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In children under three years of age, the pulse pattern (Mai Wen) on the three sections—Yin, Mao, and Chen—of the index finger at the tiger's mouth is observed to diagnose the disease. If the pulse pattern starts from the Yin section but does not reach the Mao section, it is easy to cure. If it connects to the Mao section, it is difficult to heal. If the Yin section invades the Mao section, or if the Mao section extends past into the Chen section, the condition is most severe. The pulse patterns appear in five colors: blue indicates fright; red indicates heat; purple indicates diarrhea due to wind-heat. Other cases can be inferred by analogy. Furthermore, if the color of the pattern is distinct and winding, it indicates the presence of Stomach Qi (Wei Qi), making it easy to treat. If the pattern is thin, pale, and straight like a blade edge, it indicates deficiency of healthy Qi, making it difficult to treat. A single dot appearing separately on the pattern, resembling a flowing pearl, indicates retained food. A separate thread-like line beside the pattern indicates wind-phlegm. If the pattern slants inward, it is easy to cure; if it slants toward the fingernail, it is difficult to cure. After three years of age, the pulse is distinguished by turning one finger side to side. For children aged five to six, a normal pulse (Ping Mai) beats six to seven times per respiration. Floating (Fu) indicates wind; floating, large, and rapid indicates wind-heat; deep and fine indicates cold; deep and choppy indicates food retention; hidden and knotted indicates accumulation of masses; faint and fine indicates infantile malnutrition (Gan Ji) or abdominal pain; floating and surging indicates heat; floating and slow indicates cold; wiry and urgent indicates disharmony of Qi; hurried and intermittent indicates deficient fright; chaotic pulse indicates untreatable conditions. This discusses the general principles of pulse diagnosis.

The left cheek corresponds to the Liver; the right cheek corresponds to the Lungs; the forehead corresponds to the Heart; the nose corresponds to the Spleen; the chin (Yi) corresponds to the Kidneys. Blue complexion indicates unresolved fright and accumulation; red indicates phlegm accumulation and fright-heat; yellow indicates food accumulation and癖 mass (Pi); white indicates diarrhea with undigested food; black indicates injury to Kidney Qi. Redness inside the eyes indicates excess heat in the Heart; pale red indicates deficient heat in the Heart; blue indicates excess heat in the Liver; pale blue indicates deficient heat in the Liver; yellow indicates excess heat in the Spleen; white and turbid indicates excess heat in the Lungs; lack of luster in the eyes indicates Kidney deficiency. If the eyes lack spirit entirely, it means the Five Zang organs are all insufficient, and the child will likely not survive.

The Heart governs fright. In Heart excess, there is crying and wailing, fever, thirst for water, and convulsions. In Heart deficiency, there is lethargy, sleepiness, and palpitations. Heart heat causes sleeping face-down, upward staring, and teeth grinding. Excess Heart Qi leads to a preference for lying on the back. The Liver governs wind. In Liver excess, there is bluish complexion, fixed gaze, crying, high fever, neck stiffness, and sudden chest oppression. In Liver deficiency, there is teeth grinding and yawning. Liver heat causes grasping at clothing collars, random fidgeting, high fever, thirst, wheezing, and chest oppression. Wind in the Liver causes frequent blinking; combined with Heart heat, it causes convulsions, tight tendons and vessels, and fixed gaze. Liver heat causes red eyes; combined with blue, it causes convulsions. Severe wind causes opisthotonos and rigidity. The Spleen governs stagnation/lethargy. In Spleen excess, there is body heat and thirst. In Spleen deficiency, there is vomiting, diarrhea, and generation of wind. Pale complexion, abdominal pain, cold breath, anorexia, or vomiting clear fluid indicate Cold-Deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach. Frequent yawning and excessive sleep indicate Spleen Qi deficiency predisposing to fright. The Lungs govern panting. In Lung excess, there is chest distress, irritability, rapid breathing, thirst. In Lung deficiency, there is sighing and difficulty exhaling. Lung heat causes scratching at eyebrows, eyes, nose, and face. If Lung Qi is abundant and complicated by wind-cold, there is chest fullness, rapid breathing, cough, and rebellious Qi. Weakness of the Lungs manifests as white lips. Chest distress, coarse breathing, rapid panting, and sighing indicate Lung deficiency with pathogenic excess. The Kidneys govern sighing sounds; these are all due to congenital deficiency and weakness, insufficient Shen Qi, lack of luster in the eyes, pale complexion, and open fontanelles. These conditions are difficult to nurture; even if nurtured, life span is short. Eyes fearing light and rolling downward indicate heavy bones causing the body to curl up. Teeth grinding indicates Kidney Water deficiency failing to control Heart Fire. Only in smallpox does a black sunken appearance occur as an excess syndrome, which is due to hyperactive pathogenic fire, not an abundance of healthy Qi.