yang, warms the Gate of Life Fire and warms the channels.
Note: moxa is appropriate. This site's Kidneys-and-Heart-not-harmonized slide describes the Yin-deficiency version, so it is not linked here.