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Bitter taste in the mouth indicates Gallbladder Heat (Dan Re). Sweet taste in the mouth indicates Liver Heat (Gan Re). Bland taste in the mouth indicates Stomach Heat (Wei Re). Dry tongue and parched mouth indicate extreme Heat in the Stomach (Wei Jia Re). Fullness below the heart (epigastric region) caused by premature purgation is Pi Qi (Stagnant Qi/Pi Syndrome). If tapping with the hand produces a splashing sound and feels soft, it is Water Retention (Ting Shui). If fullness dissipates upon pressing, it is Deficient Qi (Xu Qi). If hardness and pain are felt upon pressing, it is Retained Food (Su Shi). Those who prefer bright environments and sleep facing outward belong to Yang patterns, indicating solid Yuan Qi (Primal Qi). Those who prefer dark environments and sleep facing the wall belong to Yin patterns, indicating deficient Yuan Qi. Illnesses beginning with discomfort and low mood are Jia Qi Shang Han (Shang Han complicated by Qi stagnation). Illnesses beginning with fatigue, desire to lie down, soreness of bones and legs, and hypochondriac pain are Lao Li Shang Han (Shang Han due to overexertion). Deafness caused by deep penetration of pathogenic factors is difficult to treat. However, one must be aware of cases with concurrent deficiency patterns or Shaoyang syndrome (Lesser Yang disorder).

Rapid, tight, and vigorous pulses on both left and right hands indicate Jia Shi Shang Han (Shang Han complicated by food retention). An empty pulse on the right hand and a rapid, tight, vigorous pulse on the left hand indicate Lao Li Shang Han. A rapid, tight, vigorous pulse on the left hand and a surging, slippery pulse on the right hand, or a sunken and hidden pulse at the Cun position, accompanied by fever, aversion to cold, vague headache, wheezing, cough, restlessness, chest/hypochondriac/body pain, indicate Jia Tan Shang Han (Shang Han complicated by phlegm). A rapid, choppy pulse on the left hand and a sunken, rapid pulse on the right hand, with pain in the chest, heart, hypochondrium, and lower abdomen, indicate Blood Stasis (Xue Yu) from internal injury combined with external contraction. In miscellaneous diseases, a Wiry (Xian) pulse is Yang; in Shang Han, a Wiry pulse is Yin. In miscellaneous diseases, a Slow (Huan) pulse indicates weakness; in Shang Han, a Slow pulse indicates harmony. Absence of pulse in both hands is called Shuang Fu (Double Hidden); absence in one hand is Dan Fu (Single Hidden); this condition will inevitably result in Zheng Han (Normal sweating). A sunken, fine pulse appearing in the Yang positions of the Cun Kou (Radial artery), if forceless, indicates Yin hidden within Yang (Yang Zhong Fu Yin). A sunken, rapid pulse appearing in the Yin positions of the Chi position indicates Yang hidden within Yin (Yin Zhong Fu Yang). A rapid, large, and forceful pulse at Cun indicates Chong Yang (Extreme Yang); a sunken, fine, and forceless pulse at Chi indicates Chong Yin (Extreme Yin). A floating and forceful Cun pulse indicates Cold Evil, suitable for diaphoresis in Exterior Excess. A floating but forceless Cun pulse indicates Wind Evil, requiring consolidation in Exterior Deficiency. A sunken and forceful Chi pulse indicates Yang Evil in the Interior, suitable for purgation in Interior Excess. A forceless Chi pulse indicates Yin Evil in the Interior, suitable for warming in Interior Deficiency. A weak and forceless Cun pulse strictly prohibits emesis. A weak and forceless Chi pulse strictly prohibits diaphoresis and purgation. A pulse that comes rapidly and departs slowly is named Nei Xu Wai Shi (Interior Deficiency, Exterior Excess). A pulse that departs rapidly and comes slowly is named Nei Shi Wai Xu (Interior Excess, Exterior Deficiency). Identical pulses at Cun and Chi are named Huan (Slow); Huan represents harmonious generation. After diaphoresis or purgation, a quiet pulse indicates survival, as Righteous Qi recovers. Restlessness with fever indicates death, as Pathogenic factors prevail. After warming treatment, an intermittent pulse indicates collapse of Righteous Qi without recovery. A purely Wiry pulse is named Fu (Negative); Fu indicates death. A pulse feeling like untied cords upon pressure is named Yin Yang Li (Separation of Yin and Yang); separation indicates death. Yin diseases showing Yang pulses indicate survival. Yang diseases showing Yin pulses indicate death.

Commentary: Yin pulses include Sunken (Chen), Tight (Jin), and Rapid (Shu), but Zhang Zhongjing generally describes them as Micro (Wei) and Fine (Xi). This is because a Sunken pulse requires heavy pressure to detect, and Tight/Rapid qualities often appear within Sunken/Fine contexts, unlike Yang syndromes which present as Floating, Large, Tight, and Rapid. Xue Ji stated: People know Rapid pulses indicate Heat, but do not realize that a Rapid pulse within a Sunken/Fine context indicates extreme Cold. True Yin-Cold syndromes may show 7-8 beats per unit time, but feel forceless and rapid upon pressure; this must be carefully observed. Thus, it is said: Rapid pulse indicates Heat; Floating-Rapid indicates Exterior Heat; Sunken-Rapid indicates Interior Heat; Rapid and Forceful indicates Excess Heat; Forceless indicates Deficiency Heat; how much more so for Fine-Rapid?

Ghost Pulse (Gui Mai): At the onset of illness, delirium and mania occur, with no pulse in the six positions. However, pulsation is felt above the Cun Kou under the thumb. This is Ghost Pulse.

Reverse Guan Pulse (Fan Mei): If no pulse is found in the six positions, do not immediately conclude there is no pulse. Check behind the palm; if pulsation occurs there, it is Reverse Guan Pulse (a congenital anatomical variation where the radial artery passes dorsally).

Heart Disease: Heart disease presents with a stiff tongue, red/dry face, irritability, hot palms, dry mouth, and delirium. Pulsation above the umbilicus shows a Surging, Tight, Rapid pulse. If it instead appears Sunken and Micro, life is endangered.

Liver Disease: Liver disease presents with a greenish face, eye pain/closure, tendon stiffness, and angry expression. Pulsation to the left of the umbilicus should show a Wiry, Rapid pulse. If accompanied by Long, Floating, Choppy, Short, etc., it is termed incurable.

Spleen Disease: Spleen disease presents with anorexia, yellowish complexion, heavy body, limb pain, and desire to lie down. Pulsation at the umbilicus should be Slow and Large. If it becomes Wiry, Long, and Tight, it is ominous.

Lung Disease: Lung disease presents with a white complexion, sorrowful expression, hemoptysis, alternating chills/fever, wheezing, and cough. Pulsation to the right of the umbilicus, if Sunken, Fine, Choppy, Large, and Firm, indicates a root cause of death.

Kidney Disease: Kidney disease presents with a black complexion, bluish nails, deafness, cold feet, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Pulsation below the umbilicus, if Sunken, Slippery, Slow, and Large, is a form of death.