Pathology Diagrams | Jon Loken Acupuncture

A useful aspect of Chinese Medicine is that it is to some degree possible to predict how illnesses can evolve with time. The following diagrams illustrate how a ‘pattern’ may change into another related pattern. There are of course other ways patterns can develop so this is by no means not an exhaustive representation.

The data behind the diagrams have been put together based on information in the book The Foundations of Chinese Medicine by Giovanni Maciocia.

‘Aetiology’ is due to:

Climatic factors (External) – Wind, Cold, Fire and Heat, Damp, Summer-Heat, Dryness
7 emotions – joy (HE), anger (Liv), sadness/grief (LU) , pensiveness (SP), fear and fright (KID).
Lifestyle (neither internal nor external) – including trauma and injury, drugs

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Spleen Patterns

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Heart Patterns

Heart Qi Xu	Palpitations Tiredness Aetiology: Chronic illness, profuse perspiration, emotional problems Pulse: Empty	Tonify Ht Qi
Heart Yang Xu	Palpitations Cold Hands Aetiology: As above + Kid Yang xu Pulse: Deep-Weak	Tonify Ht Yang xu
Heart Yang Collapse	Cold Limbs Cyanosis of Lips Aetiology: As above, but severe Pulse: Hidden-Minute-Knotted	Rescue Yang Restore consciousness Stop sweating
Heart Blood Xu	Palpitations Insomnia Poor Memory Aetiology: Diet, blood loss Tongue: Pale	Nourish Blood Tonify Ht Calm the Mind
Heart Yin Xu	Palpitations Mental Restlessness Night Sweating Aetiology: anxiety, Shen disturbance, Heat invasion Tongue: Without Coating	Nourish Ht Yin Calm the Mind Clear Empty Heat if present
Heart Fire Blazing	Palpitations Thirst Tongue Ulcers Aetiology: extreme emotions, LQS→Heat (Bitter taste, red face, dark urine) Tongue: Red P: rapid	Clear the Ht Drain Fire Calm the Mind
Heart Blood Stasis	Stabbing Pain in Chest Cyanosis of Lips Aetiology: … Tongue: Purple P: irregular	Move Blood Eliminate stasis Tonify Ht Yang Calm the Mind
Phlegm Misting the Mind (Phlegm Misting The Heart?)	Mental Confusion (due to phlegm obstruction) Rattling Sound in Throat Aetiology: mentally handicapped, Phlegm from greasy cold foods, severe emotional problems + anxiety Tongue: Swollen with Thick Sticky Coating (After Wind-Stroke)	Open Ht Resolve Phlegm
Phlegm Fire Harassing The Heart	Mental Restlessness Mental Confusion (due to phlegm obstruction) Mental Depression & Dullness Aetiology: severe emotional problems, Phlegm from greasy hot foods Tongue: Red with Yellow, Dry, Sticky Coating (Bipolar: Fire that burns off Yin → Yin xu. Then back to Fire, etc)	Clear Ht Drain Fire Resolve Phlegm Calm the Mind

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Kidney/Bladder Patterns

Kidney Essence Xu	Poor Bone Development Weakness of Knees Falling Hair Weakness of Sexual Activity	Tonify Kid Nourish Essence
Kidney Yin Xu – Empty Heat Blazing	Malar Flush Heat in the Afternoon Dizziness Tinnitus Tongue: Red – no coating – peeled	Nourish Kid Yin Clear Empty Heat Calm Mind
Kidney Yin Xu	Night Sweating Lower Backache	Nourish Kid Yin
Kidney Yang Xu – Water Overflowing Kidney Yang Xu – Water Overflowing to Heart Kidney Yang Xu – Water Overflowing to Lung	Oedema – ankles Tongue: Pale, Swollen Pulse: Deep – Weak (Palpitations) (Watery Frothy Sputum)	Tonify Kid Transform Water Warm Sp(Ht\|Lu) Yang
Kidneys Failing to Receive Qi	Shortness of Breath on Exertion Clear Urination
Kidney Qi Not Firm	Backache Dribbling After Urination Chronic White Vaginal Discharge	Tonify Kid Stimulate Kid receiving Qi Stimulate descending of Lung qi
Kidney Yang Xu	Backache Abundant Clear Urination Pale Tongue Deep Pulse	Tonify Kid Strengthen MingMen fire

Bladder
Function: BL removes water by Qi transformation.

