《金匮要略》曰∶病患有气色见于面部，愿闻其说。师曰∶鼻头色微黑者，有水
气。色黄者，胸上有寒。色白者，亡血也。设微赤非时者死。
鼻头色黄，小便必难。（上云∶胸上有寒。寒则水谷不运，故小便难也。）余处无恙，独鼻尖青黄
者，其人必为淋也。
鼻头青，腹中痛，舌冷者死。
鼻孔忽仰起者死。
鼻枯槁不泽者死。
鼻冷如冰，连两颐者，多死。
病患鼻头明，山根亮，目 黄光，起色。
鼻头微白者，亡血。
论疾诊尺篇曰∶诊血脉者，多赤多热，多青多痛，多黑为久痹，多赤、多黑、
多青皆见者，寒热。（血脉即络脉。肌皮嫩薄者，视之可见。）
《素问》平人气象论曰∶臂多青脉曰脱血。（络中血脱，故不红而多青。）
发枯生穗，血少火盛。
毛发不坚，多堕落者，卫气疏，或有风。
眉堕者，风也。
病患头毛上逆者，凶。（血枯不荣，如枯草不柔顺而劲直。小儿疳病多此，亦主有虫。）
人之大体为形，形之所充者气。形胜气者夭，（肥白气不充。）气胜形者寿。（修长黑色有神。）
气实形实，气虚形虚。
形盛脉细，少气不足以息者死。形瘦脉大，胸中多气者死。
形气相得者生，参伍不调者死。
肥人多中风，以形浓气虚，难以周流，而多郁滞生痰。
痰壅气塞成火，而多暴厥也。
瘦人阴虚，血液衰少，相火易亢，故多劳嗽。
病患形脱而气盛者死。（正虚则形脱，邪实则气盛。）形体充大而皮肤宽缓者寿。形体充大
而皮肤紧急者夭。
形气相失，谓之难治。
形盛气虚，气盛形虚，形涩而脉滑，形大脉小，形小脉大，形长脉短，形短脉
长，形滑脉涩，肥人脉细小轻虚如丝，羸人脉躁，俱凶。
血实气虚则肥，气实血虚则瘦。肥者，能寒不能热。（能读耐。）瘦者，能热不能寒。
美髯而长至胸，阳明血气盈。髯少血气弱。不足，则无髯。美髯者，太阳多血。
坐而下一脚者，腰痛也。
行迟者，痹也。或表强，或腰脚痛，或麻木风疾，里实护腹，如怀卵物者，心痛也。
持脉，病患欠者，无病也。（经云∶阳引而上，阴引而下则欠。阴阳相引，故云无病，病亦即愈。）
息摇肩者，心中坚。息引胸中上气者，咳。息张口短气者，肺痿吐沫。
形肉已脱，九候虽调者死。
掌中寒者，腹中寒。掌中热者，阴不足，虚火盛。
诊时，病患叉手扪心，闭目不言，必心虚怔忡。
仓廪不藏者，门户不要也。水泉不止者，膀胱不藏也。
头者，精明之府。头倾视深，精神将夺。
背者，胸中之府。背曲肩随，府将坏矣。
腰者，肾之府。转摇不能，肾将惫矣。
膝者，筋之府。屈伸不能，行则偻俯，筋将惫矣。
骨者，髓之府。不能久立，行则振掉，骨将惫矣。
眼胞肿，十指头微肿者，必久咳。
The *Jingui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet) states: When a patient exhibits abnormal facial complexion, one wishes to hear the explanation. The Master said: If the tip of the nose is slightly black, it indicates fluid retention (Shui Qi). If yellow, there is cold in the chest. If white, it indicates loss of blood. If slightly red and appearing out of season (not during fever), it signifies death.
If the tip of the nose is yellow, urination will certainly be difficult. (As mentioned above: Cold in the chest prevents the transportation of water and grain, hence difficulty in urination.) I have observed an exception: if only the tip of the nose appears greenish-yellow, the person must suffer from Lin syndrome (a condition characterized by frequent, painful, and scanty urination).
If the tip of the nose is green, accompanied by abdominal pain and a cold tongue, it signifies death.
If the nostrils suddenly turn upward, it signifies death.
If the nose is withered, shriveled, and lacks luster, it signifies death.
If the nose is cold as ice and extends to both cheeks, death is likely.
If the patient's nose tip is bright and the root of the nose (Shan Gen) is luminous, with yellowish luster around the eyes, this indicates recovery (Qi Se).
If the tip of the nose is slightly white, it indicates loss of blood.
The chapter "Lun Ji Zhen Chi" (Discussing Diseases and Diagnosing the Forearm) in *Lingshu* states: When diagnosing the collateral vessels, many red colors indicate heat; many blue/green colors indicate pain; many black colors indicate chronic Bi syndrome (obstruction); if red, black, and blue/green colors are all present, it indicates mixed cold and heat. (Collateral vessels refer to the Luo vessels. In individuals with thin skin and flesh, they are visible to the naked eye.)
