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There are seven manifestations of heat syndromes in infants: redness of the cheeks and malar region, dry and constipated stool, yellow urine, incessant thirst, rapid breathing with Qi rebellion, heat in the soles of the feet, and red eyes. These all belong to Excess Heat syndromes, and warm tonification is contraindicated.

There are also seven manifestations of cold syndromes in infants: pale complexion, greenish-white stool, abdominal distension due to Liver deficiency, bluish eye whites, vomiting and diarrhea without fever, cold calves and feet, and sleeping with eyes partially open (exposed eyes). These all belong to Deficiency Cold syndromes, and cold-cooling agents are contraindicated.

The Liver belongs to the Foot Jueyin meridian and corresponds to Wood. In an Excess state, it manifests as red eyes, loud crying, frequent yawning accompanied by chest oppression; in a Deficiency state, it manifests as yawning and teeth grinding. When affected by Wind, the eyes may twitch or deviate; when affected by Heat, the eyes stare fixedly. If it progresses to Gan syndrome (malnutrition syndrome), a white membrane covers the pupil. The Liver governs anger; excess Liver Qi leads to irritability and loud crying, and severe crying may cause testicular swelling. Liver Heat causes difficulty in urination and defecation, grasping at clothing collars, random finger movements, and in severe cases, picking at empty air or bed sheets, which indicates the loss of Hun (Ethereal Soul). If an infant’s eyeballs do not move smoothly, or if the eyes remain closed without opening, or open without closing, or cry without tears, or weep without crying, these are signs of Liver Qi exhaustion.

The Heart belongs to the Hand Shaoyin meridian and corresponds to Fire. In an Excess state, it manifests as crying and screaming, fever, and desire for water; in a Deficiency state, it manifests as lethargy, palpitations, and restlessness. Sufficient Heart Blood results in a ruddy complexion that is easy to nourish; deficient Heart Blood results in a dull complexion that is difficult to nourish. Severe Heat dries up body fluids causing pathological thirst, disturbs the Shen (Spirit) leading to restless sleep, preference for prone position, tongue ulcers, and conditions such as double tongue, wooden tongue, and inability to retract the tongue. Conditions such as Dan toxicity (erysipelas), tumors, macules and papules, herpes zoster (shingles), tiger bone abscess, insect-related skin diseases, and malignant sores are all Heart syndromes. If Heart disease persists, sweating with wet hair, inability to retract the tongue, sudden aphonia, mental confusion, or blackening of macules and papules indicate Heart Qi exhaustion.

The Spleen belongs to the Foot Taiyin meridian and corresponds to Earth; it is the sea of food and fluids. In an Excess state, it manifests as lethargy, body heat, and desire for water; in a Deficiency state, it manifests as vomiting and diarrhea potentially triggering internal Wind (convulsions). Dampness invasion causes edema and distension, jaundice, vomiting, and diarrhea. Thus, Spleen disease causes abdominal pain; Spleen Gan syndrome presents with a large abdomen and visible epigastric veins. Spleen Heat causes bad breath and lip ulcers, poor conversion of food into muscle mass, protruding or rolling of the tongue, dry mouth with desire for water. Spleen Cold causes drooling from the corners of the mouth, known as "Stagnant Saliva." Disharmony of Spleen Qi causes frequent puckering of the lips. Deficiency leads to emaciation and anorexia. Food stagnation leads to accumulation, which over time becomes Gan syndrome or Pi masses. If Spleen disease persists, significant muscle wasting, large abdomen with visible veins or generalized edema, intractable vomiting and diarrhea, inability to retain food, eating much but remaining thin, worms emerging from the mouth, or stiff and retracted lips indicate Spleen Qi exhaustion.

The Lung belongs to the Hand Taiyin meridian and corresponds to Metal. In an Excess state, it manifests as chest oppression, irritability, and rapid panting; in a Deficiency state, it manifests as gasping and long sighs. The classics state: Cold injures the Lung (due to thin clothing and exposure to cold); Heat injures the Lung (due to overly thick and hot clothing). Cold and Heat injuring the Lung cause Qi rebellion leading to asthma and cough. Wind invading the Lung causes sneezing and clear nasal discharge; Cold causes nasal congestion and labored breathing; Heat causes dry nose or epistaxis. If it progresses to Gan syndrome, redness and erosion occur under the nose. Unremitting asthma causes facial edema; unremitting cough causes high sternum, known as "Turtle Chest." Dryness causes incessant thirst and desire for water, known as "Diaphragm Xiao" (thirst-polydipsia). If Lung disease persists, continuous coughing, unceasing panting, orthopnea (breathing with shoulder movement), turtle chest, hemoptysis, black and dry nostrils, open nostrils with panting, intractable dysentery, anus resembling a tube, puffy face and eyes, or upper body asthma with Qi rebellion indicate Lung Qi exhaustion.

The Kidney belongs to the Foot Shaoyin meridian and corresponds to Water. Kidney Deficiency manifests as photophobia, excessive sclera visibility, delayed fontanelle closure, sallow complexion, insufficient marrow filling, aversion to cold, and often presents as Five Soft Syndromes (weakness of head/neck, mouth, hands, feet, and muscles). Incomplete sacral bone development leads to delayed sitting; incomplete ankle bone development leads to delayed walking; insufficiency of True Yang leads to delayed tooth eruption; lack of blood vessel nourishment leads to sparse hair; insufficiency of Heart Qi leads to delayed speech. Heat causes otorrhea and ear Gan syndrome. If Kidney disease persists, extreme fatigue, bulging eyes as if seeing ghosts, skeletal weakness with inability to rise from lying down, or incontinence of urine and feces indicate Kidney failure.