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Yang throat (Yang Hou) refers to the manifestation of Yang Qi on the exterior. The color is red, the breath is scalding hot, the tongue is stiff and rigid, the chest feels tight with rapid breathing, the stool is dry and hard, the urine is scanty, difficult to pass, and frequent, the facial complexion must be red, the swollen areas inside and outside must be extremely hot to the touch, the breath from the mouth must be scalding and foul, the interior of the eyes must be red, the laryngoscope (throat mirror) reveals red thread-like meridians, the lips are red and swollen/thick, the fever or tidal fever in the Yang aspect is severe, there is excessive phlegm and saliva obstruction, speech is vigorous and loud, and the voice sounds angry; thus, this condition is indeed Yang throat. It can be treated with cold-natured herbs that clear the Heart, calm the Liver, and drain the Spleen.

Yin throat (Yin Hou) refers to the concealment of Yin Qi within. The color is cyan, white, or yellow, the breath temperature is warm and cool, the tongue is soft and inevitably curled/shrunken, the chest is wide/relaxed, urination and defecation are naturally smooth, the facial complexion is cyan and yellow, the swollen areas inside and outside are cyan, retaining their natural warm-cool state, the eyes are yellow, the interior of the laryngoscope appears pale, the tongue coating is white and yellow, there is tidal fever in the Yin aspect, or slight chills and slight fever, phlegm and saliva are scanty, the voice is mild and gentle, and the condition is deficient; thus, this is Yin throat. One should not use cold-natured drugs excessively; instead, one should heavily use Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix) as the main treatment to clear deficiency fire.

The Five Zang Organs refer to the Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung, and Kidney. Each carries five forms, and each form corresponds to a color. The Five Forms refer to Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. The Five Colors refer to Red, Cyan, Yellow, White, and Black. Diseases arising from generating relationships are mild, while those arising from overcoming relationships are severe. If the color is red, it belongs to the Heart; if cyan, to the Liver; if yellow, to the Spleen; if white, to the Lung; if black, to the Kidney. This is how the forms of the Five Zang manifest in the five colors. By opening the mouth to observe the color and shape in the throat, one can know which Zang organ initiated the disease. Generating relationships are easy to treat; overcoming relationships are difficult to cure. This is the authentic secret formula passed down; do not regard it as trivial words.

When pathogenic toxin attacks the Heart, it causes delirious and confused speech. When attacking the Liver, it causes the eyes to glare and stare straight ahead. When attacking the Lung, it causes hoarseness, coughing, and noisy breathing. When attacking the Kidney, it causes a deep, slow, and aphonic voice. When attacking the Spleen, it causes swelling above the neck and the formation of tubercles/lumps. This is the manifestation of residual toxin. Applying Chonghe San externally will cause it to dissipate; if it does not dissipate, it will suppurate, and pricking it with a needle to drain pus and blood will lead to recovery. The above are the symptoms of toxin attacking the Zang-Fu organs. As the proverb says: Toxin attacking the Zang-Fu organs is a fatal condition; ancient physicians did not treat it, leaving life to Heaven's will.