初起红色肿痛，语声清朗，亦无表里之症相兼者轻。已成肿痛，咽喉半闭半开，咯吐痰涎，饮食稍进者顺。
咽喉肿闭，牙关紧急，言语不清，痰壅气急、声小者险。咽喉骤闭，痰涎壅塞，口噤不开，探吐不出、声
喘者死。时疮之后，毒结咽间，肿痛腐烂，吐纳不堪、声哑者重。久嗽痰火、虚阳上攻，咳伤咽痛，但见声嘶
面红者死。
初起肿痛，寒热交作，头眩拘急者，邪在表也，宜发散。初起肿痛发热，脉有力而便秘者，邪在内也，宜
下之。肿痛寒热，口干作渴，脉洪大而有力者，宜发表攻里。咽喉肿痛，痰涎壅甚，面红口干，邪在上也，宜
探吐之。喉闭痰涎壅塞、气急，口噤难开，先刺少商，后行吐法。已成胀痛，咽喉涂塞，汤水不入，脓已成也，
宜急针之。肿痛微红，脉虚无力，午后痛者属阴虚，宜滋阴降火。肿痛色白，咯吐多涎，上午痛者属阳虚，宜
补中健脾。
一男子咽喉肿痛，发寒体倦，脉弦有力。此邪在表，以荆防败毒散加牛子、玄参一剂，表症已退，肿痛仍
作；又以玄参解
毒汤二剂，肿痛减半，又二剂而安。
一男子咽喉肿痛，痰涎壅盛。用金锁匙先吐稠痰，清咽利膈汤推荡积热，肿痛稍减，惟色红甚，此火热也。
又以黄连解毒汤加桔梗二剂，红肿亦退而安。
一男子素饮火酒，一时咽喉肿闭，口噤舌强，痰涎壅塞，势颇危急。用针先刺少商二穴，口噤方开；以桐
油饯鸡翎探吐稠痰数碗，语声方出。仍用针刺肿上，出紫血钟许，温汤漱净，冰硼散搽之，以凉膈散加芒硝、
天花粉利去积热。又以连翘散二剂而安。
一妇人肥甚，暑热咽间肿痛，痰涎上壅，语声不出甚危。先用针刺毒血，次以金锁匙吐去稠痰五、六碗，
以清咽利膈汤一服，肿痛少减，去硝黄又服而安。
一男子劳甚，咽喉肿痛。自服清咽利膈药不应，诊之脉细而虚，此劳伤虚火之症。朝以补中益气汤加麦冬、
五味子、桔梗、玄参，晚以四物汤加黄柏、知母、炒黑干姜，服加童便，不数日，肿痛亦消，疲回咽愈。
一妇人咽痛，微肿色白，吐咽不利，诊之脉亦细微，此中气不足、虚火假症也。用理中汤二服，其疼顿止；
又以补中益气汤加炒黄柏、知母数服，再不复作。
一男子肿痛日甚，服清咽利膈药不应，必欲作脓，以防风通圣散去硝、黄二服，喉脓胀痛，而下针便愈。
At the initial stage, if there is redness and swelling with pain in the throat, but the voice is clear, and there are no concurrent exterior or interior syndromes, the condition is mild.
If swelling and pain have formed, the throat is half-open and half-closed, phlegm-saliva can be expectorated, and food intake is slightly possible, this is a favorable prognosis (Shun).
If the throat is swollen and closed, the jaw is stiff, speech is unclear, phlegm is obstructive causing rapid breathing, and the voice is low, the condition is dangerous.
If the throat suddenly closes, phlegm-saliva is obstructive, the mouth is locked shut, vomiting cannot expel the obstruction, and panting occurs, it is a death case.
After the eruption of sores/pox, if toxic heat knots in the throat causing swelling, pain, and ulceration, with difficulty in breathing and swallowing, and hoarseness, the condition is severe.
In cases of chronic cough with phlegm-fire, or deficiency fire attacking upward, causing throat pain from coughing damage, if only hoarseness and facial flushing are seen, it is a death case.
If at the onset there is swelling and pain accompanied by alternating chills and fever, dizziness, and limb stiffness, the pathogen is in the Exterior; dispersing methods should be used.
If at the onset there is swelling, pain, fever, a forceful pulse, and constipation, the pathogen is in the Interior; purgative methods should be used.
If there is swelling, pain, chills, fever, dry mouth with thirst, and a large, forceful pulse, both releasing the exterior and attacking the interior should be employed.