Damp Heat in Bladder	Frequent, burning urination Difficulty weeing – stops midflow Dark yellow/turbid Blood in urine Thirst, but no desire to drink T: sticky, yellow + red spots. P: Slippery-rapid	Resolve Dampness Clear Heat Open Water passage of LJ
Damp Cold in Bladder	Frequent urination Difficulty weeing – stops midflow Pale turbid urine Heavy hypogastrium T: white sticky @ root P: slippery + slow	Resolve Dampness Expel Cold Open Water passage of LJ
Bladder xu and Cold	Frequent pale abundant urination Incontinence Lower back ache, dizziness Nocturia White discharge Feeling cold T: Pale, wet P: Deep, weak	Tonify +warm BL Tonify + warm Kid

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Liver Patterns

Liver Yang Rising – Causing Wind	Tremor Dizziness Tinnitus Headache Hypertension Dry Throat Blurred Vision Poor Memory Numbness / tingling limbs Pulse: Wiry-Fine	Subdue Liv Yang Nourish Yin or Blood
Liver Blood Xu – Causing Wind	Fine Tremor Dizziness Blurred Vision Poor Memory Numbness / tingling limbs Insomnia Scanty Menses Facial Tic Tongue: Pale, Thin Pulse: Wiry-Fine	Nourish Liv Blood Extinguish Wind
Extreme Heat – Generating Wind	Tremor of Limbs Convulsions High Temperature Rigidity of Neck Tongue: Deep Red, Stiff, Dry Yellow Coating Pulse: Wiry-Rapid
Rebellious Liver Qi – Invading the Stomach	Irritability Epigastric & Hypochondrial Distension & Pain Sour Regurgitation Hiccup Belching Nausea Vomiting Sighing	Subdue rebellious Liv qi Tonify St
Rebellious Liver Qi – Invading the Spleen	Abdominal Distension & Pain Alternating Constipation / Diarrhoea Pulse: Wiry	Subdue rebellious Liv qi Tonify Sp
Liver Yin Xu with Liver Yang Rising (also known as: Liver Yang Rising)	Headache Irritability Pulse: Wiry
Liver Blood Xu	Blurred Vision Scanty Menses Dull-Pale Complexion Tongue: Pale Pulse: Choppy	Tonify Liv Nourish Blood
Stagnation of Cold in the Liver Channel	Hypogastrium pain, with pain going to Scrotum Cold Hands & Feet Pulse: Deep-Wiry-Slow	Clear Liv Expel Cold
Liver Blood Stasis	Dark Clotted Menses Purple Tongue (Severe Stabbing Pain)	Move qi Move Blood
Damp Heat in the Liver (/Gallbladder)	Fullness in Hypochondrium / Abdomen Bitter / Sticky Taste Nausea Feeling of Heaviness Tongue: Sticky Yellow Coating Pulse: Slippery	Resolve Dampness Clear Liv Clear Heat
Liver Fire Blazing	Irritability Headaches Red Face Red Eyes Tongue: Red, Redder on Sides, Yellow Coating	Clear Liv Drain Fire
Liver Qi Stagnation	Distension Depression Moodiness Pulse: Wiry	Move qi

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Lung Patterns

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Yang Organs

Organ	Function	Typical
BL	Removes water by Qi transformation	Urination problems, turbid urine, frequent urination, cystitis
GB	Store/ excrete Bile, decisiveness, control sinews	Digestive problems, tendency to obesity, difficulty making decisions
LI	Controls passage & conduction, re-absorbs fluids	Bowel problems, constipation / diarrhoea
SI	Controls receiving & transformation, separates fluids	Borborygmi for all patterns
ST	Controls reception, ‘ripens & rottens’, transports food essence, controls descending of Qi, Origin of fluids

Only some patterns included….

