One-line diagnostic cues per pattern — the minimum symptom set enough to call it. Tap an organ to see its patterns.
Breathless · Weak Voice · Frequent Colds
Slight shortness of breath, a weak voice and an Empty Lung pulse.
"I get out of breath easily, my voice is weak, and I catch colds often."
Dry Cough · Night Sweats
A dry cough, night sweating and a rootless tongue coating in the front area of the tongue.
"I have a dry cough and I sweat at night."
Dry Cough · Dry Throat · Hoarse Voice
Dry cough, dry throat, a hoarse voice and a dry tongue.
"My cough is dry, and my throat and skin feel dry too."
Chills · Sneezing · Fever
Aversion to cold, sneezing, fever and a Floating pulse.
"I suddenly caught a chill — sneezing, runny nose with clear mucus, body aches."
Fever · Sore Throat · Thick Yellow Mucus
Aversion to cold, fever and a Floating-Rapid pulse.
"I have a fever, sore throat, and thick yellow mucus."
Facial Swelling · Breathlessness
Aversion to Wind, sudden swelling of the face and a Floating-Slippery pulse.
"My face suddenly swelled up and I feel a bit breathless."
Cough · Fever · Red Face
Cough, feeling of heat and a Red tongue with a yellow coating.
"I have a cough, feel hot, and my face is red."
Chronic Cough · Profuse White Sputum
Chronic cough with profuse white sputum and a sticky white tongue coating.
"I've had a long-standing cough with lots of white phlegm."
Watery White Sputum · Worse in Cold
Cough with white, watery sputum, phlegm in the throat and a Swollen tongue with a sticky white coating.
"My cough brings up watery white phlegm and it's worse in the cold."
Barking Cough · Yellow-Green Sputum
Barking cough with sticky yellow or green sputum.
"I have a barking cough with thick yellow or green phlegm."
Dry Cough · Scanty Sticky Phlegm
Dry cough with difficult expectoration of scanty phlegm.
"My cough is dry but hard to bring anything up, and my chest feels tight."
Watery Frothy Sputum · Chest Splashing
Cough with expectoration of white, watery, foamy sputum.
"I cough up watery, frothy phlegm and can hear a splashing sound in my chest."
Breathless · Weak Voice · Palpitations
Shortness of breath, weak voice, palpitations and an Empty pulse.
"I get breathless, my voice is weak, and my heart flutters."
Bloody Mucus · Diarrhoea
Abdominal pain and diarrhoea with mucus and blood in the stools.
"I have diarrhoea with mucus and blood, and it burns."
Dry Stools · Burning Anus
Dry stools, a burning sensation in the anus and a thick, yellow, dry tongue coating.
"My stools are dry and hard, and my anus feels like it's burning."
Constipation · Abdominal Pain · Fever
Constipation, abdominal pain, fever and a thick, dry, yellow tongue coating.
"I'm constipated, my belly hurts, and I have a fever."
Sudden Cramping · Diarrhoea · Cold
Sudden abdominal pain, diarrhoea and a feeling of cold.
"I suddenly got cramping and diarrhoea, and I feel cold."
Distension · Bitty Stools
Abdominal distension and pain, bitty stools.
"My belly feels bloated and my stools come out in little pieces."
Dry, Hard Stools
Dry stools which are difficult to discharge, thin body.
"My stools are dry and hard to pass."
Loose Stools · Cold Limbs
Loose stools, dull abdominal pain, cold limbs.
"My stools are loose, my belly aches dully, and my limbs feel cold."
Chronic Diarrhoea · Prolapse
Chronic diarrhoea and prolapse ani.
"I've had diarrhoea for a long time and my rectum feels like it's falling out."
Morning Tiredness · Epigastric Discomfort
Tiredness in the morning, an uncomfortable feeling in the epigastrium and a Weak Stomach pulse.
"I have no appetite and feel tired, especially in the morning."
Better After Eating · Cold Limbs
Discomfort in the epigastrium which is better after eating, tiredness and cold limbs.
"My stomach feels better after eating, and I like warm food and drinks."
Dull Epigastric Pain · Dry Mouth
Dull epigastric pain, dry mouth, and a tongue without coating or with rootless coating in the centre.
"My mouth is dry and I have a dull ache in my stomach."
Distension · Belching · Irritability
Epigastric distension, belching and irritability.
"My stomach feels bloated, I belch a lot, and I'm irritable."
