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The throat and pharynx have two openings: the left is the pharynx (Yan), belonging to the Stomach (the gateway for food intake); the right is the larynx (Hou), belonging to the Lung (the gateway for breath). Inside the mouth, the upper part belongs to the Stomach (Yin aspect), and the lower part belongs to the Spleen (Yang aspect). The center of the tongue belongs to the Heart, its periphery belongs to the Spleen, and the root of the tongue also belongs to the Heart meridian. The uvula, named "Diding," belongs to the Stomach.

The pathways connecting the left and right sides of the larynx to the root of the tongue are the Liver meridian; the area below the earlobes externally is also related to the Liver meridian. A white tongue coating indicates Cold syndrome; a yellow coating indicates Heat syndrome. If it is scorched yellow, the heat is severe; if black, the heat is extreme. Regardless of whether the tongue coating is yellow, scorched, or black, if it feels slippery and moist to the touch, it is not true Heat. One should not blindly use cooling herbs but instead employ the method of Ba Wei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia) to guide fire back to its source. An enlarged tongue with red edges indicates Fire of the Spleen, which can be treated with cooling agents. The location of a throat abscess (Hou Yong) belongs to the Liver. Moving inward about one cun, whether there is ulceration or swelling, it belongs to Fire-Toxin of the Stomach and Spleen. Jie Du (Syphilitic toxin or similar chronic toxic accumulation) may also present this way, but if the Guan pulse (radial pulse at the wrist corresponding to the Kidney/Liver/Spleen) is floating, it is not Jie Du; a sinking pulse indicates the true condition. This is a general overview of meridian differentiation. For various throat and tongue conditions, refer to the subsequent sections for morphological classification and careful examination to avoid errors.

(There are fourteen articles in total.)

When treating toxic diseases, one must assess whether the patient's Qi and Blood are robust. If Qi and Blood are strong, taking more cooling medicines is acceptable. However, if Qi and Blood are weak, cooling medicines should not be used excessively, as they will further deplete Qi and Blood; in such cases, using Shi Ba Wei Shen Yao (Eighteen-Ingredient Divine Medicine) is appropriate.

When treating redness and swelling in the throat, one must distinguish between an abscess (Yong) and tonsillitis/ulceration (E). If the symptoms are not clearly identified, do not administer other medications. First, administer one dose of Liu Wei Tang (Six-Ingredient Decoction), then insufflate Jin Bu Huan (Golden Unchanging Powder). After clarifying the condition, adjustments can be made. Do not change the prescription lightly or arbitrarily. In acute cases, pricking the affected area to release blood is also effective.

The Diding (uvula) is located in the center of the throat and serves as the master of the entire body. When using knives or needles, one must be extremely cautious not to injure it. Injury may lead to uncontrollable bleeding and stubborn swelling, which is very difficult to treat.

When examining symptoms at night, adequate illumination is required, and the case must be analyzed repeatedly. If the symptoms are not clearly visible, do not rashly use knives, needles, or random medications. Instead, have the patient take one dose of Liu Wei Tang (Six-Ingredient Decoction), gargle, and swallow, waiting until dawn to re-examine.

When examining patients who have painful swelling preventing them from opening their mouths or receiving insufflated medicine, moxa moxibustion can be applied to Jiache (ST6, Jawbone) acupoint for three to five moxa cones. Alternatively, Tong Guan San (Pass-the-Gate Powder) can be insufflated into the nose, or decocted water can be poured into the nose. The goal is for the patient to swallow repeatedly until the mouth opens.

When pricking the blue veins on both sides under the tongue, fresh blood indicates an easy-to-treat condition, whereas clotted black blood indicates a fatal prognosis. If phlegm, blood, and heat toxins are knotted in the chest, continuously administering Liang Ge San (Cooling the Diaphragm Powder) to resolve phlegm and detoxify is excellent.

All medicinal materials must be selected for their authentic origin and quality, ground into fine powders, and prepared for immediate use. Soak in boiling white water for one quarter-hour, filter out the dregs, and frequently gargle and swallow until finished. If decocting, do not boil for too long; a few boils are sufficient. Over-boiling reduces efficacy.

During annual epidemics of throat wind (Hou Feng), commonly known as Man Li Wen (Eel Carp Plague), characterized by swollen cheeks and contagious spread within neighborhoods, the condition belongs to the Shaoyang meridian. Use Liu Wei Tang (Six-Ingredient Decoction) supplemented with Zi Ye (Perilla Leaf), Qiang Huo (Notopterygium Rhizome), Niu Bang Zi (Arctii Fructus), and Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix), each one qian. This can cure the disease. If multiple family members are infected, prepare ten doses, decoct in a large pot, and distribute to each person.

Needles must be made of silver, thin like a large guiding needle, with a head size resembling a mustard seed, slightly chiseled with a small notch. There is a method of needle-moxibustion, designed to facilitate the placement of moxa cones.

Old moxa is superior. Shape it into cones the size of small mung beans, place them in the notch of the needle head, ignite with incense for moxibustion. The number of cones varies depending on the severity of the condition. (This is called needle-head moxibustion.)

For treating Hou Qiang (acute throat inflammation/abscess), do not use wide-headed, long steel needles. Recently, patients often fear manual manipulation. Moreover, the space in the throat is narrow; if the patient moves their head or shrinks back during the procedure, other areas might be injured. It is necessary to use copper, gold, or silver, fabricated with an outer tube housing a sharp blade inside. When pressed, the blade extends; when released, it retracts, preventing injury to surrounding tissues.

For acupuncture points on the body, head, and limbs, fine needles must be used. Only the five specific points on the ten fingers can be pricked with a three-edged needle, aiming for abundant bloodletting.

When examining the throat, if the patient rolls up their tongue, the throat becomes invisible. An object must be used to press down the tongue to prevent it from rolling up. Bone, teeth, or horn can serve as tongue depressors.

Prescriptions for treating specific diseases must strictly follow the dosages provided here. Do not hesitate to use heavy doses due to fear of harsh herbs like Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma). I am dedicated to saving lives and will never use excessive doses that harm patients. As the ancients said: "When there is disease, the disease bears the impact of the drug." How could it harm the patient? Do not easily listen to others' opinions, which may only delay proper treatment. Alas!