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
Spleen Patterns
| 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 |
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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 |
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
| 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 |
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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 |