↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.
1. Spleen and Kidney Qi Deficiency
Clinical manifestations: Sagging, loose skin with deep wrinkles; a pale, sallow complexion; chronic fatigue; poor appetite; loose stools; cold hands and feet; soreness of the lower back and knees.
Tongue: Pale, swollen, teeth-marked, white moist coating. Pulse: Deep, weak, fine, especially weak at the right middle and both rear positions.
Treatment principle: Tonifies Qi and Blood, strengthens the Spleen and Kidneys to restore nourishment and plumpness to the skin.
Note: moxa is appropriate. No combined Spleen-and-Kidney-Qi-deficiency slide exists on this site's decks — no pattern link is given here.
Clinical manifestations: Dry, cracked, wrinkled skin, worse in the evening; tidal heat; night sweats; a dry mouth and throat with a desire for small sips; five-palm heat; restlessness and insomnia.
Tongue: Red, thin, dry with cracks, little or no coating. Pulse: Fine and rapid.
Treatment principle: Nourishes Yin and cools deficiency Fire, moistening the Lungs and Stomach to generate fluids.
Note: no moxa (Yin deficiency with heat signs).
Clinical manifestations: Tight, dark or purplish skin; hard, fixed nodules; deep wrinkles; dark circles; rough, dry texture; dark menstrual clots.
Tongue: Dusky or purple with stasis spots, engorged sublingual veins. Pulse: Choppy and uneven, or wiry.
Treatment principle: Invigorates Blood and dispels stasis to restore microcirculation nourishing the skin surface.
Note: no moxa. Linked to this site's own Liver-Blood-stasis slide per the discoloration-marker rule.
4. Phlegm in the Channels, Joints and Muscles
Clinical manifestations: Rough, tightened skin; purplish discoloration; subcutaneous nodules; a heavy or numb sensation; puffy eyelids; chest tightness.
Tongue: Purple with stasis spots, white greasy coating, distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Wiry and choppy, or wiry and slippery.
Treatment principle: Dries Dampness and transforms Phlegm, clearing channel obstruction to restore Qi, Blood and fluid delivery to the skin.
Note: no moxa. This site's decks have no Phlegm-in-the-channels slide, confirmed absent again — no pattern link is given here.
5. Collapse of Yin
Clinical manifestations: Profuse, hot, oily sweat; burning heat with warm extremities; extreme thirst; sunken eyes; an emaciated appearance; intense restlessness.
Tongue: Deep red or crimson, completely dry, no coating (mirror tongue), possibly cracked. Pulse: Fine, rapid, racing, lacking force.
Treatment principle: Rescues and nourishes Yin fluids, generating body moisture to prevent rapid skin shriveling and organ failure.
Note: MEDICAL EMERGENCY — this is a collapse pattern needing immediate emergency care alongside any acupuncture. This site's decks have no Collapse-of-Yin slide — no pattern link is given here.