↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.
Clinical manifestations: Irritability and a short temper before the period, frequent sighing, breast distension and tenderness, tightness along the ribs; symptoms ease once the period starts.
Tongue: Normal or slightly dark, red or slightly purple sides, thin white coat. Pulse: Wiry, most noticeable at the left middle position.
Treatment principle: Soothe Liver-Qi stagnation and harmonize the Liver and Spleen.
Clinical manifestations: Emotional fragility and tearfulness rather than explosive anger, dizziness, insomnia with vivid dreams, scanty pale menstrual blood, a pale complexion and brittle nails, a dull lingering headache.
Tongue: Pale, especially on the sides, thin and slightly dry, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine and choppy, often wiry at the left Guan.
Treatment principle: Nourish Liver-Blood and regulate menstruation, addressing the root deficiency behind the emotional instability.
Clinical manifestations: Explosive anger and intense irritability, a bitter taste, a red face and eyes, burning or distending rib pain, dry mouth and throat, temple headaches, restlessness.
Tongue: Red, redder on the sides, yellow coating. Pulse: Wiry and rapid, especially strong at the left Guan.
Treatment principle: Soothe Liver-Qi stagnation and clear Heat.
4. Heart and Spleen Deficiency
Clinical manifestations: Palpitations, poor memory, fatigue and exhaustion, poor appetite with bloating, loose stools, anxiety or being easily startled.
Tongue: Pale, tender with teeth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine, weak, possibly choppy; left Cun and right Guan especially weak.
Treatment principle: Nourish Heart-Blood and strengthen Spleen-Qi, calming the mind and restoring energy.
Note: No deck on this site combines Heart-and-Spleen deficiency as a single named pattern, consistent with this site's own Alcoholism, Nocturnal Emission and Hemiplegia pages, so no pattern link is given here.
Clinical manifestations: Hot flushes especially afternoon or evening, night sweats, five-centre heat, dry mouth and throat, dizziness or tinnitus, a sore weak lower back and knees, insomnia with vivid dreams, flushed cheekbones.
Tongue: Red, thin with little or no coating, dry, possible cracks. Pulse: Fine and rapid, often weakest at the rear position.
Treatment principle: Nourish Kidney-Yin and gently anchor the rising empty-heat.
6. Qi Deficiency causing Blood Stagnation
Clinical manifestations: Fixed stabbing pain in the lower abdomen or chest, dark or purplish menstrual blood with clots, extreme fatigue and shortness of breath on exertion, a pale face with a greyish tinge, numbness or tingling in the limbs.
Tongue: Pale with a purplish or dark tinge, possible stasis spots, teeth marks, thin white coat. Pulse: Deep, fine or weak, and choppy.
Treatment principle: Tonify Qi and invigorate Blood to relieve the pain and stagnation.
Note: Confirmed absent again: no deck on this site names a Qi-Deficiency-causing-Blood-Stagnation category on its own.