↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.
Clinical manifestations: Bright red, swollen, burning lips; foul breath; intense thirst for cold drinks; constipation with dry, hard stools; swollen or bleeding gums.
Tongue: Red with thick, dry yellow coating. Pulse: Rapid, slippery, forceful, especially at the right middle position.
Treatment principle: Clears Stomach Heat and cools the Blood.
Note: no moxa.
Clinical manifestations: Swollen lips with oozing or small blisters; a sticky or bitter taste; bloating; loose, sticky stools; a heavy, tired feeling.
Tongue: Red, possibly swollen, thick yellow greasy coating. Pulse: Soggy and rapid.
Treatment principle: Clears Heat and drains Dampness from the Middle Burner.
Note: no moxa. Linked to this site's own Damp-Heat-in-the-Stomach slide.
Clinical manifestations: Dry, cracked, peeling lips, chronic in nature; worse in the evening or at night; night sweats; a dry mouth; a thin, dry tongue with cracks.
Tongue: Red, thin, dry, cracks, minimal coating. Pulse: Fine and rapid.
Treatment principle: Nourishes Yin and clears deficiency Heat.
Note: no moxa. Linked to this site's own Kidney-Yin-deficiency-Empty-Heat-blazing slide.
4. Qi Deficiency Causing Blood Stagnation
Clinical manifestations: Dark purplish or dusky lip sores; a hard, rough, thickened surface; fixed stabbing pain; fatigue; shortness of breath; a pale or dusky complexion.
Tongue: Pale-dark or pale-purple, possible stasis spots. Pulse: Deep, fine or weak, choppy.
Treatment principle: Tonifies Qi and invigorates Blood to resolve stasis.
Note: moxa is appropriate. No combined Qi-Deficiency-causing-Blood-Stagnation slide exists on this site's decks — no pattern link is given here.
Clinical manifestations: Sudden onset with fever and chills; sore throat and headache; lip redness, swelling, with tiny blisters; thirst.
Tongue: Red tip and edges, thin yellow coating. Pulse: Floating and rapid.
Treatment principle: Disperses Wind-Heat and resolves toxicity.
Note: no moxa.