If there is throat swelling and pain, excessive phlegm-saliva, flushed face, and dry mouth, indicating the pathogen is in the Upper Jiao, probing for vomiting should be used.
For throat closure with obstructive phlegm-saliva, rapid breathing, and inability to open the mouth due to lockjaw, first needle Shaoshang (LU-11), then perform emesis.
If there is already pus-forming distending pain, throat blockage preventing even liquid intake, indicating mature pus, urgent needling to drain is required.
If swelling and pain are slightly red, the pulse is deficient and weak, and pain worsens in the afternoon, it belongs to Yin Deficiency; nourishing Yin and descending fire is appropriate.
If swelling and pain are pale white, copious saliva is expectorated, and pain worsens in the morning, it belongs to Yang Deficiency; tonifying the Middle and strengthening the Spleen is appropriate.
A male patient presented with throat swelling and pain, aversion to cold, body fatigue, and a string-taut, forceful pulse. This indicated the pathogen was in the Exterior. Jingfang Baidu San (Schizonepeta and Saposhnikovia Decoction) plus Niu Bang Zi (Arctii Fructus) and Xuan Shen (Scrophulariae Radix) were administered for one dose. After the exterior syndrome subsided, the swelling and pain persisted; Xuanshen Jiedu Tang (Scrophularia Antidote Decoction) was given for two doses, reducing the swelling and pain by half, and after another two doses, he recovered.
A male patient presented with throat swelling and pain, and excessive phlegm-saliva. Jin Suo Chi (Golden Lock Key) was used first to induce vomiting of thick phlegm, followed by Qingyan Lige Tang (Throat-Clearing Diaphragm-Purging Decoction) to push out accumulated heat. The swelling and pain decreased slightly, but the area remained very red, indicating Fire-Heat. Huanglian Jiedu Tang (Coptis Antidote Decoction) plus Jie Geng (Platycodonis Radix) was administered for two doses, resolving the redness and swelling.
A male patient who habitually drank strong liquor suddenly developed throat swelling and closure, lockjaw, tongue stiffness, and obstructive phlegm-saliva, presenting a critical situation. Two needles were applied to Shaoshang (LU-11) bilaterally, unlocking the jaw. Chicken feathers soaked in tung oil were used to probe the throat and induce vomiting, expelling several bowls of thick phlegm, allowing speech to return. Needles were still used to prick the swollen area, draining about a bell-full of dark purple blood. The mouth was rinsed clean with warm water, and Bingpeng San (Ice and Borax Powder) was applied topically. Liangge San (Cooling the Diaphragm Decoction) plus Mang Xiao (Natrii Sulfas) and Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthis Radix) was taken internally to purge accumulated heat. Finally, Lianqiao San (Forsythia Powder) was administered for two doses, leading to recovery.
A female patient, significantly obese, suffered from summer-heat causing throat swelling and pain, with obstructive phlegm-saliva and loss of voice, in a critical state. Poisonous blood was first drained via needling, followed by Jin Suo Chi to vomit five to six bowls of thick phlegm. One dose of Qingyan Lige Tang reduced the swelling and pain; after removing Mang Xiao and Da Huang, continued administration led to recovery.
A male patient suffering from overwork developed throat swelling and pain. Self-medication with Qingyan Lige Tang was ineffective. Pulse diagnosis revealed a fine and deficient pulse, indicating a deficiency-fire syndrome due to labor injury. In the morning, Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Middle-Boosting Qi-Supplementing Decoction) plus Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus), Jie Geng, and Xuan Shen was administered. In the evening, Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) plus Huang Bai (Phellodendri Cortex), Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), and charred Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) was administered, with Tong Bian (Infant Urine) added to the medicine. Within a few days, the swelling and pain subsided, strength returned, and the throat healed.
A female patient presented with throat pain, slight swelling with pale color, and difficulty swallowing. Pulse diagnosis was also fine and subtle, indicating insufficient Middle Qi and a false symptom of deficiency fire. Lizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) was administered for two doses, stopping the pain immediately. Subsequently, Buzhong Yiqi Tang plus charred Huang Bai and Zhi Mu was taken for several doses, preventing recurrence.
A male patient experienced worsening daily swelling and pain. Qingyan Lige Tang was ineffective. Pus formation was inevitable. Fangfeng Tongsheng San (Saposhnikovia Universal Rescue Decoction) without Mang Xiao and Da Huang was administered for two doses. Upon throat abscess formation with distending pain, needling for drainage resulted in immediate cure.