青属肝木。主风。主寒。主痛。面青唇青。舌卷囊缩。急温之。青而黑。青而红。相生
者吉。青而白。枯燥者死。赤属心火。主热。太阳面赤。当汗。阳明面赤。恶热不恶寒。便闭谵语
。可下表里俱热。燥渴脉洪。未可下。少阳面赤脉弦。小柴胡和之。少阴下利清谷。里寒外
热。面赤。四逆汤加葱白。此阴寒逼其浮火上行。服寒凉必死。赤而青。赤而黄。相生则吉
。赤而黑。相克则凶。 黄属脾土。主湿。黄而明者。热也。黄而暗者。湿也。
黄而白。黄而红。相生则吉。黄而青。相克则凶。黄色明润。病将愈。枯夭者凶。白属肺金
。主气血虚白而黑。白而黄。相生者吉。白而赤。相克者凶。黑属肾水。主寒。主痛。黑而
白。黑而青。相生则吉。黑而黄。相克则凶。黑气自鱼尾入太阴者死。自法令人中入口者死
目明者吉。昏者凶。开目欲见人。阳症也。闭目不欲见人。阴症也。目中不了了。睛不
和。热甚也。目赤痛者。阳明热也。瞑目者。将衄血也。白睛黄。将发黄。目睛微定。临时稍动
者。痰也。目 黄。病将愈。或反目上视。或瞪目直视。或目睛正圆或戴眼反折。或眼胞陷
下。皆死症也。
鼻青腹痛。冷者死。微黑者水气。黄者小便难。白者气虚。赤者肺热鲜明者。有留饮也
。鼻孔干躁。阳明热将衄。鼻孔燥黑如烟煤。阳毒也。冷滑而黑。阴毒也。鼻鼾者。风温也。鼻塞
者。风热也。鼻煽者。肺风难治。
Green color belongs to Liver Wood. It primarily governs Wind pathogen, Cold pathogen, and pain. If the facial complexion is green and lips are green, accompanied by tongue retraction and testicular contraction, urgent warming treatment should be applied. If the complexion is green mixed with black, or green mixed with red, it indicates a mutually generating relationship in the Five Elements, which is auspicious (good prognosis). If the complexion is green mixed with white, and the luster is dry and withered, it indicates death (poor prognosis).
Red color belongs to Heart Fire. It primarily governs Heat pathogen. In Taiyang disease, facial redness indicates the need for diaphoresis (sweating method). In Yangming disease, facial redness presents as aversion to heat but not aversion to cold, with constipation and delirium; this can be treated with purgation to resolve both exterior and interior heat. However, if there is dry thirst and a surging pulse, purgation should not yet be used. In Shaoyang disease, facial redness with a wiry pulse is treated with Xiao Chaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) to harmonize. In Shaoyin disease, presenting with diarrhea of undigested food, internal cold with external heat, and facial redness, this is caused by Yin cold forcing floating fire upward; Si Ni Tang (Frigid Extremities Decoction) with added Scallion White (Cong Bai) should be used. Administration of cold-cooling herbs will certainly lead to death. If the complexion is red mixed with green, or red mixed with yellow, it indicates a mutually generating relationship, which is auspicious. If the complexion is red mixed with black, it indicates a mutually overcoming relationship, which is ominous.
Yellow color belongs to Spleen Earth. It primarily governs Dampness. A bright yellow indicates Heat; a dull yellow indicates Dampness. If yellow is mixed with white, or mixed with red, it indicates a mutually generating relationship, which is auspicious. If yellow is mixed with green, it indicates a mutually overcoming relationship, which is ominous. Bright and moist yellow luster indicates the disease is about to heal; dry and withered appearance indicates an ominous prognosis.
White color belongs to Lung Metal. It primarily governs Qi and Blood deficiency. If white is mixed with black, or mixed with yellow, it indicates a mutually generating relationship, which is auspicious. If white is mixed with red, it indicates a mutually overcoming relationship, which is ominous.
Black color belongs to Kidney Water. It primarily governs Cold and pain. If black is mixed with white, or mixed with green, it indicates a mutually generating relationship, which is auspicious. If black is mixed with yellow, it indicates a mutually overcoming relationship, which is ominous. If black qi enters the Taiyin region from the corner of the eye (fish tail), it indicates death. If black qi enters the mouth from the nasolabial fold area, it also indicates death.
Clear eyes indicate a good prognosis; dim eyes indicate a poor prognosis. Opening eyes and wanting to see people indicates a Yang syndrome; closing eyes and not wanting to see people indicates a Yin syndrome. Blurred vision and uncoordinated eye movement indicate extreme Heat. Red and painful eyes indicate Yangming Heat. Closing eyes and drowsiness suggests impending epistaxis (nosebleed). Yellow sclera suggests impending jaundice. Fixed gaze with occasional slight movement indicates Phlegm. Yellowing of the eyes indicates the disease is about to heal. Alternatively, upward deviation of the eyes, staring straight ahead, round fixed eyes, opisthotonos (eyes looking up and body arching backward), or sunken eyelids are all signs of death.
Green nose with abdominal pain indicates death if due to Cold. Slightly black nose indicates fluid retention. Yellow nose indicates difficulty in urination. White nose indicates Qi deficiency. Red nose indicates Lung Heat. Bright and shiny nose indicates retained fluids (Liuyin). Dry nostrils indicate Yangming Heat and impending epistaxis. Dry, black, soot-like nostrils indicate Yang Toxin. Cold, slippery, and black nostrils indicate Yin Toxin. Snoring indicates Wind-Warmth. Nasal congestion indicates Wind-Heat. Flaring of the nasal wings indicates difficult-to-treat Lung Wind.