↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method β technique below follows standard Excess/Deficiency treatment principle for each pattern, not tied to a specific point-by-point source.
Clinical manifestations: Cramping abdominal pain leading to diarrhoea, eased after a bowel movement; alternating loose stools and constipation; rib-side distension; irritability with sighing; excess gas; brought on by emotional stress, frustration, anger, irregular eating, cold raw food, or overwork; eased by calming activity, warmth on the abdomen, small regular meals, or warm cooked food.
Tongue: Normal or slightly Pale body, possibly tooth-marked, thin white coating (possibly slightly greasy). Pulse: Wiry, left Middle position.
Treatment principle: Soothe the Liver, strengthen the Spleen.
2. Liver-Qi Stagnation with Spleen-Qi Deficiency Transforming into Heat
Clinical manifestations: Distending rib pain worse with stress; urgent, burning diarrhoea after meals or stress; irritability; bitter taste; brought on by emotional stress and frustration, spicy or greasy food, alcohol and caffeine, or irregular eating; eased by stress reduction, cooling foods, gentle exercise, or regular mealtimes.
Tongue: Red body, Redder at the sides, tooth-marked, thin-to-moderately-thick yellow greasy coating. Pulse: Wiry, Rapid.
Treatment principle: Soothe the Liver, clear Heat.
Clinical manifestations: Cramping abdominal pain with an urgent need to defecate; burning at the anus; foul-smelling yellow-brown sticky stools, sometimes with mucus or blood; a feeling of incomplete evacuation; heaviness of the body and limbs; thirst; brought on by spicy, greasy or fried food, alcohol and rich desserts, hot humid weather, emotional stress or anger, or overeating; eased by light bland cooling food, warm water or barley tea, rest in a calm environment, or a full bowel movement.
Tongue: Red body, thick yellow greasy coating (thickest at the centre and root). Pulse: Slippery, Rapid.
Treatment principle: Clear Heat, resolve Dampness.
Note: no moxa.
Clinical manifestations: Dull abdominal pain eased by warmth and pressure; loose watery stools with undigested food; feeling cold easily, with cold hands and feet; poor appetite and bloating; deep fatigue and heaviness; brought on by cold raw food, cold weather, overeating, fatigue, or prolonged stress; eased by warmth on the abdomen, warm cooked food, rest, ginger tea, or gentle walking.
Tongue: Pale, puffy, tender, tooth-marked, white slippery coating. Pulse: Deep, Slow, Weak at the right Guan (Spleen) position.
Treatment principle: Warm and tonify Spleen-Yang.
Note: moxa applicable; Ren-8 is moxa only, not needled.
Clinical manifestations: Hard, pellet-like stools; constipation with dry stools; bitter taste; irritability and explosive anger; distending or burning rib pain; thirst; brought on by spicy food, stress and anger, alcohol, or irregular eating; eased by cooling foods, stress management, gentle exercise, or peppermint tea.
Tongue: Red body, Redder at the sides, yellow coating. Pulse: Wiry, Rapid.
Treatment principle: Soothe the Liver, clear Heat, unblock the bowels.
Note: no moxa.
Clinical manifestations: Early-morning diarrhoea (δΊζ΄ζ³»); cold, aching lower back and knees; feeling cold all over, especially the lower body; frequent night urination; deep fatigue and low spirits; pale complexion; brought on by cold or raw food and iced drinks, cold damp weather, overwork and exhaustion, late nights, or sitting on cold surfaces; eased by warm drinks and soups, a heating pad on the lower back or abdomen, rest and staying warm, moxibustion, or cooked ginger and cinnamon.
Tongue: Pale, puffy, tender, tooth-marked, wet white coating. Pulse: Deep, Slow, Weak at the Chi positions.
Treatment principle: Warm and tonify Kidney-Yang.
Note: moxa applicable.