The chapter "Ping Ren Qi Xiang Lun" (Discussion on the Normal State and Signs of People) in *Suwen* states: Prominent blue/green veins on the arm indicate severe blood loss (Tuo Xue). (When blood is depleted in the collaterals, they do not appear red but rather blue/green.)
Withered hair forming tufts indicates insufficient blood and flourishing fire.
Hair that is not firm and falls out easily indicates deficient Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) or the presence of Wind pathogen.
Loss of eyebrows indicates Wind.
If the hair on the top of the head stands upright and reversed, it is an ominous sign. (Blood deficiency fails to nourish, making the hair stiff and straight like withered grass. This is common in pediatric Gan disease [malnutrition] and also indicates intestinal parasites.)
The human body consists primarily of Form (Xing), which is filled with Qi. If Form exceeds Qi, premature death occurs (e.g., obesity without sufficient Qi). If Qi exceeds Form, longevity is achieved (e.g., slender, dark-skinned, and spirited). When Qi is substantial, the Form is robust; when Qi is deficient, the Form is weak.
If the Form is robust but the pulse is fine, and breath is too short to sustain respiration, it signifies death. If the Form is emaciated but the pulse is large, with excessive Qi stagnation in the chest, it signifies death.
If Form and Qi are harmonious, life is sustained; if they are disordered and inconsistent, death ensues.
Obese people are prone to Zhong Feng (Wind Stroke) because their heavy form and deficient Qi hinder circulation, leading to stagnation and phlegm production.
Phlegm obstruction and Qi blockage transform into Fire, leading to sudden syncope (Bao Jue).
Emaciated people have Yin deficiency and depleted blood, causing Ministerial Fire (Xiang Huo) to hyperactive easily, thus often suffering from Lao Sou (consumptive cough).
If a patient has lost physical substance (Form) yet exhibits excess Qi, it signifies death. (Deficiency of Zheng Qi leads to loss of Form; excess of Evil Qi manifests as excess Qi.) Robust Form with loose and relaxed skin indicates longevity. Robust Form with tight and tense skin indicates premature death.
When Form and Qi are mismatched, the condition is difficult to treat.
Robust Form with deficient Qi, excess Qi with deficient Form, rough Form with slippery pulse, large Form with small pulse, small Form with large pulse, long Form with short pulse, short Form with long pulse, smooth Form with choppy pulse, fine and thread-like pulse in obese people, and restless pulse in emaciated people—all are ominous signs.
Excess Blood with deficient Qi results in obesity; Excess Qi with deficient Blood results in emaciation. Obese people can endure cold but not heat. Emaciated people can endure heat but not cold.
Beautiful beard extending to the chest indicates fullness of Qi and Blood in the Yangming channels. Sparse beard indicates weak Qi and Blood. Insufficiency results in no beard. Beautiful beard indicates abundant Blood in the Taiyang channel.
Sitting with one leg hanging down indicates lower back pain.
Slow walking indicates Bi syndrome. It may be due to exterior stiffness, lower back and leg pain, numbness from Wind disease, or interior excess protecting the abdomen, resembling holding an egg, indicating Heart pain.
During pulse diagnosis, if the patient yawns, there is no disease. (The classics state: Yang draws upward, Yin draws downward, causing yawning. The mutual attraction of Yin and Yang implies health, or that existing illness will heal.)
Shoulder movement during breathing indicates hardness in the chest center. Breathing that pulls Qi upward from the chest indicates cough. Open-mouthed breathing with shortness of breath indicates Fei Wei (Lung萎/Flaccidity) with spitting of foam.
If muscles and flesh have wasted away, even if the nine pulses are harmonious, death ensues.
Cold palms indicate cold in the abdomen. Hot palms indicate insufficiency of Yin and flourishing deficiency Fire.
During examination, if the patient crosses hands over the heart, closes eyes, and remains silent, it indicates Heart Qi deficiency with Xin Xu Zheng Tong (palpitations and anxiety).
If the Granary (Spleen/Stomach) cannot store, it is because the gates (orifices) cannot secure. If the Water Spring (urine) does not stop, it is because the Bladder cannot store.
The Head is the Mansion of Jing Ming (Spirit and Clarity). A drooping head and deep-set eyes indicate the depletion of Spirit.
The Back is the Mansion of the Chest. A curved back and drooping shoulders indicate the deterioration of the Mansion.
The Waist is the Mansion of the Kidney. Inability to twist or rotate indicates the exhaustion of the Kidneys.
The Knees are the Mansion of the Tendons. Inability to flex and extend, or stooping while walking, indicates the exhaustion of the Tendons.
The Bones are the Mansion of the Marrow. Inability to stand for long periods or trembling while walking indicates the exhaustion of the Bones.
Swollen eyelids and slightly swollen fingertips indicate chronic cough.