Damp Heat in BL	Frequent, burning urination Same as Damp Heat inv SP + abdominal pain and blood/mucous in stools. Difficulty urinating dark yellow, turbid Blood in urine. T: sticky, yellow @ root + red spots P: slippery – rapid + bit wiry	Resolve Dampness Clear Heat Open water passage of LJ
Damp Cold in BL	Frequent urination, stopping midstream, pale turbid urine, heavy hypogastrium. T: white sticky @ root P: slippery – slow	Resolve Dampness, expel Cold, remove obstruction in LJ
ST Qi Stag	Distension in epigastrium Belching Nausea/ vomit hiccups irritability P: Wiry RMP	Move ST qi Eliminate Stag Restore descending ST Qi
ST Fire [Phlegm-Fire]	Burning epigastrium intense thirst like cold drinks mental restlessness, Bleeding gums, dry stools mouth ulcers Sour-regurgitation nausea excessive hunger foul breath, feel hot T: Red in centre + dry yellow coat P: rapid/ Overflowing [RMP]	Drain ST Fire Stimulate descending St Qi
ST Blood Stasis	Severe stabbing pain Worse at night worse for pressure Vomit (+blood?) T: purple P: Wiry	Invigorate Blood Eliminate Stasis Stimulate Descending of St Qi
Damp Heat in ST	Fullness/ pain in epigastrium heaviness facial pain (ST channel) blocked nose thirst without desire to drink (dampness/ yin xu) nausea feel hot dull-yellow complexion sticky taste T: red, sticky yellow coat P: slippery, rapid	Resolve dampness Clear Heat Restore descending of ST Qi
Cold invading ST	Sudden severe pain in epigastrium Feel cold vomiting clear fluids (feel better for it) nausea T: thick white coat P: Deep tight slow	Expel Cold Warm ST Stimulate descending of ST Qi
Damp-Heat in the LI	Abdominal pain Diarrhoea (with mucus/ blood) scanty-dark urine perhaps fever sweaty feeling heavy, abdominal fullness (due to dampness) Damp obstructs LI from absorbing fluid T: red with sticky yellow coat. P: Slippery-Rapid	Clear Heat Resolve Dampness Stop diarrhoea
Heat in LI (Acute)	Burning /swelling in anus, dry stools, Constipation, dry tongue, dark scanty urine, burning in mouth(!) T: thick yellow (brown) dry coating P : Full-rapid	Clear Heat in LI/ST, Promote body fluids
Dampness in GB	Jaundice, distension, heaviness, nausea, turbid urine, sticky taste, dull headaches. T: Thick sticky white coating P: slippery – wiry	Resolve Dampness, clear GB, promote flow of Liv qi
Damp Heat in GB	As for ‘Dampness in GB’ +: Bitter taste, tinnitus, irritability, numbness, swelling in feet, dizziness, thirst without desire to drink, fever, scanty dark urine. T: sticky yellow coat, uni/ bilaterally P: slippery – wiry – rapid	Resolve Dampness, clear Heat in GB, smooth flow of Liv qi
GB xu	(Liv can’t be xu, however GB can be) Dizziness, blurred vision, floaters, nervousness, timidity, indecision, sighing T: Pale, normal P: Weak	Tonify/ warm GB, tonify Liv qi

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Spleen Qi Not Controlling Blood	Bleeding Tongue: Pale Pulse: Fine	Tonify Sp qi Stop bleeding
Spleen Qi Sinking	Bearing Down Sensation Pulse: Weak	Tonify Sp qi Raise qi
Spleen Yang Xu	Tiredness Loose Stools Feeling Cold	Tonify Sp Yang
Spleen Qi Xu	Tiredness Loose Stools Poor Appetite	Tonify Sp qi
Damp-Heat Invading Spleen	Abdominal Fullness Feeling Heaviness Tongue: Sticky Yellow Coating	Resolve Dampness Clear Heat
Cold-Dampness Invading Spleen	Abdominal Fullness Feeling Heaviness Tongue: Sticky White Coating	Resolve Dampness Expel Cold

Lung Dryness	Dry Cough Dry Throat Hoarse Voice Dry Tongue	Moisten Lu Nourish Fluids
Lung Yin Xu	Dry Cough Weak / Hoarse Voice Dry Throat Night Sweating Tongue: Rootless Coating	Tonify Lung Yin Nourish Body Fluids Clear Empty Heat if necessary
Lung Qi Xu	Shortness of Breath Weak Voice Pulse: Empty	Tonify Lung qi Warm Yang
Phlegm-Fluids Obstructing the Lungs	Cough with White Watery, Frothy Sputum	Resolve Phlegm Tonify Sp, Lu and Kid Yang
Phlegm Heat in the Lungs	Chronic Cough Profuse White Sticky Sputum Tongue: Swollen with Sticky White Coating	Resolve Phlegm Clear Heat Stimulate descending of Lu qi
Invasion of Lung by Wind-Water	Sudden Swelling of Face Aversion to Wind Fever Pulse: Floating-Slippery	Release Exterior Expel Cold Resolve Dampness Stimulate DD of Lu Qi Open water passages
Invasion of Lung by Wind-Heat	Aversion to Cold Fever Sore Throat Pulse: Floating-Rapid	Release Exterior Clear Heat Stimulate DD of Lu qi
Invasion of Lung by Wind-Cold	Aversion to Cold Fever Sneezing Pulse: Floating	Release Exterior Expel Cold Stimulate DD of Lu qi