Burning Epigastrium · Thirst for Cold
Burning sensation in the epigastrium, thirst with desire to drink cold liquids and a Red tongue with a thick yellow coating (Phlegm-Heat also adds mental derangement, mucus in stools and expectoration of phlegm with a sticky yellow tongue coating).
"I have a burning pain in my stomach and I'm always thirsty for cold drinks."
Sudden Pain · Vomiting
Sudden pain in the epigastrium, vomiting and a Deep-Tight pulse.
"I suddenly got a bad stomach ache and threw up, and I feel cold."
Nausea · Belching · Hiccup
Nausea, belching and hiccup.
"I feel nauseous, belch a lot, and get hiccups."
Epigastric Fullness · Nausea
Epigastric fullness, nausea and a sticky yellow tongue coating.
"My stomach feels heavy and full, and I feel nauseous."
Fullness · Sour Regurgitation
Epigastric fullness, sour regurgitation and a thick tongue coating.
"My stomach feels full and I burp up sour-tasting food."
Stabbing Epigastric Pain
Stabbing pain in the epigastrium and a tongue with a purple centre.
"I have a stabbing pain in my stomach, worse at night."
Poor Appetite · Tiredness
Poor appetite, epigastric discomfort and tiredness.
"I have no appetite, my stomach feels uncomfortable, and I'm tired."
Dry Mouth · Dry Lips
Dry mouth, dry lips, epigastric discomfort, tiredness.
"My mouth and lips are dry, and my stomach feels uncomfortable."
Tiredness · Loose Stools
Tiredness and loose stools, with a Pale tongue and an Empty pulse.
"I'm tired all the time, have no appetite, and my stools are loose."
Cold · Loose Stools · Tiredness
Loose stools, tiredness and feeling cold, with a Pale, wet tongue.
"I feel cold, my stools are loose, and I'm tired."
Bearing-Down Sensation
Bearing-down sensation, Weak pulse and other symptoms of Spleen-Qi deficiency.
"I feel a heavy, dragging sensation low in my belly."
Easy Bruising · Bleeding
Fine pulse, Pale tongue and bleeding.
"I bruise easily and notice blood in my stools or urine."
Tiredness · Scanty Periods
Tiredness, slight abdominal distension and scanty periods.
"I'm tired, my periods are light, and my belly feels slightly bloated."
Abdominal Fullness · Heavy Head
Abdominal fullness and a sticky white tongue coating.
"My belly feels cold and full, and my head feels heavy."
Fullness · Heaviness · Heat
Abdominal fullness and a sticky yellow tongue coating.
"My belly feels full and heavy, and I feel hot."
Palpitations · Insomnia · Loose Stools
Palpitations, insomnia, loose stools and scanty periods.
"My heart flutters, I can't sleep, and I'm tired with loose stools."
Poor Appetite · Breathless
Poor appetite, tiredness and shortness of breath.
"I have no appetite, feel tired, and get breathless easily."
Loose Stools · Blurred Vision
Loose stools, scanty periods and blurred vision.
"My stools are loose, my periods are light, and my vision is blurry."
Epigastric Fullness · Hypochondrial Distension
Fullness of the epigastrium, hypochondrial distension and a thick sticky yellow tongue coating.
"My belly feels full, my sides ache, and I feel irritable."
Light Palpitations
Light palpitations and other Qi-deficiency symptoms.
"My heart flutters and I get breathless when I exert myself."
Cold Hands · Stuffy Chest
Similar to Heart-Qi deficiency, with cold hands and a stuffy chest.
"My heart flutters, my hands are cold, and my chest feels stuffy."
Extreme Weakness · Blue Lips
Extreme Heart-Yang deficiency with cyanosis of the lips.
"I feel extremely weak and breathless, my lips look blue, and my limbs are cold."
Insomnia · Poor Memory
Insomnia, anxiety and poor memory from the Mind being deprived of its residence, with palpitations from Heart-Qi deficiency.
"I can't sleep well, my memory is poor, and my heart flutters."
Restlessness · Night Sweats
Similar to Heart-Blood deficiency, with mental restlessness, night sweating and other symptoms of Empty-Heat.
"I can't sleep, feel restless, and sweat at night."
Tongue Ulcers · Palpitations
Tongue ulcers, palpitations and heat symptoms.
"I have mouth ulcers, my heart flutters, and I feel agitated."
Agitation · Confusion · Mania
Mental symptoms from Phlegm (loss of insight) and Fire (agitation) obstructing the Heart orifices and disturbing the Mind.
"I feel very agitated and confused, almost manic at times."
