Zang Fu Patterns
ACR class 4-5
Heart Patterns
Differentiation and Treatment
Deficiency patterns
HEART-QI
DEFICIENCY
• Palpitations, shortness of breath on exertion,
sweating, pallor, tiredness, listlessness.
• Tongue: Pale or normal color.
Severe cases:
midline crack reaching the tip with swelling on
either side.
• Pulse: Empty. Severe cases: Overflowing and
Empty (very superficial and somewhat pounding
with light pressure but empty with heavier
pressure).
• Key symptoms: palpitations, tiredness, Empty
pulse.
• Points: HE-5, P-6, BL‐15, Ren-17, Ren-6.
HEART-YANG DEFICIENCY
• Palpitations, shortness of breath on
exertion, tiredness, listlessness,
sweating, feeling of stuffiness or
discomfort in the heart region, feeling of
cold, bright-pale face, cold limbs
(especially hands).
• Tongue: Pale, wet, Swollen.
• Pulse: Deep-Weak or Knotted.
• Key symptoms: palpitations, feeling of
cold, cold limbs, Deep pulse.
•
Points: HE-5, P-6, BL‐15, Ren-17, Ren-6, Du‐14.
HEART-YANG COLLAPSE
• Palpitations, shortness of breath, weak and
shallow breathing, profuse sweating, cold
limbs, cyanosis of lips, severe cases coma.
• Tongue: Very Pale or Bluish-Purple, Short.
• Pulse: Hidden-Minute-Knotted.
• Key symptoms: cyanosis of lips,
Hidden‐Minute pulse, cold limbs.
•
Points: Ren-6, Ren-4, Ren-8, Du-4, ST-36, P-6, BL-23,
Du-20, Du-14, BL-15.
HEART-BLOOD DEFICIENCY
• Palpitations, dizziness, insomnia, dreamdisturbed sleep, poor memory, anxiety,
propensity to be startled, dull-pale
complexion, pale lips.
• Tongue: Pale, Thin, slightly dry.
• Pulse: Choppy or Fine.
• Key symptoms: palpitations, insomnia,
poor memory, Pale tongue.
•
Points: HE-7, P-6, Ren-14, Ren-15, Ren-4, BL-17, BL-20.
• Palpitations, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep,
HEART-YIN
DEFICIENCY
propensity
to be startled,
poor memory, anxiety,
mental restlessness, "uneasiness",
"fidgetiness", malar flush, feeling of heat
especially in the evening, night sweating, dry
mouth and throat, 5-palm heat.
• Tongue: Red, no coating, tip redder and
swollen with red points, deep midline crack
reaching the tip.
• Pulse: Floating-Empty-Rapid or Fine‐Rapid.
May be Overflowing in Front and Weak in Rear
positions.
• Key symptoms: palpitations, mental
restlessness, feeling of heat, malar flush, Red-
Excess patterns
HEART-FIRE
BLAZING
• Palpitations,
thirst, mouth
and tongue ulcers,
mental restlessness, feeling agitated,
"impulsiveness", feeling of heat, insomnia,
red face, dark urine or blood in urine and
bitter taste.
• Tongue: Red, tip redder and swollen with red
points, yellow coating; may be midline crack
reaching to the tip.
• Pulse: Full-Rapid-Overflowing especially on
the left Front position. It could also be Hasty.
• Key symptoms: tongue ulcers, thirst,
palpitations, Red tongue.
PHLEGM-FIRE
HARASSING
THE
HEART
• Palpitations, bitter taste, insomnia, dream
disturbed sleep, easily startled, incoherent
speech, confusion, rash behavior, tendency
to hit or scold people, uncontrolled laughter
or crying, agitation, shouting, muttering to
oneself, mental depression and dullness; in
severe cases aphasia and coma.
• Tongue: Red, yellow-sticky coating, midline
crack with yellow prickles in it. Tip may be
redder and swollen with red points.
• Pulse: Full-Rapid-Slippery or RapidOverflowing-Slippery or Rapid-Full-Wiry.
•
Points: P-5, HE-7, HE‐ 8, HE-9, P-7, Ren-15, BL-15, Ren-12, ST‐ 40,
PHLEGM MISTING THE MIND
• Mental confusion, unconsciousness,
lethargic stupor, vomiting, rattling sound in
the throat, aphasia.
• Tongue: Thick-sticky-slippery coating,
midline crack reaching the tip with prickles
in it. Tongue‐body Swollen.
• Pulse: Slippery.
• Key symptoms: mental confusion, rattling
sound in throat, sticky-slippery tongue
coating.
•
Points: HE-9, P-5, BL-15, ST-40, Du-26, Ren-12, BL-20.
HEART-BLOOD STAGNANT
•
Palpitations, pain in the heart region which may
radiate to the inner aspect of the left arm or to
the shoulder, discomfort or feeling of oppression
or constriction of the chest, cyanosis of lips and
nails, cold hands.
• Tongue: Purple.
• Pulse: Knotted.
• Key symptoms: pain in the heart region,
cyanosis of lips, purple tongue.
•
Points: P-6, P-4, HE‐7, Ren-17, BL-14, BL-17, SP-10, KI-25.
PERICARDIUM PATTERNS
• Maciocia gives a number of Pericardium
patterns in the 2nd edition of Foundations.
• Some are identical to Pericardium patterns in
4 Levels; others are differentiated from Heart
Patterns by Qi stagnation (Jueyin-Liver
connection) and/or Menstrual symptoms
(Pericardium controls Bao Mai/Uterine
Vessels)
• Points are mostly the same as Heart patterns
but add REN-17, BL-14, P-8, etc
• Blood Deficiency of the Pericardium: Like
Heart Blood deficiency with feeling of
stuffiness and discomfort of the chest,
scanty periods, amenorrhea.
• Pericardium Fire: Like Heart Fire with feeling
of tightness in the chest, heavy periods.
• Phlegm-Fire Harassing the Pericardium:
Like Phlegm-Fire Harassing the Heart with
feeling of oppression in the chest, rapid
breathing and more phlegm signs.
• Blood Stasis of the Pericardium: Like Heart
Blood Stasis with painful periods with dark
Liver Patterns
Excess patterns
STAGNATION
OF
LIVER-QI
• a. Feeling of distension of hypochondrium,
chest, epigastrium or abdomen, sighing.
• b. Melancholy, depression, moodiness, "feeling
wound-up", feeling of lump in the throat.
• c. Irregular periods, painful periods, distension
of breasts before the periods, pre-menstrual
tension and irritability.
• Tongue: body color normal, or with red sides.
• Pulse: Wiry, especially on the left side.
• Key symptoms: hypochondriac and chest
distension, depression, moodiness, Wiry pulse.
LIVER-FIRE BLAZING UPWARDS
•
•
•
•
•
Irritability, propensity to outbursts of anger, tinnitus,
deafness, temporal headache, dizziness, red face and
eyes, thirst, bitter taste, dream‐disturbed sleep,
constipation with dry stools, dark-yellow urine, epistaxis,
hematemesis, hemoptysis.
Tongue: Red body, redder sides, yellow coating, dry.
Pulse: Full-Wiry-Rapid.
Key symptoms: irritability, red face, red eyes, Red
tongue with yellow coating.
Points: LIV-2, LIV-3, GB-20, Taiyang, GB-13, L.I.-11.
• Fullness
and pain of hypochondrium,
chest,
DAMP-HEAT
IN LIVER
abdomen or hypogastrium, bitter or sticky taste,
nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, feeling of
heaviness, yellow vaginal discharge, vulvar
eczema or sores, mid-cycle bleeding or pain,
pain-redness-swelling of scrotum, vaginal or
genital itching or rashes, dark urine, dysuria,
burning urination.
• Tongue: Red body, sticky-yellow coating.
• Pulse: Slippery-Wiry-Rapid.
• Key symptoms: fullness in
abdomen/hypochondrium, feeling of heaviness,
nausea, bitter or sticky taste, sticky yellow
STASIS OF LIVER-BLOOD
• Vomiting of blood, epistaxis, painful
periods, irregular periods, menstrual blood
dark and clotted, abdominal pain,
"masses" in abdomen, purple nails, purple
lips, purple complexion, dry skin.
• Tongue: Purple especially on the sides,
with purplish spots.
• Pulse: Wiry.
• Key symptoms: dark and clotted menstrual
blood, Purple tongue.
•
Points: GB-34, LIV-3, BL-18, BL-17, SP-10, Ren-6.
STAGNATION OF COLD IN
THE LIVER CHANNEL
•
•
•
•
•
Fullness and distension of the hypogastrium with pain
which refers to the scrotum and testis. Straining of the
testis or contraction of the scrotum. In women there
can be shrinking of the vagina. The pain is alleviated
by warmth.
Tongue: Pale, wet, white coating.
Pulse: Wiry-Deep-Slow.
Key symptoms: hypogastric pain referring to scrotum,
Wiry-Deep-Slow Pulse.
Points: Ren-3, LIV-5, LIV-1, LIV-3.
Deficiency Patterns
DEFICIENCY OF LIVER-BLOOD
• Dizziness, numbness of limbs, insomnia,
blurred vision,"floaters" in eyes, scanty
menstruation or amenorrhea, dull-pale
complexion, pale lips, muscular weakness,
muscle spasms, cramps, withered and brittle
nails, dry hair and skin.
• Tongue: Pale especially on the sides which can
assume an orange color, and Dry.
• Pulse: Choppy or Fine.
• Key symptoms: blurred vision, scanty periods,
dull-pale complexion, Pale tongue.
•
Points: BL-18, BL-20, BL-23, BL-17, LIV-8, SP-6, ST-36, Ren-4.
• Dizziness,
numbness
or tingling of limbs,
LIVER-YIN
DEFICIENCY
insomnia, blurred vision,"floaters" in eyes,
diminished night vision, scanty menstruation
or amenorrhea, dull-pale complexion without
luster but with red cheekbones, muscular
weakness, cramps, withered and brittle nails,
very dry hair and skin, depression, feeling of
aimlessness.
• Tongue: normal color, no coating or rootless
coating.
• Pulse: Floating Empty.
• Key symptoms: blurred vision, dry eyes,
uncoated tongue.
