↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.
Clinical manifestations: Bright red, hot, swollen lips with sudden onset; intense thirst for cold drinks; bad breath; sour belching; a burning stomach sensation; constipation with dry stools.
Tongue: Red with possible red prickles at the centre, thick dry yellow coating. Pulse: Rapid, slippery, forceful.
Treatment principle: Clears Stomach Heat, cools the Blood and relieves swelling and pain.
Note: no moxa.
Clinical manifestations: Red, swollen lips that may ooze sticky fluid; bloating and fullness in the upper abdomen; sticky or incomplete bowel movements; a bitter or sticky taste; heavy limbs.
Tongue: Red, possibly swollen with teeth marks, thick yellow greasy coating. Pulse: Soggy and rapid, often slippery.
Treatment principle: Clears Damp-Heat, drains Dampness and reduces the upward surge affecting the lips.
Note: no moxa.
3. Spleen Deficiency with Dampness
Clinical manifestations: Pale, puffy lip swelling without redness or burning; poor appetite and loose stools; fatigue and heavy limbs; chronic swelling.
Tongue: Pale, swollen, teeth-marked, white greasy coating. Pulse: Soggy and slow.
Treatment principle: Strengthens Spleen Qi, drains Dampness and addresses the root deficiency.
Note: moxa is appropriate. No standalone Spleen-Deficiency-with-Dampness slide exists on this site's decks — no pattern link is given here.
4. Yin and Blood Deficiency
Clinical manifestations: Dry, cracked, peeling lips; a dull or darkish lip colour; thirst and a dry mouth especially at night; night sweats; a pale or sallow complexion with possible flushing; dizziness, palpitations, poor memory.
Tongue: Pale to pale-red, thin, dry with cracks, scanty or peeled coating. Pulse: Fine and rapid.
Treatment principle: Nourishes Yin and Blood, generates fluids and moistens dryness.
Note: moxa is appropriate. No combined Yin-and-Blood-deficiency slide exists on this site's decks — no pattern link is given here.
5. Qi Deficiency causing Blood Stagnation
Clinical manifestations: Lips dark purple or pale, thick, lacking elasticity; fatigue and shortness of breath on exertion; chronic, non-resolving swelling.
Tongue: Pale-dark or pale-purple with stasis spots and teeth marks, thin white coat. Pulse: Deep, fine, choppy.
Treatment principle: Tonifies Qi, strengthens the Spleen and invigorates Blood to resolve stagnation.
Note: moxa is appropriate. No combined Qi-Deficiency-causing-Blood-Stagnation slide exists on this site's decks — no pattern link is given here.