ZANG FU REVIEW OF PATTERNS IMPORTANT SYMPTOMS

HEART & PERICARDIUM

KEY SYMPTOMS

Deficiency patterns
Heart Qi def.

Palpitations, tiredness
Pale tongue, weak pulse.

Heart yang def.

Palpitations, cold feeling, cold hands or limbs

Pale tongue sl. wet, deep weak pulse.

Heart yang collapse

Same sym. of Heart yang more severe, cyanosis of lips, severe cases coma.
Very pale or bluish-purple tongue, short, hidden, minute pulse.

Heart Blood def.

Palpitations, insomnia, poor memory

Pale sl. dry tongue, hesitant, thready pulse.
Palpitations, insomnia, discomfort of the chest
Pale, thin, sl. dry tongue, hesitant pulse.

Pc. Blood def.

Heart-Yin def.

Palpitations, mental restlessness, feeling of heat, malar flush

Red-peeled tongue with midline crack, redder tip w/red points, superficialempty and rapid or thready rapid.

Excess patterns
Heart-Fire blazing
Pc. Fire

Phlegm-Fire agitating within

Or Phlegm Fire Harassing
Phlegm-Fire Harassing the Pc.

Palpitations, tongue ulcers, thirst

Red tongue, red tip, full-rapid- overflowing left front position or could be hasty
rapid and stopping at irregular intervals.
Palpitations, tight chest, thirst, bitter taste, insomnia
Red, tip redder & swollen w/red points, yellow coat, maybe red-tip
Full-rapid overflowing left from positions, or hasty rapid and stopping at
irregular intervals.
Palpitations, mental symptoms
Red swollen, yellow dry sticky coating, deep Heart crack full rapid, slippery,
rolling or rapid overflowing slippery or rapid-fill-wiry pulse.
Palpitations, mental symptoms, feeling of oppression & pain of chest,
Red & swollen tongue, sticky yellow coat, full-rapid, slippery or rapidoverflowing, slippery or rapid-full-wiry.

Phlegm misting Heart

Mental confusion, rattling sound in the throat

Swollen, thick sticky mid-line crack rolling pulse.

Heart Qi Stagnation

Palpitations, distention/oppression of the chest, depression, lump in throat

Slight pale-purple on sides in tongue chest area, empty, sl. overflow front pulse.
Palpitations, distention of the chest
Slightly pale-purple on sides of tongue chest area, empty, sl. overflow front.

Pc Qi Stagnation
Heart Vessel Obstructed

Palpitations, stabbing pain, or pricking pain in the chest, phlegm, heaviness

Purple sides/chest area, swollen w/ sticky coating, wiry, choppy, knotted pulse.

Linda Morse Ph.D.,L.Ac. Dipl. of OM 2003/2015

ZANG FU REVIEW OF PATTERNS IMPORTANT SYMPTOMS

HEART & PERICARDIUM (cont.)

KEY SYMPTOMS

Deficiency-Excess patterns
Heart Blood/Stasis stagnation
Pc. Blood Stasis
Heat in the Pc.

Palpitations, pain in the heart region, cyanosis of lips

All purple or only on the sides in chest area tongue, choppy, wiry, knotted pulse.
Stabbing chest pain, purple lips
All purple or only on the sides in chest area tongue, choppy, wiry, knotted pulse.
Fever at night, delirium
Red, dry no coat tongue, fine-rapid pulse.

LIVER
Excess patterns
Stagnation of Liver-Qi

Hypochondriac and chest distension, depression, moodiness

Body color could be normal, severe sl. red on sides string-taut pulse.

Stag. of Liver Qi Turns to Heat

Distention, irritability, feeling of heat

Red on sides tongue, wiry, especially on left side, sl. rapid.

Rebellious Liver Qi

Hypo or epigastric distention, hiccups, irritability

Might not change severe cases sides red, wiry more in St/Liv positions.

Stasis of Liver Blood

Dark & clotted menses blood

Purple or maybe only on the sides, severe purple spots tongue, wiry pulse.

Liver Fire blazing upwards

Headache, irritability, red face, red eyes

Red tongue redder on sides with yellow coating pulse full-wiry-rapid.
Same symptoms as Liver Fire add epistaxis, haematemesis, haemtoptsis
Red, redder on sides tongue, dry yellow coat, wiry-rapid pulse.

Liver Fire Generating Wind

Damp-Heat in the Liver

Full in hypochondrium & abdomen, nausea, bitter sticky taste, heaviness

Sticky yellow tongue coating rolling - wiry pulse.

Stagnation of Cold in Liver

Hypogastric pain refers to scrotum, cold hands & feet

Pale, wet white coat tongue, deep-wiry-slow pulse.

Deficiency patterns
Liver Blood Def.

Blurred vision, scanty periods, dull-pale complexion

Pale (especially sides) sl. dry, maybe orangey in severe, choppy, thready pulse.

Liver Blood Def. causing wind

Same symptoms as Liver Blood def. add fine tremor, facial tic.
Pale tongue, thin coat, wiry-thready pulse.