Deficiency/Excess Patterns
• Headache
which may beRISING
on the temples,
LIVER-YANG
eyes or lateral side of the head, dizziness,
tinnitus, deafness, dry mouth and throat,
insomnia, irritability, feeling worked-up,
shouting in anger. (N.B.: Many sources
include Kidney symptoms such as weak
sore low back and knees)
• Tongue: Red, may vary with underlying
condition.
• Pulse: Wiry.
• Key symptoms: headache, irritability, Wiry
Pulse.
•
Points: LIV-3, T.B.-5, P-6, G.B.-43, G.B.-38, BL-2, Taiyang extra point,
LIVER-WIND
• The general clinical manifestations of
Liver‐Wind are: tremor, tic, numbness,
dizziness, vertigo, headache and
convulsions or paralysis.
• Internal Wind signs are characterized by
movement or the absence of it, hence
the tremor and convulsions or paralysis
(as in Wind-stroke).
EXTREME HEAT
GENERATING WIND
• High temperature, convulsions, rigidity of the
neck, tremor of limbs, opisthotonos, in
severe cases coma.
• Tongue: Deep-Red, Stiff, thick yellow
coating.
• Pulse: Wiry-Rapid-Full.
• Key symptoms: high temperature,
convulsions, Stiff tongue.
•
Points: LIV-3, Shixuan extra points, Du-20, Du-16, GB-20.
LIVER-YANG RISING
CAUSING WIND
• Maciocia gives three subtypes of this
pattern:
• a) Liver‐Yang Rising deriving from
Liver‐Yin Deficiency
• b) Liver‐Yang Rising deriving from Liver‐
and Kidney-Yin Deficiency
• c) Liver‐Yang Rising deriving from
Liver‐Blood Deficiency
• a) Liver‐Yang Rising deriving from Liver‐Yin
Deficiency
•
Tremor, facial tic, severe dizziness, tinnitus,
headache, hypertension, dry throat, dry eyes,
blurred vision, numbness or tingling of limbs,
poor memory
• Tongue: Normal colored without coating
• Pulse: Wiry-Fine
•
Points: LIV-3, GB-20, L.I.-4, TB-5, Du-19, SP-6, LIV-8, KI-3
• b) Liver‐Yang Rising deriving from Liver‐ and
Kidney-Yin Deficiency
•
same as above but with backache, scanty
urine, night sweats
• Tongue: Normal colored without coating
• Pulse: Wiry-Fine
•
Points: same as above, add KI-6, Ren-4 to nourish Kidney Yin
• c) Liver‐Yang Rising deriving from
Liver‐Blood Deficiency
•
Tremor, dizziness, tinnitus, headache,
hypertension, dry throat, blurred vision,
numbness or tingling of limbs, poor memory,
insomnia
• Tongue: Pale and Thin
• Pulse: Wiry-Fine
•
Points: same as (a), add BL-17, Ren-4 to nourish Blood
LIVER-BLOOD DEFICIENCY
GENERATING WIND
• Fine tremor, dizziness, blurred vision,
numbness or tingling of limbs, poor
memory, insomnia, scanty periods
• Tongue: Pale and Thin
• Pulse: Wiry-Fine
•
Points: LIV-3, GB-20, L.I.-4, TB-5, Du-19, SP-6, LIV-8,
KI-3, BL-17, Ren-4
LIVER COMBINED
PATTERNS
LIVER INVADING THE SPLEEN
•
Irritability, abdominal distension and pain,
alternation of constipation and diarrhea, stools
sometimes dry and bitty and sometimes loose,
flatulence, tiredness.
• Tongue: Red on the sides or Pale.
• Pulse: Weak on the right and Wiry on the left.
• Key symptoms: alternation of constipation and
diarrhea, abdominal distension and pain.
•
Points: LIV-14, LIV-13, G.B.-34, LIV-3, Ren-6, Ren-12, ST-25,
SP-15 ST-36, SP-6, P-6 and SP-4
LIVER INVADING THE
STOMACH
• Irritability, distension and pain in
epigastrium and hypochondrium, fullness
in epigastrium, sour regurgitation,
belching, nausea, vomiting.
• Tongue: Red on the sides or Pale.
• Pulse: Weak on the right and Wiry on the
left.
LIVER-FIRE INSULTING THE
LUNGS
• Breathlessness, asthma, fullness and
stuffiness of the chest and hypochondrium,
cough, yellow or blood-tinged sputum,
headache, dizziness, red face, thirst, bitter
taste, scanty-dark urine, constipation.
• Tongue: Red, redder sides, yellow coating.
• Pulse: Wiry and Slippery.
• Key symptoms: breathlessness, asthma,
fullness of hypochondrium, headache, Wiry
pulse.
•
Points: LIV-2, LIV-14, Ren-17, Ren-22, P-6, LU-7, L.I.-11.
Lung Patterns
Deficiency Patterns
LUNG-QI DEFICIENCY
• Slight shortness of breath, slight cough, weak
voice, spontaneous daytime sweating, dislike
of speaking, bright-pale complexion,
propensity to catching colds, tiredness, dislike
of cold.
• Tongue: Pale.
• Pulse: Empty, esp. right Front position.
• Key symptoms: shortness of breath, weak
voice, Empty Pulse.
•
Points: LU-9, LU-7, Ren-6, BL-13, Du-12, ST-36, Ren-12.
