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Q: What is the pulse pattern when a person feels ashamed?
A: The pulse is floating, and the complexion alternates between pale and red.
Shame arises from the movement of Heart Qi, with Heart Fire flaring upward, hence the complexion turns red; red is the color of the Heart. When Heart Fire flares upward and injures Lung Metal, the complexion turns pale; white is the color of Metal (Lung). Both the Heart and Lung pulses are associated with floating; as Heart and Lung Qi move, the pulse becomes floating. When a person feels ashamed and sweats, it is because Heart Fire flares upward and restricts Lung Qi, causing Qi to leak out as sweat. (This is a method combining observation and palpation.)

Q: What is the pulse pattern when a person does not drink water?
A: The pulse naturally becomes choppy, and the lips and mouth are dry.
The *Su Wen: Jing Mai Bie Lun* states: When fluids enter the Stomach, their essence floats and overflows, moving upward to the Spleen; the Spleen scatters the essence, sending it upward to the Lung; the Lung regulates the water passages, directing them downward to the Bladder; the fluid essence distributes throughout, traversing the five meridians. Generally, when water enters the Stomach, Stomach Yang steams and transforms it into essence, which floats and ascends to the Spleen; the Spleen scatters this fluid essence, sending it upward to the Lung. The Lung’s diffusion and descending functions create a misty harmony, known as "the Upper Jiao is like a mist." When Lung Qi is clear and肃 (descending), the collaterals and channels are unobstructed, the mist does not stagnate, descends to the Bladder, and transforms into urine. Above the middle of the body, there is less water and more Qi, called the Qi pathway; below the middle of the body, there is less Qi and more water, called the Water pathway. Qi and water are one source, differing only in upper/lower Yin/Yang distinctions. When the water passages are regulated, they direct downward to the Bladder, where dregs are excreted via urination and defecation, known as "the Lower Jiao is like a ditch." As water-Qi moves downward through the channels, dregs are transported to the Bladder, while the essence nourishes the channels, spreads to the Zang-Fu organs, and moistens the orifices. Turbid substances descend, clear substances ascend; the fluid essence distributes throughout, traversing the five meridians. Thus, the meridians flow smoothly without being choppy, and the lips and mouth are slippery and moist without being dry. If one does not drink, the channels lose nourishment, so the pulse naturally becomes choppy; the orifices are not moistened, so the lips and mouth become dry. (This is also a method combining observation and palpation.)

Master said: In cases of latent pathogenic Qi, one must use intention to observe. Within this month, there may be latent Qi. If there is pre-existing latent Qi, it must be verified by pulse diagnosis. If the pulse is weak and fine, there should be pain in the throat, resembling injury but not actually pharyngitis (Hou Bi). The patient claims there is indeed pain in the throat. Although so, diarrhea is now desired/expected.
Latent Qi refers to pathogenic factors that are hidden and have not yet manifested. Any disease manifestation must have a root of previously latent Qi. When Qi desires to lie dormant but has not yet taken shape in the pulse, one must use intention to observe. Seeing pulse Qi sinking, depressed, congealed, and choppy suggests that within today, latent Qi may emerge, thereby burying the root for future illness. If pre-existing latent Qi has already taken shape in the pulse, it must be verified by pulse diagnosis. If the pulse is weak and fine, this is latent Qi of the Shaoyin channel. Diseases of the Shaoyin channel typically present with sore throat and diarrhea, as the Kidney governs the two lower orifices and its meridian passes through the throat. Disease in the Yin aspect leads to diarrhea; disease involving the Yang aspect leads to sore throat. Yin resides below and is slow in nature; Yang resides above and is rapid in nature. Since diarrhea has not yet occurred, the throat symptoms appear first, hence pain in the throat. The condition resembles throat injury but is actually not pharyngitis caused by Jueyin Fire rising. Verifying with the patient's own statement of true throat pain indicates that the Yang aspect pathology has appeared. Although so, the Yin aspect pathology has not yet manifested. Currently, diarrhea is expected; later, it will also occur. (This is a method of using intention to observe, extending beyond the standard four diagnostic methods.)