Liver Yin Def.

Blurred vision, dry eyes

Tongue normal no coat or rootless coat, floating-empty pulse.

Deficiency-Excess conditions
Extreme Heat Generate Wind

High temperature, convulsions

Stiff deep red tongue, dry yellow coating, wiry-rapid pulse.

Linda Morse Ph.D.,L.Ac. Dipl. of OM 2003/2015

ZANG FU REVIEW OF PATTERNS IMPORTANT SYMPTOMS

LIVER (Cont.)

KEY SYMPTOMS

Deficiency-Excess condition
Liver Yang rising

Headache, irritability
Tongue can vary, string-taut (but may vary depending on conditions of def.)

Liv. Yang Rising from Liv. Yin def. Tremors, Severe dizziness, headache, hypertension, dryness
Normal tongue w/o coat, wiry - thready pulse.
Liv. Yang Rising from Liv. & Kid. Yin Def. Same as above add: backache, scanty urination, night sweating
Normal, no coat tongue, wiry-thready pulse.
Liv. Yang Rising from Liv. Blood Def. Same as Liv. Yang Rising from Liv. Yin Def. add insomnia no dry eyes
Pale w/ thin coat tongue, wiry-thready pulse.

LUNG
Deficiency patterns
Lung Qi Def

SOB, weak voice

Pale tongue, empty, especially right front pulse.

Lung Yin Def

Dry cough, weak hoarse voice, dry throat, night sweating

Normal color, dry no coat, or rootless front part floating-empty.

Lung Dryness

Dry cough, dry skin, dry throat, dry mouth, thirst, hoarse voice
Dry tongue, empty especially right front pulse.

Excess patterns
Invasion of Lungs by wind-cold

Aversion to cold, sneezing

Thin white coat, floating-tight pulse.

Invasion of Lungs wind-heat

Aversion to cold, fever, sore throat

Sl. red on sides in chest areas or front part tongue, floating-rapid pulse.

Invasion of Lungs wind water

Sudden swelling of face, aversion to wind

Sticky white tongue coat, floating-slippery pulse.

Lung Heat

Cough, feeling of heat, thirst

Red tongue w/yellow coat, overflowing-rapid pulse.

Damp-phlegm Obstructs Lungs

Chronic cough w/profuse white sputum

Swollen, with sticky white coat, slippery or soft pulse.

Cold Phlegm in Lungs

Cough w/white watery sputum, phlegm in throat

Swollen wet tongue, sticky white coat, slippery, slow pulse.

Phlegm-heat in the Lungs

Cough, yellow or green sputum

Red, swollen with sticky yellow coat, slippery-rapid pulse.

Dry Phlegm in the Lungs

Dry cough w/occasional expectorant of scanty sputum, oppression of chest

Swollen tongue, dry sticky coat, thready-slippery pulse.

Phlegm-fluids obstructs the Lungs Cough with white-watery-frothy sputum

Pale tongue, thick sticky white coat, thready-slippery or soft or wiry pulse.
Linda Morse Ph.D.,L.Ac. Dipl. of OM 2003/2015

ZANG FU REVIEW OF PATTERNS IMPORTANT SYMPTOMS

SPLEEN

KEY SYMPTOMS

Deficiency patterns
Spleen Qi. Def.

Poor appetite, loose stools, tiredness

Pale tongue, empty pulse.

Spleen yang def

Loose stools, feeling cold, cold limbs, tiredness

Pale & wet tongue, deep-weak pulse.

Spleen not controlling blood

Any Sp Qi def with bleeding

Pale tongue, thready weak pulse.

Spleen Qi sinking

Bearing down sensation

Pale tongue, weak pulse.

Spleen Blood def.

Tiredness, sl. abdominal distension, scanty periods

Pale tongue, sl. dry and thin coating, choppy or thready pulse.

Excess patterns
Cold damp invading the Spleen

Abdominal fullness, heaviness

Pale w/sticky white coating, slippery-slow pulse.

Damp heat invading the spleen

Abdominal fullness, heaviness

Red tongue, sticky yellow coat, slippery-rapid pulse.

KIDNEY
Deficiency Patterns
Kidney Yang def.

Backache, feeling of cold, abundant clear urination

Pale, wet tongue, deep, weak pulse.

Kidney Yin def

Dry mouth at night, night sweating

Normal no coat, floating-empty pulse.

Kidney Qi not firm

Dribbling after urination, chronic vaginal discharge, backache

Pale tongue, deep weak especially rear position pulse.

Kidney Failing to receive Qi

SOB on exertion, low backache, clear urination

Pale tongue, deep-weak-tight pulse.

Kidney Essence def.

Children poor bone growth, adults, weak knees, falling hair, weak sexual
activity
Pale if Kid yang def. no coat from Kid yin def, floating empty or leather pulse.

Deficiency/Excess Patterns
Kidney Yang def. w/water overflowing Edema of ankles
Pale swollen, wet with white coat, deep-weak-slow pulse.
Kidney Yin def. empty heat flaring Malar flush, dizziness, tinnitus, feeling of heat in the afternoon
Red, cracked w/red tip no coat, floating, empty & rapid pulse.

