Library

If liver disease presents with a bluish-green color, this is the correct disease matching the correct color, indicating a favorable prognosis (Shun). If instead other colors appear intermixed, it indicates an unfavorable prognosis (Ni). If black appears, it represents the mother element (Water) overcoming the child element (Wood), which is a generating relationship, thus favorable. If red appears, it represents the child element (Fire) overcoming the mother element (Wood), which is a controlling relationship, thus unfavorable. If yellow appears, the disease controls the color; the disease will not worsen, indicating a favorable outcome within a critical context. If white appears, the color controls the disease; the disease will surely intensify, indicating an unfavorable outcome within a critical context. The same logic applies to the other four Zang organs.

When diseases transmit or overcome each other among the organs, one should observe the sharpest part of the facial color and see which organ or region it points to, thereby knowing from which organ or region it originated, to which organ or region it transmits, and understanding the natural order of generation and control (Shun and Ni). If the color trend extends outward, it means the pathogen moves from the interior to the exterior, i.e., from Zang to Fu, and from Fu to the surface; this is an easy-to-treat disease. If the color trend converges inward, it means the pathogen moves from the exterior to the interior, i.e., from the surface to Fu, and from Fu to Zang; this is a difficult-to-treat disease. If the pathological color rushes upward from below to the Mingtang (nose bridge) and then to the forehead, it represents the "thief evil" of Water overcoming Fire, indicating an unfavorable prognosis. If the pathological color presses downward from above to the Mingtang and then to the chin, it represents the "minor evil" of Fire insulting Water, indicating a favorable prognosis. For men, the left side is primary; for women, the right side is primary. In men, color moving from left to right is favorable (Cong); from right to left is unfavorable (Ni). In women, color moving from right to left is favorable (Cong); from left to right is unfavorable (Ni).

Deep pathological color is termed "Chen" (sinking), indicating disease in the interior. If it is additionally turbid, stagnant, and dull, it indicates chronic and severe disease. Light pathological color is termed "Fu" (floating), indicating disease in the exterior. If it possesses luster and brightness, it indicates recent and mild disease. If the color is neither withered/dull nor bright/lustrous, it indicates a mild disease. If the colors of various diseases disperse like clearing clouds, it indicates the disease is about to heal and is easy to treat. If they gather and condense like mist, it indicates the disease is progressing gradually and is difficult to treat.

Clear and bright eyeballs indicate sufficient Shen (Spirit) and absence of disease. Dull and dark eyes indicate shortness of Shen and impending danger. If either Shen or Color is abnormal: if only one is lost, it indicates chronic disease; if both are lost, death ensues. Furthermore, the face and eyes have corresponding colors. Cases such as yellow face with green eyes, yellow face with red eyes, yellow face with white eyes, and yellow face with black eyes are all non-fatal. However, cases such as green face with red eyes, red face with white eyes, green face with black eyes, black face with white eyes, and red face with green eyes are fatal. This is because yellow is the color of Central Earth. If the patient's face and eyes show yellow and are not invaded by other colors, it is auspicious. If there is no yellow, but the face and eyes are invaded by other colors, it is ominous. In cases of Shanghan (Cold Damage), red eyes indicate the precursor of rash formation; yellow eyes indicate the sign of impending recovery; completely yellow pupils indicate Jaundice (Huangdan). Generally, closed eyes indicate disease in Yin; open eyes indicate disease in Yang. Hazy and confused vision indicates heat excess damaging the Shen. Intermittent blinking while looking indicates epistaxis (nosebleed). Daiyan (upward deviation of the eyes) indicates Yang exhaustion. Blindness indicates Yin collapse. Sudden sinking of the eye sockets indicates Qi collapse. Fixed pupils that do not rotate indicate loss of Shen.