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The tongue is the external orifice of the Heart (Xin, 心). Red coloration of the tongue indicates a disease of the Heart. A deep red and dry, curled tongue signifies an Excess syndrome (Excess pathogenic factor); a pale red and short tongue signifies a Deficiency syndrome (Deficient healthy qi). The nose is the external orifice of the Lung (Fei, 肺). Whitening of the nose indicates a disease of the Lung. Deep white coloration with panting and chest fullness signifies an Excess syndrome; pale white coloration with panting but without chest fullness signifies a Deficiency syndrome. The eyes are the external orifice of the Liver (Gan, 肝). Greenish discoloration of the eyes indicates a disease of the Liver. Deep green signifies an Excess syndrome; pale green signifies a Deficiency syndrome. The lips are the external orifice of the Spleen (Pi, 脾). Yellowing of the lips indicates a disease of the Spleen. Deep yellow signifies an Excess syndrome; pale yellow signifies a Deficiency syndrome. The ears are the external orifice of the Kidney (Shen, 肾). Blackening of the ears indicates a disease of the Kidney. Deep black signifies an Excess syndrome; pale black signifies a Deficiency syndrome.

The left cheek corresponds to the region of the Liver; the right cheek corresponds to the region of the Lung; the forehead corresponds to the region of the Heart; the chin corresponds to the region of the Kidney; the nose corresponds to the region of the Spleen. If any of the five colors appear in these corresponding regions, whether too pale or too intense, they are all pathological colors. For example, if the nose (the region of the Spleen) shows its own yellow color, it indicates a self-disease of the channel due to pathogenic factors. If white is seen, it indicates a Deficiency evil caused by the "child stealing from the mother" (Lung metal draining Spleen earth). If red is seen, it indicates an Excess evil caused by the "mother assisting the child" (Heart fire generating Spleen earth). If green is seen, it indicates a "robber evil" (Wood overacting on Earth). If black is seen, it indicates a "minor evil" (Water controlling Wood, here implying weak control or reverse restriction depending on context, specifically Kidney water affecting Spleen earth indirectly or via Wood). The rest can be deduced by analogy.

Yellow and red are Yang colors, governing Wind and Heat syndromes. Green, white, and black are Yin colors, governing Cold and Pain syndromes. If black is excessive, manifested in the pulse, it leads to numbness and paralysis; manifested in the sinews, it leads to spasms and contracture. Mild blackness governs Kidney disease and cold-water pathogens. Pale white governs severe vomiting, epistaxis, or lower bleeding leading to blood loss syndrome; if there is no vomiting, epistaxis, or lower bleeding, it indicates that the Heart fails to generate blood, and blood fails to nourish the complexion. Withered yellow governs various deficiency diseases. Deep red on both cheeks governs flaming up of deficient fire, indicating consumptive labor diseases.

The Liver transforms into green. Its diseases include irritability, pulsation at the left side of the umbilicus, tendon cramps and hypochondriac pain, various wind syndromes causing tremors and vertigo, hernia, and deafness; these are all Liver Excess diseases. If the Liver is deficient, vision becomes blurred and unclear, fearfulness and timidity occur, resembling the sensation of being pursued. The Heart transforms into red. Its diseases include excessive joy, pulsation above the umbilicus, vexation and pain in the heart and chest, red tongue with dry mouth, forgetfulness, palpitations, and restlessness. If heat overwhelms the Heart causing Excess, madness and stupor may occur. If spirit is timid and the Heart is deficient, sorrow and weeping may prevail. The Spleen transforms into yellow. Its diseases include excessive worry, pulsation at the umbilicus, excessive thinking with poor appetite, fatigue and weakness, abdominal fullness and borborygmus, abdominal pain with diarrhea; these are all Spleen Deficiency diseases. If the Spleen is Excess, the body feels heavy, abdominal fullness occurs, and constipation results. The Lung transforms into white. Its diseases include excessive sadness, pulsation at the right side of the umbilicus, aversion to cold and fever, coughing and expectoration, sneezing, panting and rapid breathing, skin pain, and chest bi-syndrome. If the Lung is deficient, panting, coughing, and shortness of breath occur, with inability to sustain respiration. The Kidney transforms into black. Its diseases include excessive fear, pulsation below the umbilicus, abdominal fullness with fluid retention, edema and fullness or panting, difficulty in urination, pain in the lower back and bones, frequent yawning, a feeling of emptiness in the heart as if hungry, and cold feet with cold limbs.