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Throat diseases (Hou Zheng) are the critical nexus of the human body. Internally, they connect with the Zang-Fu organs (Viscera and Bowels); externally, they manifest in the five tones and five colors. They serve as the gate for the entry and exit of Qi (Vital Energy), the channel for voice transmission, and the necessary pathway for food and drink. This is indeed the true critical nexus. As the proverb says: "Pain in one finger causes ailments throughout the body," how much more so for the throat?

The origins of throat diseases often stem from one's inherent habits or lifestyle. These include a preference for fried and roasted foods, indulgence in pungent and sour flavors, lack of restraint in sexual desires, emotional instability (excessive anger or joy), overwork of the mind, addiction to lust, excessive alcohol consumption, and a combative, aggressive nature. All these factors can lead to disease. If one fails to maintain moderation in daily life and does not seek prompt treatment after onset, the root of the disease becomes deeply entrenched over time, making it difficult to eradicate.

Regarding dietary impacts: excessive sourness damages the Liver; excessive pungency damages the Lungs; excessive sweetness damages the Spleen; excessive bitterness damages the Heart; excessive saltiness damages the Kidneys; excessive cold intake leads to internal heat; excessive hot intake leads to internal cold. These are cases where dietary injuries to the Zang-Fu organs trigger throat diseases.

When throat diseases originate internally, the left side corresponds to the Liver, the right side to the Lungs, the tongue to the Heart, the lips to the Spleen, and the teeth to the Kidneys. Liver pathology manifests as a mournful voice; Lung pathology as a rapid voice; Heart pathology as a robust voice; Spleen pathology as a slow voice; Kidney pathology as a deep voice. This pertains to Zang organ and Large Intestine diseases. Large Intestine disease presents with a long voice; Small Intestine disease with a short voice; Stomach disease with a connected/continuous voice; Gallbladder disease with a clear voice; Bladder disease with a faint voice. The San Jiao (Triple Burner) has no independent pathology but shares its name; this pertains to Fu organ diseases. Pathologies of the Zang-Fu organs manifesting in the throat all arise from the interior and project outward.

However, external manifestations are categorized by deficiency and excess, tension and relaxation, Yin and Yang. Signs include redness and swelling, presence or absence of phlegm, heat or cold patterns, and spots of red, yellow, green, white, or black. Symptoms may include urgent breathing and coughing, hoarseness, rattling phlegm resembling thunder, air sounds like sawing wood, lockjaw (trismus), inability to retain exhaled air, persistent epistaxis (nosebleed), otorrhea (pus/blood from ears), mouth and tongue ulcers, lesions resembling tinea versicolor or shrimp skin, fleshy growths (meat bamboo shoots) of varying lengths that are extremely painful to touch, severe pain preventing swallowing despite lack of visible discoloration, hard or soft tongues, internal redness/swelling without external signs, or vice versa, thickened lips with gums enveloping teeth, accessory tongues growing under the main tongue which curls inward, nasal polyps or sub-pharyngeal nodules, mouths resembling dried lean pork, throat pain with bloody serous discharge from the nose, stone-hard tongue persisting for years leading to loss of function, dull complexion with despairing expression unable to speak, pediatric sores under the tongue raising toxic qi to form white membranes in the throat, chronic phlegm-fire burning the throat with red threads on mirrors but no white membrane, lateral tearing with loss of the central structure, facial paralysis with deviated mouth and eyes staring straight out, tongue protruding beyond teeth unable to retract, tongue trapped internally unable to extend, rightward transmission indicating severe disease, leftward transmission indicating mild disease, gum pain with prolonged purulent discharge, ulcers at the tooth angles penetrating inward, enlargement of the central structure with bright red oral cavity, halitosis from open mouth and breath, non-foul smelling pus from internal/external tubercles, morning onset with evening resolution accompanied by abdominal pain, coarse hard tongue extending an inch filling the mouth causing immobility, constipation with scanty frequent urination, generalized soft pain with inability to lift hands or walk, latent heat from chronic scrofula in the throat, internal injury hematemesis with yin fire causing throat pain, sudden wind-heat injury triggered by consuming foul substances, menstrual irregularities with downward blockage reversing upward causing throat pain, chronic nocturnal emissions leading to water deficiency and fire agitation causing oral pain.

Specific named conditions include: Double Song, Single Song, Double Swallow, Single Swallow, Double Goose Throat, Single Goose Throat, Double Entanglement, Single Entanglement, Xuanqi, Hejia, Kuang, Luoli, Chengzhen, Chengji, Doudi, HT, Lianzhu, Potou, Yantou, Datou, Chuan'e, Yulin, Yusun, Lianhua, Meihua, Heiding, Qiangshi, Mutong, Chongshe, Yan She, Huishet, She Yong, Lvzui, Yukou, Hou Yong, Hou Ding, Hou Jian, Hou Bi, Jianhou, Ya Yong, Ya Ding, Ya Gan, Feizhu, Ekou, Taidu, Suozi, etc. Although these symptoms are numerous, the treatment method should only involve lifting and dispelling wind, dispersing and detoxifying with cooling agents. One must strictly avoid purgatives, draining agents, tonics that generate heat/dryness, and astringents. The Classics state: "If toxin is in the throat, there is still hope; if toxin returns to the Zang-Fu, recovery is unlikely." All diseases originate from the Zang-Fu; physicians should treat their source through the Zang-Fu. Treating both internal and external meridians simultaneously makes one akin to an immortal.