脾之荣，在唇四白。胃脉环唇。肝脉环唇内。三经热盛则唇红甚，寒则青黑，
气血两虚则黄白，血液虚热则干燥，燥甚则裂，风动则 。（唇动不止也。）验脏腑
之寒热，莫便于此。
唇干，生地、麦冬、山药、当归、白芍、人参、蜜。冬月唇干折裂血出，
用桃仁捣，猪脂调涂。唇裂，石膏、黄连、当归、生地、石斛、竹茹、生甘草、蜜。
风热者，白芷、升麻、防风、黄芩、甘草。唇 ，柴胡、防风、荆芥、山栀、生甘
草、当归、赤小豆、薏苡。唇青黑，理中汤（见中风）。唇茧，肿起白皮，皱裂
如蚕茧。亦有唇下肿如黑枣者。亦有不肿，缩紧小，起白皮者，名紧茧。皆燥热所
致，治须润燥、清火、消风，大概以养血为要。肾虚者，内热口干，吐痰体瘦，济
阴地黄丸；肝火，柴胡清肝散；胃火，清胃散（见齿）；脾经风湿，泻黄饮子。唇疮，虫
食喉则上唇疮，声哑；食肛则下唇疮，咽干，黄连、犀角、乌梅、木香、雄黄、桃
仁，煎服。亦有气郁生疮，甑上滴下汗，传之如神，白荷花瓣贴之
亦效。小儿燕口疮，燕窠土擦，发灰擦，并效。大抵唇、口、舌诸疮，暴发赤
肿痛者，多实热，凉膈散（见发热）、栀子金花汤可用。若日久色淡疮白，时痛时否，多
属虚热，清心莲子饮（见赤白浊）、四物汤（见血）加知、柏、丹皮，少佐肉桂，补中兼清
可也。若服凉药久不愈者，以七味地黄汤（见虚损）冷服，引火归元，甚则加附子。
The flourishing manifestation of the Spleen is seen in the "four whites" around the lips (the pale skin surrounding the vermilion border of the lips). The Stomach meridian circles the lips. The Liver meridian circles inside the lips. When heat pathogen is excessive in these three meridians, the lips become intensely red; when cold is excessive, they turn cyanotic and black; when both Qi and Blood are deficient, they appear yellowish-white; when Blood is deficient with internal heat, the lips become dry, and severe dryness leads to cracking; when Wind moves, the lips tremble uncontrollably. (Note: Uncontrollable lip trembling refers to continuous twitching.) To verify the cold or heat status of the Zang-Fu organs, there is no more convenient method than observing the lips.
For dry lips, use Shengdi Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Renshen (Ginseng Radix), and honey. In winter, if lips are dry, cracked, and bleeding, crush Taoren (Persicae Semen) and apply it mixed with suet (pig fat). For cracked lips, use Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Shengdi Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis), Zhuru (Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam), Sheng Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Recens), and honey. For wind-heat patterns, use Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma). For lip tremors, use Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Jingjie (Schizonepetae Spica), Shanzhi (Gardeniae Fructus), Sheng Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Recens), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chixiaodou (Adzuki Bean), and Yiyiren (Coicis Semen). For cyanotic and black lips, use Lizhong Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction for Warming the Middle - see Stroke chapter). A "lip cocoon" refers to swelling with white peeling skin, wrinkled and cracked like a silkworm cocoon. There are also cases where swelling under the lip resembles a black date. There are also cases without swelling, but with contraction, tightening, shrinking, and white peeling skin, named "tight cocoon." All are caused by dryness-heat. Treatment requires moistening dryness, clearing fire, and dispelling wind, generally prioritizing nourishing Blood. For Kidney deficiency presenting with internal heat, dry mouth, expectoration, and emaciation, use Jiyin Dihuang Wan (Nourishing Yin Rehmannia Pill); for Liver fire, use Chaihu Qinggan San (Bupleurum Decoction to Clear Liver Heat); for Stomach fire, use Qingwei San (Clear Stomach Powder - see Teeth chapter); for Damp-Wind in the Spleen meridian, use Xiehuang Yinzi (Draining Yellow Infusion). For lip sores: if parasites erode the throat, upper lip sores occur with hoarseness; if they erode the anus, lower lip sores occur with dry throat. Use Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Xijiao (Rhinocerotis Cornu - note: substitute with water buffalo horn in practice), Wumei (Mume Fructus), Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix), Xionghuang (Realgar), and Taoren (Persicae Semen) decocted and taken orally. Some sores arise from Qi stagnation; applying sweat dripping from a steamer vessel is said to be miraculous, and applying petals of white lotus flowers is also effective. For infant Yan Kou Chuang (angular cheilitis/swallow's mouth sore), rubbing with soil from swallow nests or using ash from burnt hair is effective. Generally, sudden onset of redness, swelling, and pain in sores of the lips, mouth, and tongue indicates excess heat; Liangge San (Cool the Diaphragm Powder - see Fever chapter) or Zhizi Jinhua Tang (Gardenia Golden Flower Decoction) can be used. If the condition persists for a long time with pale color and white sores, alternating pain and relief, it mostly belongs to deficiency heat; Qingxin Lianzi Yin (Clear Heart Lotus Seed Infusion - see Red and White Turbid Urine chapter) or Siwu Tang (Four Substance Decoction - see Blood chapter) added with Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), and Danpi (Moutan Cortex), with a small amount of Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex), to tonify while clearing heat, is appropriate. If the condition does not resolve after prolonged use of cooling herbs, take Qiwai Dihuang Tang (Seven-Ingredient Rehmannia Decoction - see Deficiency Damage chapter) cold to guide fire back to its source; in severe cases, add Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata).