喉不肿，干痛难忍，气促者死。喉痛，头汗出者死。喉干痛无痰者死。喉声如雷及呛
食者死。孕妇喉痛，脉浮者死。
耳痛耳肿，与耳痛耳聋者，皆胆病。耳痛，耳鸣者，三焦病。耳痛耳叶黄者，类伤
寒。耳聋舌卷，唇青者，肝病险。耳聋发狂者，阳虚病。两耳枯焦者死。耳上起青筋者，
肝风。耳叶枯薄而青，耳叶枯薄而黑，耳叶枯薄而白者，皆肾败。
舌润如常，未生苔者，邪在表。苔见白滑者，邪入里。白苔滑者，邪在胆经。白苔
燥者，邪热。舌苔淡白者，里寒。白浓苔，如煮熟色者，寒积脾绝。白苔中黄者，邪入胃。
干白苔，中心黑者死。白苔起雪花片者，脾冷闭危。白苔尖生灰色刺者，十中救五。舌
尖白苔，根黄及根黑，或半边干半边湿者，胆病。半边白苔，半边黄黑苔者，危。白苔中
有黑点者，十中救二。（白苔多而滑，黄黑苔少者，多表邪。黄黑苔多而干白苔少者，多
里症。）白苔中两条黑者死。舌尖白苔，根黄苔者危。舌尖与根白苔，中心黑者死。舌尖
白苔，中红苔，根黑苔者死。白苔外烦躁欲坐卧泥水中，脉虚大者，是阴寒逼其无根之
火上扰，当温之。舌白色者失血。白苔腻者脾热。黄苔而滑者，热未盛。黄苔而干者，热
已盛。黄苔生芒刺黑点者，十中救二。黄苔起裂瓣者，胃液干。舌中黄苔，两边白苔者，
邪入内。舌两边黄苔，中心白苔者，邪入大肠。舌根黄苔，尖白苔，舌短缩者，胃热湿
痰及宿食。黄苔带黑苔者，肝热。黄苔带红色者，小肠热。浓湿黄苔，中心青紫色者，阴
症。黄苔带灰色者，胃热。黄苔带黑色者危。外感挟内伤五六日，黄苔中心干，两边润者。
里热（未重）。满舌黄黑苔燥者，里热已甚，当急润之。舌色黄者血虚。
舌红者暑症。舌红极者温毒。舌红中带白色者寒邪。舌红中夹两条灰色者，温疫挟
寒食。舌红有黑者，热毒入肾。舌红极有黄芒刺者，热毒入胃。舌中红晕，四边黑者热
极。舌红如虫咬者，火旺。舌红生大点者，胃热挟湿。舌红有白点者，心胞邪。舌红尖黑
者肾虚。舌红有黑点者，胃热。舌红起干裂纹者肝热。舌红胀烂者，湿热入脾。舌红生
白泡者，火旺。舌生紫疮者，火郁。舌生红点者，火炎。舌红嫩如新生，望之似润，摸
之干燥者，乃妄行汗下，津液竭死。
舌绛（深红色也）者，热入血分。舌绛兼白黄苔者，气分邪未尽。舌绛中心干者，心胃火
旺。舌绛望之似干，摸之湿者，津亏湿热盛欲蒙心胞。舌绛粘腻者秽浊。舌绦光亮者，胃
津亡。舌绛干燥者，火邪伤营。舌绦生黄白碎点者，欲发牙疳。舌绛干缩者，肾阴竭，十中救
二。舌尖干绛者，心火旺。舌底绛面有白苔者，湿热遏伏。初病舌便干，神清者，宜
扶正透邪。（如神便昏者不治。）舌边绛，中白如粉而滑者，邪在表。舌绛难伸者，痰阻舌
根。舌赤者里热。舌紫暗摸之湿者，瘀血挟热。舌紫肿大者酒毒。舌紫暗而干者，肝胃
绝。舌紫黑者阴寒。舌紫有红点，舌紫带干黄，舌紫短缩者，皆热毒。舌淡紫带青而滑
者，阴寒。舌紫带灰黑苔而滑者，邪伤血分。舌干紫如煮熟猪肝者死。
舌苔黑润，不发热不渴者，阴寒，当温之。黑苔而燥者，热病。黑苔而滑，发热者，
暑症。黑苔生干芒刺，刮去底色红者生，底色黑者死，刮去又生者死。青苔者寒极。舌
卷干黑者热病。冬月黑苔者死。黑苔舌烂者心肾绝。舌根黑舌尖白者，胃火犯肾。舌根
黑，舌尖红者，肾邪。白苔有黑点者胃热。舌黑而缩者肝绝。舌黑生紫泡者肝绝。舌心一
条黑燥，两边或白或黄者，两感症。舌心一条黑润，两边白者，表里皆虚。舌黑带红者，
肾虚挟邪。舌半黑半黄，或半黄半白，或中干边润，或尖干根润者，传并之邪。舌红露
黑纹数条者，阴症。舌外红内黑者，热极。外白内黑，外黄内黑者，皆热极。
舌灰黑者阴邪。灰黑苔而干者热传里。舌灰色薄润者，阴寒。舌灰黄干裂者，热病。舌
灰色中有黑晕者，邪入肾。舌中灰黑，四边微红者，邪入大肠。热毒内传一次者，见灰
黑晕一重，（热毒内传二三次者，见灰黑晕二三重。）不治。初病舌便灰色无苔者，寒食痰
水。感冒妄行汗下，二便通，舌灰黑而滑或干者，虚火上炎。白苔中心渐黑者，热传里。
红苔渐黑者，热病险。舌冲酱色者，夹食伤寒。
舌强难动者危。舌生干糙裂刺者危。舌收敛如干荔枝肉者危。舌亮如镜面无苔者，胃
绝。舌现人字纹者死。舌蓝色者肝绝。舌吐出数寸者危。舌吐出难收者热极。舌缩入喉，
难言者寒极。舌短者宿食，危。舌肿大者，热极，急砭之。舌硬者为痰，危。舌枯缩者心
绝，舌瘦而长者心绝。啮舌者死。 舌者危。舌卷神昏者危。汗出不流，舌卷者死。伤寒，
舌吐出者死。
The throat is not swollen, but dry and painfully sore, accompanied by shortness of breath; this indicates death. Sore throat with sweating on the head; this indicates death. Dry and painful throat without phlegm; this indicates death. Noisy breathing like thunder in the throat and choking on food; this indicates death. Sore throat in pregnant women with a floating pulse (Fu Mai, superficial pulse); this indicates death.
Ear pain and swelling, as well as ear pain with deafness, are all diseases of the Gallbladder channel. Ear pain with tinnitus is a disease of the Sanjiao (Triple Burner). Ear pain with yellowing of the auricle resembles Shaoyang syndrome (Shanghan). Deafness with tongue retraction and cyanotic lips indicates a critical Liver disease. Deafness with mania indicates Yang deficiency. Withered and scorched ears indicate death. Blue veins appearing above the ears indicate Liver wind. Withered and thin auricles that are blue, black, or white all indicate Kidney failure.
A moist tongue surface resembling normal conditions without coating indicates pathogenic factors at the Exterior. A white and slippery coating indicates pathogenic factors entering the Interior. A white and slippery coating indicates pathogenic factors in the Gallbladder meridian. A dry white coating indicates pathogenic heat. A pale white coating indicates Interior cold. A thick, greasy white coating resembling the color of cooked food indicates cold accumulation and Spleen Qi exhaustion. A white coating with yellow center indicates pathogenic factors entering the Stomach. A dry white coating with a black center indicates death. White coating with snowflake-like patches indicates critical Spleen cold obstruction. White coating with gray thorns at the tip: five out of ten cases can be saved. White coating at the tongue tip, yellow or black at the root, or half dry and half wet indicates Gallbladder disease. Half white coating and half yellow-black coating is critical. White coating with black spots: two out of ten cases can be saved. (When white coating is abundant and slippery, and yellow/black coating is scarce, it is mostly Exterior pathogen. When yellow/black coating is abundant and dry white coating is scarce, it is mostly Interior syndrome.) Two black lines in the white coating indicate death. White coating at the tip, yellow coating at the root is critical. White coating at both tip and root, black in the center indicates death. White coating at the tip, red in the middle, black at the root indicates death. Restlessness outside the white coating, desiring to sit or lie in mud/water, with a deficient and large pulse, indicates Yin cold forcing rootless fire to float upward; warm treatment is indicated. White tongue color indicates blood loss. Greasy white coating indicates Spleen heat. Slippery yellow coating indicates heat is not yet severe. Dry yellow coating indicates heat is already severe. Yellow coating with芒刺 (thorns) and black spots: two out of ten cases can be saved. Cracked and flaking yellow coating indicates Stomach fluid exhaustion. Yellow coating in the center, white on both sides indicates pathogenic factors entering the Interior. Yellow coating on both sides, white in the center indicates pathogenic factors entering the Large Intestine. Yellow coating at the root, white at the tip, with tongue shortening indicates Stomach heat, damp-phlegm, and retained food. Yellow coating with black indicates Liver heat. Yellow coating with red indicates Small Intestine heat. Thick, wet yellow coating with a cyan-purple center indicates Yin syndrome. Yellow coating with gray indicates Stomach heat. Yellow coating with black is critical. External contraction complicated by internal injury for five to six days, with dry yellow coating in the center and moist on both sides, indicates Interior heat (not severe). Full tongue with dry yellow-black coating indicates extreme Interior heat; urgent moistening is required. Yellow tongue color indicates Blood deficiency.
Red tongue indicates Summerheat syndrome. Extremely red tongue indicates Warm toxicity. Red tongue with white indicates Cold pathogen. Red tongue with two gray streaks indicates Warm epidemic complicated by cold and food retention. Red tongue with black indicates Heat toxin entering the Kidney. Extremely red tongue with yellow thorns indicates Heat toxin entering the Stomach. Red halo in the center, black on four sides indicates extreme heat. Tongue red like insect bites indicates Fire flourishing. Large red spots on the tongue indicate Stomach heat with dampness. White spots on a red tongue indicate Pericardium pathogen. Black tip on a red tongue indicates Kidney deficiency. Black spots on a red tongue indicate Stomach heat. Dry cracks on a red tongue indicate Liver heat. Swollen and ulcerated red tongue indicates Damp-heat entering the Spleen. White blisters on a red tongue indicate Fire flourishing. Purple sores on the tongue indicate Fire stagnation. Red points on the tongue indicate Fire flaming. Tender red tongue looking moist but feeling dry upon touch indicates death due to fluid exhaustion from improper sweating and purging.
Jiang tongue (deep red) indicates Heat entering the Blood level. Jiang tongue with white/yellow coating indicates residual Qi-level pathogen. Dry center of Jiang tongue indicates Heart and Stomach Fire flourishing. Jiang tongue appearing dry but feeling moist indicates Yin deficiency with excessive Damp-Heat about to cloud the Pericardium. Sticky Jiang tongue indicates turbid pathogens. Bright Jiang tongue indicates loss of Stomach fluids. Dry Jiang tongue indicates Fire pathogen damaging Ying level. Yellow/white fragmented spots on Jiang tongue indicate impending dental gangrene. Dry and shrunken Jiang tongue indicates Kidney Yin exhaustion; two out of ten cases can be saved. Dry and Jiang tip indicates Heart Fire flourishing. Jiang bottom with white coating indicates Damp-Heat suppression. Dry tongue at onset with clear spirit indicates support Righteous Qi and expel pathogen. (If spirit is confused, it is untreatable.) Jiang edges with white powdery slippery center indicate pathogen at Exterior. Inability to extend Jiang tongue indicates Phlegm obstructing tongue root. Red tongue indicates Interior heat. Purple-dark and moist tongue indicates Blood stasis with heat. Swollen purple tongue indicates alcohol toxicity. Purple-dark and dry tongue indicates Liver and Stomach exhaustion. Purple-black tongue indicates Yin cold. Purple tongue with red dots, dry yellow tint, or shortening all indicate Heat toxin. Pale purple with cyan and slippery indicates Yin cold. Purple with gray-black slippery coating indicates pathogen damaging Blood level. Dry purple like cooked pig liver indicates death.
Black and moist coating without fever/thirst indicates Yin cold; warm treatment is indicated. Dry black coating indicates Heat disease. Slippery black coating with fever indicates Summerheat. Dry thorns on black coating: if base is red after scraping, survival; if black, death; if regrows, death. Cyan coating indicates extreme cold. Retracted, dry, black tongue indicates Heat disease. Black coating in winter indicates death. Black and rotting tongue indicates Heart and Kidney exhaustion. Black root, white tip indicates Stomach Fire attacking Kidney. Black root, red tip indicates Kidney pathogen. White coating with black spots indicates Stomach heat. Black and contracted tongue indicates Liver exhaustion. Black with purple blisters indicates Liver exhaustion. One dry black line in center, white/yellow on sides indicates Lianggan syndrome (simultaneous exterior/interior infection). One moist black line in center, white on sides indicates Exterior and Interior deficiency. Black with red indicates Kidney deficiency with pathogen. Half black/half yellow, or half yellow/half white, or dry center/moist edge, or dry tip/moist root indicates transmitted and combined pathogen. Red tongue with several black streaks indicates Yin syndrome. Red outside, black inside indicates extreme heat. White outside/black inside, or yellow outside/black inside all indicate extreme heat.
Gray-black tongue indicates Yin pathogen. Dry gray-black coating indicates Heat transmitting to Interior. Thin and moist gray coating indicates Yin cold. Gray-yellow cracked coating indicates Heat disease. Black halo in gray coating indicates pathogen entering Kidney. Gray-black center, slightly red sides indicates pathogen entering Large Intestine. Heat toxin transmitting internally once shows one layer of gray-black halo; twice or thrice shows two to three layers; untreatable. Gray tongue without coating at onset indicates cold, food, phlegm, and water. Improper sweating/purging in cold-damp with unobstructed urination/defecation, gray-black slippery or dry tongue, indicates deficient Fire flaming upward. White coating gradually turning black in center indicates Heat transmitting to Interior. Red coating gradually turning black indicates critical Heat disease. Soy-sauce colored tongue indicates cold-damp complicated by food retention.
Stiff tongue difficult to move is critical. Dry, rough, cracked, thorny tongue is critical. Tongue shrunk like dried lychee meat is critical. Mirror-like tongue without coating indicates Stomach exhaustion. Human-character pattern on tongue indicates death. Blue tongue indicates Liver exhaustion. Tongue protruding several inches is critical. Tongue protruding and unable to retract indicates extreme heat. Tongue retracted into throat, unable to speak indicates extreme cold. Short tongue indicates retained food, critical. Swollen tongue indicates extreme heat; urgent bloodletting with bi stone is needed. Hard tongue indicates Phlegm, critical. Withered and shrunken tongue indicates Heart exhaustion; thin and long tongue also indicates Heart exhaustion. Biting tongue indicates death. Trembling tongue is critical. Retracted tongue with confusion is critical. Sweating without flow, retracted tongue indicates death. Protruding tongue in Shanghan indicates death.