LUNG-YIN DEFICIENCY
• Cough which is dry or with scanty sticky
sputum, weak and/or hoarse voice, dry
mouth and throat, tickly throat, tiredness,
dislike of speaking, thin body or chest, night
sweating.
• Tongue: Normal color, dry without coating
or rootless coating in front.
• Pulse: Floating-Empty and Rapid.
• Key symptoms: dry cough, weak-hoarse
voice, dry throat, night sweating.
•
Points: LU-9, Ren-17, BL-43, BL-13, Du‐12, Ren-4, KI-6,
Ren-12, SP-6, LU-10, LI-11.
LUNG DRYNESS
• Dry cough, dry skin, dry throat, dry
mouth, thirst, hoarse voice.
• Tongue: dry.
• Pulse: Empty, especially on right Front
position.
• Key symptoms: dry cough, dry throat,
hoarse voice, dry tongue which is not
Red.
•
Points: LU-9, Ren-4, KI-6, SP-6, Ren-12, ST-36.
Excess Patterns
INVASION OF LUNGS BY
WIND-COLD
• Aversion to cold, fever, cough, itchy throat,
slight breathlessness, blocked or runny nose
with clear-watery discharge, sneezing,
occipital headache, body aches.
• Tongue: thin-white coating.
• Pulse: Floating-tight.
• Key symptoms: aversion to cold, sneezing,
Floating pulse.
•
Points: LU-7, BL-12, Du-16.
INVASION OF LUNGS BY
WIND-HEAT
• Cough, fever, aversion to cold, cough, sore
throat, blocked or runny nose with yellow
discharge, sneezing, headache, body aches,
slight sweating, slight thirst, swollen tonsils.
• Tongue: slightly Red sides/tip, thin white or
yellow coating.
• Pulse: Floating-Rapid.
• Key symptoms: Fever, aversion to cold, sore
throat, Floating-Rapid pulse.
•
Points: LU-7, L.I.-4, L.L-11, LU-11, Du-14, BL-12, Du-16, GB20, TB-5.
INVASION OF LUNGS BY
WIND-WATER
• Sudden swelling of eyes and face, gradually
spreading to the whole body, bright-shiny
complexion, scanty and pale urination,
aversion to Wind, fever, cough, slight
breathlessness.
• Tongue: White-sticky coating.
• Pulse: Floating-Slippery.
• Key symptoms: sudden swelling of face,
aversion to Wind, Floating-Slippery pulse.
•
Points: LU-7, L.I.-6, L.I.-7, L.I.-4, BL-12, Ren-9, BL-13, Du-26.
LUNG HEAT
• Cough, slight breathlessness, feeling of
heat, chest ache, flaring of nostrils, thirst,
red face.
• Tongue: Red with yellow coating.
• Pulse: Overflowing-Rapid.
• Key symptoms: cough, feeling of heat,
thirst, red tongue with yellow coating.
•
Points: LU-5, LU‐10 LU-7, LU‐1, LI‐11, BL-13.
PHLEGM-HEAT IN THE LUNGS
• Barking cough, profuse sticky yellow or green
sputum, shortness of breath, wheezing, feeling
of oppression of the chest, feeling of heat, thirst,
insomnia, agitation, dizziness, heaviness of the
head.
• Tongue: Red, swollen, thick-sticky yellow
coating.
• Pulse: Slippery-Rapid-Full.
• Key symptoms: cough, yellow or green sputum,
thick-sticky yellow coating, Rapid-Slippery pulse.
•
Points: LU-5, LU-7, LU-10, L.I.-11, LU-1, BL-13, Ren-12, ST-40.
DRY-PHLEGM IN THE LUNGS
• Dry cough with occasional expectoration of
scanty sputum, shortness of breath, feeling of
oppression of the chest, scanty phlegm in the
throat, heaviness in the head, dizziness, dry
throat, wheezing, pasty-dry complexion.
• Tongue: swollen with dry-sticky coating.
• Pulse: Fine-Slippery.
• Key symptoms: Dry cough, occasional
expectoration of scanty sputum, feeling of
oppression of the chest.
•
Points: LU-9, LU-7, KI-6, Ren-12, ST-36, SP-6, BL-13, REN-17,
ST-40
DAMP-PHLEGM IN THE LUNGS
• Chronic cough coming in bouts, profuse white
sticky sputum which is easy to expectorate,
white-pasty complexion, phlegm in the throat,
chest oppression, shortness of breath, dislike of
lying down, wheezing, nausea, feeling of
heaviness, dizziness, heavy head.
• Tongue: Swollen with sticky white coating.
• Pulse: Slippery or Soggy.
• Key symptoms: Chronic cough, profuse white
sputum, thick-sticky white tongue coating.
•
Points: LU-5, LU-7, LU‐ 1, Ren-17, ST-40, P-6, Ren-22, Ren12, Ren-9, BL-20, BL-13.
COLD-PHLEGM IN THE LUNGS
• Cough with expectoration of white‐watery
sputum, aggravated by exposure to cold, cold
feeling, cold hands, phlegm in the throat,
dizziness, feeling of oppression and/or cold in
the chest, feeling of heaviness, heaviness in
the head.
• Tongue: Swollen, wet with sticky white
coating.
• Pulse: Slippery-Slow.
•
Points: Same as Damp-Phlegm pattern, add BL-23.
PHLEGM-FLUIDS
OBSTRUCTING THE LUNGS
• Cough with expectoration of of white-watery
sputum, breathlessness, splashing sounds in the
chest, vomiting of white-watery-frothy sputum,
chest oppression, dizziness, heaviness of the
head, cough which may be elicited by a scare.
• Tongue: Pale body, thick-sticky white coating.
• Pulse: Fine and Slippery or Weak-Floating.
• Key symptoms: cough + white-watery-frothy
sputum.
•
Points: LU-5, LU-9, Ren-17, BL-13, ST-40, BL-43, Ren-12, ST-36,
Ren-9, BL-20, BL-23.
Spleen Patterns
Deficiency Patterns
SPLEEN-QI DEFICIENCY
• Poor appetite, abdominal distension after
eating, tiredness, lassitude, desire to lie
down, pale complexion, weakness of the
limbs, loose stools, depression, tendency
to obesity.
• Tongue: Pale.
• Pulse: Empty.
• Key symptoms: Poor appetite, tiredness,
loose stools.
•
Points: Ren-12, ST-36, SP-3, SP-6, BL-20, BL-21.
SPLEEN-YANG DEFICIENCY
• Poor appetite, slight abdominal distension
after eating, tiredness, lassitude, desire to lie
down curled up, pale complexion, weakness
of the four limbs, loose stools, edema, feeling
cold, cold limbs.
• Tongue: Pale, wet.
• Pulse: Weak, Deep.
• Key symptoms: loose stools, feeling cold, cold
limbs and tiredness.
•
Points: same as for Spleen-Qi deficiency, add SP-9, Ren-9,
ST-28, BL-22.
SPLEEN-QI SINKING
• Any of the symptoms and signs of Spleen-Qi
deficiency with the addition of: bearing down
sensation in the abdomen, prolapse of stomach,
uterus, anus or vagina, frequency and urgency
of urination, menorrhagia.
• Tongue: Pale.
• Pulse: Weak.
• Key symptoms: bearing down sensation, Weak
Pulse.
•
Points: same as Spleen-Qi deficiency, plus Du-20, Ren-6,
ST‐21, Du-1.
SPLEEN NOT
CONTROLLING BLOOD
• Any of the Spleen-Qi deficiency manifestations,
plus: blood spots under the skin, blood in the
urine or stools, excessive uterine bleeding.
• Tongue: Pale.
• Pulse: Weak or Fine.
• Key symptoms: Fine Pulse, Pale tongue,
bleeding.
•
Points: same as Spleen-Qi deficiency, plus: SP-10, BL-17, SP1.
Excess patterns
COLD-DAMPNESS INVADING THE
SPLEEN
• Poor appetite, feeling of fullness of the abdomen
and epigastrium, feeling of cold in the
epigastrium which improves with the application
of warmth, feeling of heaviness of the head and
body, sweetish taste or absence of taste, no
thirst, loose stools, white vaginal discharge,
lassitude, tiredness, nausea, edema, dull-white
complexion.
• Tongue: Pale with sticky-white coating.
• Pulse: Slippery-Slow.
• Key symptoms: abdominal fullness, feeling of
heaviness, sticky tongue coating.
•DAMP-HEAT
Fullness of epigastrium
& lower
abdomen,
poor
INVADING
THE
SPLEEN
appetite, feeling of heaviness, thirst without
desire to drink, nausea, vomiting, loose stools
with offensive odor, burning sensation of the
anus, scanty dark-yellow urination, feeling of
heat, low-grade fever, dull headache, heaviness
of the head, yellow complexion, yellow sclera of
eyes, oily sweat, bitter taste, itchy skin, skin
eruptions, sweating which does not reduce fever.
• Tongue: Red, sticky-yellow coating.
• Pulse: Slippery-Rapid.
• Key symptoms: abdominal fullness, feeling of
heaviness, sticky-yellow coating.
Kidney Patterns
KIDNEY-YANG DEFICIENCY
• Lower backache, cold weak back/knees/legs,
feeling of cold, bright-white complexion,
tiredness, impotence, premature ejaculation,
decreased libido, abundant-clear urination,
night urination, apathy, edema of the legs,
infertility in women.
• Tongue: Pale, Wet.
• Pulse: Deep-Weak.
• Key symptoms: cold in the back, abundantclear urination, Pale tongue, Deep Pulse.
•
Points: BL-23, Du-4, Ren-4, Ren-6, KI-3, KI-7, BL-52, extra
point Jinggong (0.5 cun lateral to BL-52).
KIDNEY-QI
NOT
FIRM
• Soreness and weakness of the back, weak
knees, clear frequent urination, weak-stream
urination, abundant urination, dribbling after
urination, incontinence of urine, enuresis,
urination at night, nocturnal emissions without
dreams, premature ejaculation, spermatorrhea,
chronic vaginal discharge, recurrent miscarriage.
• Tongue: Pale.
• Pulse: Deep-Weak especially in the Rear
positions.
• Key symptoms: dribbling after urination,
nocturnal emissions without dreams.
•
Points: BL-23, Du-4, KI-3, BL-52, Ren-4, extra point Jinggong.