Mental Confusion · Throat Rattling
Mental confusion and rattling in the throat from obstruction by Phlegm.
"I feel mentally foggy or confused, and there's a rattling in my throat."
Chest Distension · Lump in Throat
Distension in the chest, a lump in the throat, depression and sighing from emotions causing stagnation in the chest.
"My chest feels tight, I sigh a lot, and I feel low."
Stabbing Chest Pain · Can't Lie Down
Chest oppression with stabbing pain, shortness of breath and inability to lie down.
"I have stabbing chest pain and can't lie flat."
Stabbing Chest Pain · Purple Lips
Stabbing pain in the chest and cyanosis of the lips, usually deriving from Heart-Yang deficiency.
"I have stabbing chest pain and my lips look purple."
Tongue Ulcers · Painful Urine
Abdominal pain, tongue ulcers and scanty, dark and painful urine.
"I have mouth ulcers and burning, painful urination."
Twisting Pain · Borborygmi
Lower abdominal twisting pain, borborygmi and a Deep-Wiry pulse.
"I have a twisting pain low in my belly with rumbling sounds."
Severe Pain · Constipation · Vomiting
Sudden severe abdominal pain, constipation, vomiting and a Deep-Wiry pulse.
"I have sudden, severe belly pain and I'm constipated."
Abdominal Pain · Bad Taste
Abdominal pain and distension, bad taste in the mouth, sallow complexion, plus symptoms specific to the type of worm.
"My belly aches and I have a bad taste in my mouth."
Dull Pain · Borborygmi · Diarrhoea
Dull abdominal pain, borborygmi and diarrhoea.
"I have a dull, rumbling belly ache and diarrhoea."
Burning · Dark Urine
Burning on urination, dark urine and difficult urination.
"It burns when I urinate and my urine is dark."
Difficult · Pale, Turbid Urine
Difficult urination, a feeling of heaviness, and pale, turbid urine.
"Urinating is difficult and my urine looks pale and cloudy."
Frequent, Pale Urination
Frequent, pale, abundant urination and a Deep-Weak pulse.
"I urinate often, a lot each time, and it's pale."
Backache · Feeling Cold
Backache, a feeling of cold and a Weak Kidney pulse.
"My lower back aches, I feel cold, and I pass a lot of clear urine."
Backache · Night Sweats
Backache and night sweating.
"My lower back aches and I sweat at night."
Dribbling · Backache
Dribbling after urination, chronic vaginal discharge and backache.
"I dribble after urinating and my lower back aches."
Breathless on Exertion · Backache
Shortness of breath on exertion, lower backache, pale urination.
"I get breathless just walking, and my lower back aches."
Weak Knees · Hair Loss
Poor bone development in children; weak knees, falling hair and weak sexual activity in adults.
"My knees feel weak, my hair is thinning, and my sex drive is low."
Ankle Oedema · Breathlessness
Oedema of the ankles, breathlessness, a Deep-Weak-Slow pulse and a Pale-Swollen tongue.
"My ankles are swollen and I feel breathless."
Malar Flush · Afternoon Heat
Malar flush, dizziness, tinnitus, a feeling of heat in the afternoon and a Red-Peeled tongue.
"My cheeks flush, I feel hot in the afternoon, and my ears ring."
Dry Eyes · Dry Throat
Dry eyes, dry throat, night sweating, backache and a tongue without coating.
"My eyes and throat feel dry, and I sweat at night."
Palpitations · Tinnitus · Night Sweats
Palpitations, tinnitus, night sweating and a Red tongue without coating, with a redder tip and a midline crack.
"My heart flutters, my ears ring, and I sweat at night."
Dry Cough · Tinnitus
Dry cough, tinnitus and a tongue without coating.
"I have a dry cough, ringing ears, and night sweats."
Backache · Cold · Loose Stools
Lower backache, feeling of cold, loose stools and a Deep-Weak pulse.
"My lower back aches, I feel cold, and my stools are loose."
Night Fever · Delirium
Fever at night, delirium and a Red tongue without coating.
"I have a fever at night and feel confused."
Chest Discomfort · Insomnia
Discomfort of the chest, palpitations and insomnia.
"My chest feels uncomfortable, my heart flutters, and I can't sleep."
Palpitations · Chest Tightness · Thirst
Palpitations, tightness of the chest, thirst, bitter taste and insomnia.
"My heart flutters, my chest feels tight and hot, and I'm thirsty."
Chest Oppression · Mental Symptoms
Oppression and pain of the chest, mental symptoms, and a Red and Swollen tongue with a sticky yellow coating.