Linda Morse Ph.D.,L.Ac. Dipl. of OM 2003/2015

ZANG FU REVIEW OF PATTERNS IMPORTANT SYMPTOMS

STOMACH

KEY SYMPTOMS

Deficiency Patterns
Stomach Qi def.

Tiredness in the morning, uncomfortable feeling in the epigastrium

Pale tongue, empty pulse.

Stomach def. and cold

Discomfort in the epigastrium, better after eating, tiredness, cold limbs

Pale wet tongue, deep-weak-slow pulse.

Stomach Yin def.

Dull epigastric pain, dry mouth

Normal color, no coat in center or rootless coat, floating-empty pulse.

Excess Patterns
Stomach Qi Stagnation

Epigastric distention, belching & irritability

No particular type of tongue, wiry in right middle position.

Stomach Fire or Phlegm Fire

Burning sensation epigastrium, thirst with desire to drink cold liquids

Red center w/dry yellow or dark-yellow or black coat, rapid, sl. overflow pulse.

Cold invading Stomach

Sudden pain in the epigastrium, vomiting, feeling cold

Thick white coating, deep tight, slow pulse.

Stomach Qi rebelling upward

Nausea, belching
No change on tongue, tight or wiry pulse.

Damp Heat in Stomach

Epigastric fullness, heaviness, nausea

Red w/sticky yellow coat, slippery-rapid pulse.

Retention of Food in Stomach

Epigastric fullness, sour regurgitation

Thick coating (could be white or yellow), full-slippery pulse.

Blood Stasis in the Stomach

Stabbing pain in the epigastrium, vomiting of dark blood

Purple tongue, wiry pulse.

SMALL INTESTINE
Excess patterns

Key Symptoms

Full-Heat in the SI

Abdominal pain, tongue ulcers, scanty-dark-painful urination

Red w/red and swollen tip, yellow coat, overflow-rapid pulse.

Small Intestine Qi Pain

Lower abdominal twisting pain, borborygmi

White coat tongue, deep string taut pulse.

Small Intestine Qi Tied

Sudden abdominal violent pain, constipation, vomiting

Thick white tongue coat, deep string-taut pulse.

Infestation of worms in SI

Pinworms - itchy anus, worse in evening, Tapeworms - constant hunger

Deficiency patterns
Small Intestine Deficient & cold

Abdominal pain, borborygmus, diarrhea

Pale, white tongue coating, deep-weak-slow pulse.

Linda Morse Ph.D.,L.Ac. Dipl. of OM 2003/2015

ZANG FU REVIEW OF PATTERNS IMPORTANT SYMPTOMS

LARGE INTESTINE

KEY SYMPTOMS

Excess patterns
Damp Heat in the LI

Abdominal pain, diarrhea with mucous & blood in stools

Red w/sticky yellow coat, slippery-rapid pulse.

Heat in the LI

Dry stools, burning sensation in anus, thick-yellow-dry coat

Thick yellow(brown or black) coat, dry, full-rapid pulse.

Heat obstructing the LI

Constipation, abdominal pain, fever

Thick, dry-yellow, brown coat, red body, deep-full pulse.

Cold invading the LI

Sudden abdominal pain, diarrhea with pain, feeling of cold

Thick white tongue coat, deep-tight pulse.

Qi Stagnation in the LI

Abdominal distension & pain, bitty stools

Normal tongue or sl. red on the sides, wiry in rear positions.

Deficiency patterns
LI Dry

Dry stools which are difficult to discharge, thin body

Dry pale or red body w/rootless coat, thready pulse.

Collapse of LI

Chronic diarrhea, prolapse ani

Pale tongue, deep-fine-weak pulse.

LI Cold

Loose stools, dull abdominal pain, cold limbs

Pale tongue, deep-weak pulse.

GALL BLADDER
Excess patterns
Damp - Heat in GB

Hypochondria fullness, bitter taste

Thick sticky yellow coat bilateral in two-strips/ unilateral tongue, slipperywiry-rapid pulse.

Dampness in the GB

Hypochondrial fullness, feeling of heaviness

Thick sticky white coat, bilateral in two strips or unilateral, slippery wiry pulse.

Deficiency patterns
Gall Bladder Deficiency

Timidity, lack of initiative, indecisive

Pale or normal tongue, weak pulse.

URINARY BLADDER
Excess patterns
Damp Heat in the Bladder

Burning on urination, dark urine, difficult urination

Thick sticky yellow tongue coat w/red spots, slippery rapid, sl. wiry pulse.

Damp Cold in the Bladder

Difficult urination, feeling of heaviness, turbid urine

White sticky tongue coat on root, slippery-slow or sl. wiry rear pulse.

Deficiency patterns
Bladder Deficient and Cold

Frequent - pale - abundant urination

Pale, wet tongue, deep-weak pulse.

Linda Morse Ph.D.,L.Ac. Dipl. of OM 2003/2015