•
KIDNEY-YANG DEFICIENT,
WATER
OVERFLOWING
Edema
of legs and
ankles, cold feeling in legs
and back, fullness and distension of abdomen,
soreness of lower back, feeling cold, scantyclear urination.
• 1. Water overflowing to the Heart: the above
symptoms plus palpitations, breathlessness,
cold hands.
• 2. Water overflowing to the Lungs: the above
symptoms plus thin-watery-frothy sputum,
cough, asthma and breathlessness on exertion.
• Tongue: Pale, Swollen, wet with white coating.
• Key symptoms: edema of ankles, DeepWeak pulse, Pale-Swollen tongue.
• a. Water overflowing to the Heart: all the
above plus palpitations.
• b. Water overflowing to the Lungs: all the
above plus thin-watery-frothy sputum.
•
Points: Du-4, BL-23, BL-22, BL-20, Ren-9, ST-28, SP-9,
SP‐6, KI-7. For Heart add Du-14 (moxa), BL-15. For Lungs
add LU-7, BL-13, Du-12.
KIDNEYS FAILING TO RECEIVE QI
• Shortness of breath on exertion, rapid and weak
breathing, difficulty in inhaling, cough, asthma,
sweating, cold limbs, cold limbs after sweating,
swelling of the face, thin body, mental
listlessness, clear urination during asthma attack,
sore back.
• Tongue: Pale.
• Pulse: Weak, Tight, Deep.
• Key symptoms: shortness of breath on exertion,
sweating, clear urination.
•
Points: KI-3, LU-7, KI-6, ST-36, BL‐ 23, Du-4, Ren-6, Ren-17, KI25, Du-12, KI-7.
KIDNEY-YIN DEFICIENCY
• Dizziness, tinnitus, vertigo, poor memory,
deafness, night sweating, dry mouth / throat at
night, 5-palm heat, thirst, lower backache, ache
in bones, nocturnal emissions, constipation,
dark-scanty urine, infertility, premature
ejaculation, anxiety.
• Tongue: Normal or Red with no coating, cracks.
• Pulse: Floating-Empty and Rapid
• Key symptoms: dry mouth at night, night
sweating, Red-Peeled tongue.
•
Points: Ren-4, KI-3, KI-6, KI-10, KI-9, SP-6, Ren-1.
KIDNEY-YIN DEFICIENT, EMPTY• Malar flush,FIRE
mental restlessness, nightBLAZING
sweats, low-grade fever, feeling of heat in the
afternoon/evening, insomnia, scanty-dark
urine, blood in the urine, dry throat especially
at night, thirst with desire to drink in small sips,
lower backache, deafness, tinnitus, nocturnal
emissions with dreams, excessive sexual
desire, dry stools.
• Tongue: Red-Peeled, cracked, red tip.
• Pulse: Floating-Empty, Rapid.
• Key symptoms: malar flush, dry throat at night,
feeling of heat in the afternoon, Red-Peeled
tongue.
DEFICIENCY
•KIDNEY-ESSENCE
In children: poor bone development,
late closure
of fontanelle, mental dullness or retardation.
• In adults: softening of bones, weak knees &
legs, poor memory, loose teeth, falling hair or
premature greying of hair, weakness of sexual
activity, lower backache, infertility (M/F),
dizziness, tinnitus, dull mental function.
• Tongue: Pale (Yang xu) or no coating (Yin xu).
• Pulse: Floating-Empty or Leather.
• Key symptoms: children: poor bone
development; adults: weak knees, falling hair,
weak sexual activity.
COMBINED
PATTERNS
KIDNEYLIVER-YIN
DEFICIENCY
• Dizziness,AND
tinnitus,
deafness, dull
occipital or
vertical headache, insomnia, numbness of
limbs, malar flush, dry eyes, blurred vision,
lower backache, dry throat, dry hair and skin,
vaginal dryness, night sweating, dry stools,
nocturnal emissions, scanty menstruation or
amenorrhea, delayed cycle, infertility.
• Tongue: Normal or Red with rootless or no
coating.
• Pulse: Floating-Empty (or Choppy).
• Key symptoms: dry eyes, dry throat, night
sweating, scanty menstruation, Red-Peeled
tongue.
KIDNEY AND HEART NOT
HARMONIZED
•
•
•
•
•
Palpitations, mental restlessness, insomnia, dreamdisturbed sleep, anxiety, poor memory, dizziness, tinnitus,
deafness, lower backache, nocturnal emissions with
dreams, fever or feeling of heat in the evening, night
sweating, 5-heart heat, scanty-dark urine.
Tongue: Red-Peeled, tip redder, midline crack reaching
tip.
Pulse: Rapid or Deep weak rear with front Overflowing.
Key symptoms: palpitations, insomnia, night sweating,
Red-Peeled tongue with redder tip and midline crack.
Points: HE-7, HE-6, HE‐5, Yintang, BL-15, Ren-15, GB13, Du-24, KI-3, KI-10, KI-9, Ren-4, P-6, SP-6.
KIDNEY- AND SPLEEN-YANG
DEFICIENCY
• Lower backache, cold weak knees/back, desire
to lie down, abdominal distension, poor appetite,
feeling cold, cold limbs, abundant‐clear or
scanty-clear urination, loose stools, diarrhea at
dawn, edema of the legs, chronic diarrhea,
borborygmi, watery diarrhea.
