↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.
Clinical manifestations: Poor appetite, bloating after eating, loose or unformed stools, fatigue and weakness, pale or sallow complexion.
Tongue: Pale, puffy body with tooth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Weak, soft, and empty at right Guan.
Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, strengthen the Spleen, harmonize the Stomach.
Note: moxa applicable throughout. Direct name match with this site's own Stomach- and Spleen-Qi deficiency slide.
Clinical manifestations: Dry mouth and throat especially at night, feeling hungry without wanting to eat, dull burning or gnawing stomach discomfort, dry stools or constipation, thirst for small sips.
Tongue: Red body, thin, with a dry centre and little or no coating, cracks may appear. Pulse: Fine and rapid, weak at right middle.
Treatment principle: Protect the Stomach, generate fluids, moisten dryness.
Note: no moxa (Yin-deficiency pattern). Direct name match with this site's own Stomach-Yin deficiency slide.
Clinical manifestations: Weight loss with loose stools triggered by emotional upset, abdominal pain improving after bowel movement, bloating after eating, frequent sighing and irritability.
Tongue: Normal or slightly pale body, possible teeth marks, thin white coating, may be slightly greasy. Pulse: Wiry overall, left Guan distinctly wiry, right Guan softer.
Treatment principle: Strengthen the Spleen, nourish Blood, soften the Liver, drain dampness.
Note: no moxa except tonifying points. Direct name match with this site's own Rebellious-Liver-Qi-invading-the-Spleen slide — irritability, abdominal distension and alternating/loose stools are the same markers named there.
4. Qi and Blood Deficiency
Clinical manifestations: Pale or sallow complexion, dizziness and lightheadedness, heart palpitations, fatigue and weakness, poor appetite.
Tongue: Pale, may be thin or have teeth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine and weak.
Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, nourish Blood, strengthen the Spleen.
Note: moxa applicable throughout. No deck on this site combines Qi and Blood deficiency into one slide, so no pattern link is given here.
Clinical manifestations: Early-morning diarrhea, cold hands and feet, sore and cold lower back and knees, undigested food in stools, puffy pale face with swollen ankles, poor appetite with bloating.
Tongue: Pale, swollen, puffy body with teeth marks, white slippery coating. Pulse: Deep, weak, slow, feeble at Chi and right Guan.
Treatment principle: Warm Yang and disperse Cold, tonify Qi and strengthen the Spleen.
Note: moxa strongly indicated throughout. Direct name match with this site's own Kidney- and Spleen-Yang deficiency slide.