"I feel very agitated and confused, with a heavy feeling in my chest."
Palpitations · Chest Distension
Palpitations and a feeling of distension of the chest.
"My chest feels tight and my heart flutters."
Stabbing Chest Pain · Purple Lips
Stabbing chest pain and purple lips.
"I have stabbing chest pain and my lips look purple."
Hypochondrial Fullness · Heaviness
Hypochondrial fullness, a feeling of heaviness and a unilateral sticky tongue coating.
"My skin and eyes look yellowish, and my sides feel full."
Fullness · Bitter Taste
Hypochondrial fullness, bitter taste and a thick sticky yellow coating on the right side.
"My sides feel full, I have a bitter taste, and I look jaundiced."
Timidity · Indecision
Timidity, lack of initiative and indecision.
"I feel timid, indecisive, and easily startled."
Bitter Taste · Genital Itching
Hypochondrial fullness, bitter taste, sticky yellow coating on the right side, and genital skin rashes and itching.
"My sides feel full, I have a bitter taste, and my genitals itch."
Distension · Moodiness
Distension, depression/moodiness, menstrual problems and a Wiry pulse.
"I feel bloated in my sides and chest, and I'm moody or low."
Distension · Irritability · Heat
Distension, more pronounced irritability, a feeling of heat and Red sides to the tongue.
"I feel bloated, irritable, and hot, with outbursts of anger."
Distension · Hiccup · Belching
Liver-Qi rebels horizontally, causing distension, hiccup and belching.
"I burp and feel nauseous, with bloating in my sides."
Dark Clotted Blood · Stabbing Pain
Dark, clotted menstrual blood, stabbing menstrual pain and a Purple tongue.
"My periods are painful with dark clots."
Headache · Red Face and Eyes
Headache, irritability, red face and eyes and other Heat signs.
"I get angry easily, my face and eyes are red, and I have a headache."
Fullness · Heaviness · Nausea
A feeling of fullness and heaviness, nausea and a sticky yellow tongue coat.
"My sides feel full, I have a bitter taste, and I feel nauseous."
Hypogastric Pain to Scrotum
Hypogastric pain referring to the scrotum and a Wiry-Deep-Slow pulse.
"I have pain low in my belly that goes down to my groin, and I feel cold."
Blurred Vision · Scanty Periods
Blurred vision, scanty periods, a dull-pale face and a Pale tongue, more common in women.
"My vision is blurry, my periods are light, and I look pale."
Blurred Vision · Dry Eyes
Blurred vision, dry eyes and a tongue without coating.
"My vision is blurry and my eyes feel dry."
Headache · Irritability
Headache, irritability and a Wiry pulse, deriving from deficiency of Liver- or Kidney-Yin or Liver-Blood.
"I get headaches, feel irritable, and lose my temper easily."
Convulsions · High Fever
Convulsions and high temperature.
"I have a high fever and I'm convulsing."
Tremor · Dizziness · Dry Eyes
Tremor, dizziness and headache with dry eyes.
"I have tremors, dizziness, and a headache with dry eyes."
Tremor · Backache · Night Sweats
Tremor, backache and night sweating.
"I have tremors, my back aches, and I sweat at night."
Tremor · Dizziness · Insomnia
Tremor, dizziness and insomnia with a Pale tongue.
"I have tremors, dizziness, and trouble sleeping."
Tremor · Irritability · Red Face
Tremor, irritability, red face and eyes; more common in the elderly.
"I have tremors and get angry easily — this is more common as I've gotten older."
Fine Tremor · Numbness
Fine tremor, tic, numbness and scanty periods.
"I have a fine tremor or twitch, some numbness, and light periods."
Distension · Alternating Bowel Habits
Abdominal distension, alternating constipation and diarrhoea, due to Wood overacting on Earth.
"I go back and forth between constipation and diarrhoea, with belly pain."
Epigastric Pain · Hiccups
Epigastric pain and oppression, hiccups and belching, due to Liver-Qi interfering with the descending of Stomach-Qi.
"I get stomach pain, burp, and feel nauseous."
Asthma · Headache · Hypochondrial Fullness
Asthma, fullness of the hypochondrium, headache and a Wiry pulse.
"I feel breathless or wheeze, with a headache and full feeling in my sides."
Palpitations · Blurred Vision · Insomnia
Palpitations, blurred vision, insomnia and a Pale tongue.
"My heart flutters, my vision is blurry, and I can't sleep well."