• Tongue: Pale, wet.
• Pulse: Deep, Weak.
• Key symptoms: chronic diarrhea, feeling of cold
in the back, Deep-Weak pulse.
•
Points: KI-3, KI-7, BL-23, Du-4, BL-20, BL-21, ST-36, Ren-6, ST37, ST-25, BL-25.
Stomach Patterns
STOMACH DEFICIENT & COLD
• Discomfort or dull pain in the epigastrium, better
after eating and better with pressure or
massage, no appetite, preference for warm
drinks and foods, vomiting of clear fluid, no thirst,
cold weak limbs, tiredness, pale face.
• Tongue: Pale, wet.
• Pulse: Deep, Weak, Slow, especially on the right
Middle position.
• Key symptoms: discomfort in the epigastrium
which is better after eating, tiredness, cold limbs.
•
Points: ST-36, Ren-12, BL-20, BL-21, Ren-6.
COLD INVADING THE
STOMACH
• Sudden pain in the epigastrium, feeling cold,
preference for warmth, vomiting of clear fluid,
feeling worse after swallowing cold fluids
which are quickly vomited, preference for
warm liquids.
• Tongue: thick-white coating.
• Pulse: Deep, Slow, Tight.
• Key symptoms: sudden pain in epigastrium,
vomiting, feeling cold, Deep-Tight Pulse.
•
Points: ST-21, SP-4, Ren-13, ST-34.
STOMACH-YIN DEFICIENCY
• No appetite or slight hunger with no desire to
eat, constipation (dry stools), dull or slightly
burning epigastric pain, dry mouth and throat
especially in the afternoon, desire to drink in
small sips, slight feeling of fullness after eating.
• Tongue: Peeled in the centre, or with coating
"without root"
• Pulse: Floating-Empty on the right Middle
position.
• Points:
Ren-12, ST-36, SP-6, SP-3, ST-44.
STOMACH-FIRE
(OR PHLEGM-FIRE)
• Burning epigastric pain, intense thirst with
desire to drink cold liquids, excessive
hunger, mental restlessness, swelling and
pain in the gums, bleeding gums, sour
regurgitation, dry stools, nausea, vomiting
soon after eating, bad breath, feeling of heat.
• In case of Phlegm-Fire: feeling of oppression
of epigastrium, less thirst, mucus in stools,
expectoration of phlegm, mental
derangement.
• Tongue: Red center, yellow-dry coating
(in case of Phlegm-Fire: yellow-sticky
coating).
• Pulse: Rapid Overflowing right middle
position (in case of Phlegm‐Fire:
Slippery, Overflowing, Rapid).
• Key symptoms: burning sensation in
epigastrium, thirst with desire to drink
cold liquids, thick‐yellow coating, Red
tongue.
•
Points: ST-21, Ren-13, ST-44, ST-45, SP-6, Ren-12,
P-6.
DAMP-HEAT IN THE STOMACH
• Fullness and pain of the epigastrium, feeling
of heaviness, facial pain, blocked nose or
thick sticky nasal discharge, thirst without
desire to drink, nausea, feeling of heat,
yellow complexion, sticky taste.
• Tongue: Red, sticky-yellow coating.
• Pulse: Slippery-Rapid.
• Key symptoms: epigastric fullness, feeling of
heaviness, nausea, sticky-yellow coating.
•
Points: SP-9, L.I.-11, LI-4, ST-34, REN-9, REN-11, REN-12,
REN-13, ST-21, ST-25, ST-40, ST-44
RETENTION OF FOOD IN
THE STOMACH
• Fullness, pain and distension of the epigastrium
which are relieved by vomiting, nausea,
vomiting, foul breath, sour regurgitation,
belching, insomnia, loose stools or constipation,
poor appetite
• Tongue: thick coating (could be white or
yellow).
• Pulse: Full, Slippery.
• Key symptoms: epigastric fullness, sour
regurgitation, thick coating.
•
Points: Ren-13, Ren-10, ST-21, ST-44, ST-45, SP-4, P-6.
STASIS OF BLOOD IN THE
STOMACH
• Severe stabbing epigastric pain, may be
worse at night, dislike of pressure, nausea,
vomiting of blood, vomiting of food looking like
“coffee grounds”.
• Tongue: Purple.
• Pulse: Wiry.
• Key symptoms: stabbing pain in the
epigastrium, vomiting of dark blood.
•
Points: Ren-10, ST-21, ST-34, SP-10, BL-17, BL-18.
Small Intestine
Patterns
FULL-HEAT IN THE SMALL
INTESTINE
•
•
•
•
•
Mental restlessness, insomnia, tongue/mouth ulcers, pain in
the throat, deafness, uncomfortable feeling and heat
sensation in the chest, abdominal pain, thirst for cold
liquids, scanty and dark urine, burning painful urination,
blood in urine.
Tongue: Red with redder and swollen tip, yellow coating.
Pulse: Rapid, Overflowing, especially Front position.
Urinary symptoms, will be wiry in rear.
Key symptoms: abdominal pain, tongue ulcers, scanty-darkpainful urination.
Points: S.I.-2, S.I.-5, HE-5, HE-8, ST-39.
SMALL INTESTINE
DEFICIENT AND COLD
•
•
•
•
•
Dull abdominal pain relieved by pressure, desire for
hot drinks, borborygmi, diarrhea, pale and abundant
urination, cold limbs.
Tongue: Pale, white coating.
Pulse: Deep, Slow, Weak.
Key symptoms: abdominal pain, borborygmi, diarrhea.
Points: Ren-6, ST-25, ST-39, ST-36, BL-20, BL-27.
Large Intestine
Patterns
•
•
•
•
•
DAMP-HEAT IN THE LARGE
INTESTINE
Abdominal pain unrelieved by defecation, abdominal fullness,
diarrhea, mucus and blood in stools, offensive odor of stools,
burning in anus, scanty-dark urine, fever, sweating (which
does not decrease the fever), thirst without desire to drink,
feeling of heaviness of the body and limbs.
Tongue: Red, sticky-yellow coating.
Pulse: Slippery, Rapid.
Key symptoms: abdominal pain, diarrhea with mucus and
blood in the stools.
Points: SP-9, SP-6, Ren-3, BL-22, ST-25, BL-25, BL-17, Ren12, L.I.-11, ST-37, BL-20.
HEAT IN THE LARGE
INTESTINE
• Constipation with dry stools, burning
sensation in the mouth, dry tongue, burning
and swelling in anus, scanty-dark urine.
• Tongue: thick-yellow (or brown or black) dry
coating.
• Pulse: Full, Rapid.
• Key symptoms: dry stools, burning sensation
in anus, thick-yellow-dry coating.
• Points: Ren-4, L.I.-11, ST-37, ST-44, L.I.-2,
SP-6, KI-6, Ren‐12.
COLD INVADING THE
LARGE INTESTINE
• Sudden cramping abdominal pain, diarrhea
with pain, feeling of cold, cold sensation in
abdomen.
• Tongue: thick-white coating.
• Pulse: Deep, Tight.
• Key symptoms: sudden abdominal pain,
diarrhea, feeling of cold.
• Points: ST-37, ST-25, ST-36, SP-6, LIV-3, ST27.
LARGE INTESTINE DRY
• Dry stools which are difficult to
discharge, dry mouth and throat, thin
body, foul breath, dizziness.
• Tongue: dry, either Pale or Red without
coating.
• Pulse: Fine.
• Key symptoms: dry stools which are
difficult to discharge, thin body.
• Points:
ST-36, SP-6, KI-6, Ren-4.
LARGE INTESTINE COLD
• Loose stools like duck droppings, dull
abdominal pain, borborygmi, pale urine, cold
limbs.
• Tongue: Pale.
• Pulse: Deep, Weak.
• Key symptoms: loose stools, cold limbs, Fine
pulse.
• Points: ST-25, Ren-6, ST-36, ST-37, BL-25,
BL-20.
Gall Bladder Patterns
GALL-BLADDER DAMP-HEAT
•
•
•
•
•
Hypochondriac pain, fullness and distension, nausea,
vomiting, inability to digest fats, yellow complexion,
scanty and dark yellow urine, fever, thirst without desire
to drink, bitter taste, dizziness, tinnitus, irritability, feeling
of heaviness, numb limbs, foot swelling, loose stools or
constipation, feeling of heat or alternating heat and cold,
yellow sclera.
Tongue: thick-sticky yellow coating, bilateral or unilateral.
Pulse: Slippery, Wiry, Rapid.
Key symptoms: hypochondriac fullness, bitter taste and
thick-sticky yellow coating on the right side.
Points: G.B.-24, LIV-14, Ren-12, G.B.-34, Dannangxue,
Du-9, BL-19, BL-18, BL-20, L.I.-11, T.B.-6.
GALL-BLADDER DEFICIENT
• Dizziness, blurred vision, floaters,
nervousness, timidity, propensity to being
easily startled, lack of courage and
initiative, sighing, waking up early in the
morning, restless dreams.
• Tongue: Pale or normal.
• Pulse: Weak.
• Key symptoms: timidity, sighing, lack of
initiative, indecision.
• Points: G.B.-40.
Bladder Patterns
•
•
•
•
•
DAMP-HEAT IN THE
BLADDER
Frequent and urgent urination, burning on urination, difficult
urination (stopping in the middle of flow), dark-yellow and/or
turbid urine, blood in the urine, sand in the urine, fever, thirst
with no desire to drink, hypogastric fullness and pain, feeling
of heat.
Tongue: Red, thick-sticky yellow coating on the root with red
spots.
Pulse: Rapid, Slippery, slightly Wiry on left Rear position.
Key symptoms: burning on urination, dark urine, difficult
urination.
Points: SP-9, SP-6, BL-22, BL-28, Ren-3, BL-63, BL-66.
DAMP-COLD IN THE
BLADDER
•
•
•
•
•
Frequent and urgent urination, difficult urination (stopping in
mid-stream), feeling of heaviness in hypogastrium and
urethra, pale and turbid urine.
Tongue: white-sticky coating on root.
Pulse: Slippery, Slow, slightly Wiry on Rear position.
Key symptoms: difficult urination, feeling of heaviness, turbid
urine.
Points: SP-9, SP-6, BL-22, Ren-3, ST-28, Ren-9, BL-28.