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(Real and Deficient Patterns of Liver Meridian Pulse and Disease)
The Liver corresponds to Wood, prospers in Spring, its pulse is Xian (Wiry), it governs Hun (Ethereal Soul), its external manifestation is the eyes, its luster appears in the nails, it nourishes the sinews; its vocalization is shouting, its odor is fishy, its taste is sour, its fluid is tears, its color is green, its function is storing Blood, and the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian is its channel. It combines with the Gallbladder to form a Fu organ, where the Gallbladder governs the exterior, while the Liver, as a Zang organ, governs the interior. Excess Liver Qi leads to surplus Blood, resulting in red eyes, pain in both hypochondriac regions radiating to the lower abdomen, and irritability; if Liver Qi rebels upward, it causes dizziness, deafness and poor hearing, and forehead swelling. This constitutes an Excess pattern of Liver Qi, which should be treated by draining. Deficiency of Liver Qi leads to blurred vision, stiffness and spasm in both hypochondriac regions, tendon cramps preventing deep breathing, dry and bluish nails, irritability, and fear as if being hunted. This constitutes a Deficient pattern of Liver Qi, which should be treated by tonifying, and one must avoid exposure to wind. The Liver pulse region is located at the Guan position on the left hand. When the Guan pulse comes leisurely, like pressing the strings of a zither or holding up a long pole, it indicates health. In Spring, when Liver Wood is prosperous, a pulse that is Xian (wiry), thin, and long is considered a Normal Pulse (Ping Mai). If instead a faint, choppy, and short pulse is obtained, it indicates Lung Metal overcoming Liver Wood (Metal overcoming Wood), termed "Thief Qi," which is a major reversal and difficult to treat. If instead a floating, large, and surging pulse is obtained, it indicates Heart Fire overcoming Liver Wood (Child overcoming Mother), representing Excess Evil; although ill, recovery is expected. If instead a deep, soft, and slippery pulse is obtained, it indicates Kidney Water overcoming Liver Wood (Mother overcoming Child), representing Deficient Evil; although ill, recovery is expected. If instead a moderate and large pulse is obtained, it indicates Spleen Earth overcoming Liver Wood (Earth suppressing Wood), representing Minor Evil; although ill, death will not occur. A Liver pulse that is full, solid, and slippery, like tracing a long pole, is Normal. A Liver disease pulse that is urgent and strong, like a newly strung bowstring, indicates Liver Death. When the True Liver Pulse appears, it is tense inside and out, like touching a knife edge making a 'ze ze' sound, or like a newly strung bowstring; with a greenish-white complexion lacking luster, death occurs upon the falling of hair.

(Real and Deficient Patterns of Heart Meridian Pulse and Disease)
The Heart corresponds to Fire, prospers in Summer, its pulse is like a hook and is Hong (Surging/Large), its external manifestation is the tongue, its vocalization is speech, its odor is scorched, its taste is bitter, its fluid is sweat, its function is nourishing Blood, its color is red, it governs Shen (Spirit), and the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian is its channel. It combines with the Small Intestine to form a Fu organ, where the Small Intestine governs the exterior. Excess Heart Qi leads to surplus Spirit, resulting in pain in the chest interior, fullness and distension in the hypochondrium, pain under the ribs, pain in the chest, back, shoulders, thighs, and inner arms, and incessant laughter. This constitutes an Excess pattern of Heart Qi, which should be treated by draining. Deficiency of Heart Qi leads to abdominal distension, pain radiating between the hypochondrium and lower back, palpitations, confusion, pallor, stiffness of the tongue root, and frequent sorrow and grief. This constitutes a Deficient pattern of Heart Qi, which should be treated by tonifying, and one must avoid warm clothing and hot food. The Heart pulse region is located at the Cun Kou position on the left hand. When the Cun Kou pulse comes continuously like linked pearls, like tracing fine jade, it indicates health. The Heart relies on Stomach Qi; in Summer, when Heart Fire is prosperous, a pulse that is floating, large, and scattered is named a Normal Pulse. If instead a deep, soft, and slippery pulse is obtained, it indicates Kidney Water overcoming Heart Fire (Water overcoming Fire), a major reversal difficult to treat. If instead a wiry and long pulse is obtained, it indicates Liver Wood overcoming Heart Fire (Mother overcoming Child); although ill, recovery is expected. If instead a moderate and large pulse is obtained, it indicates Spleen Earth overcoming Heart Fire (Child overcoming Mother); although ill, recovery is expected. If instead a faint, choppy, and short pulse is obtained, it indicates Lung Metal overcoming Heart Fire (Metal suppressing Fire), representing Minor Evil; although ill, death will not occur. A Heart pulse that is rapid and connected, slightly curved in the middle, indicates Heart Disease. A dying Heart pulse is curved at the front and rigid at the back, like holding a hooked belt, indicating Heart Death. When the True Heart Pulse appears, it is firm and beating, like tracing multiple Job's tears seeds; with a reddish-black complexion lacking luster, death occurs upon the falling of hair.

(Real and Deficient Patterns of Spleen Meridian Pulse and Disease)
The Spleen corresponds to Earth, prospers in Late Summer, its pulse is Huan (Moderate/Relaxed), its external manifestation is the mouth, its vocalization is singing, its odor is fragrant, its taste is sweet, its fluid is saliva, its function is nourishing flesh and muscle, its color is yellow, it governs Yi (Intellect), and the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian is its channel. It combines with the Stomach to form a Fu organ, where the Stomach governs the exterior, while the Spleen, as a Zang organ, governs the interior. Excess Spleen Qi leads to surplus Form, resulting in abdominal distension, difficulty in urination, heaviness of the body despite hunger, foot weakness and inability to walk, and frequent pain in the soles. This constitutes an Excess pattern of Spleen Qi, which should be treated by draining. Deficiency of Spleen Qi leads to paralysis of the four limbs, diarrhea with undigested food, vomiting and regurgitation, abdominal distension, and borborygmus. This constitutes a Deficient pattern of Spleen Qi, which should be treated by tonifying, and one must avoid warm/greasy meals, damp places, and wet clothes. The Spleen pulse region is located at the Guan position on the right hand. In the sixth month, when Spleen Earth is prosperous, a pulse that is grand and relaxed is named a Normal Pulse. Late Summer relies on Stomach Qi. If instead a wiry and urgent pulse is obtained, it indicates Liver Wood overcoming Spleen Earth (Wood overcoming Earth), a major reversal difficult to treat. If instead a faint, choppy, and short pulse is obtained, it indicates Lung Metal overcoming Spleen Earth (Child overcoming Mother); it will heal without treatment. If instead a floating and surging pulse is obtained, it indicates Heart Fire overcoming Spleen Earth (Mother returning to Child); recovery is expected without death. If instead a deep, soft, and slippery pulse is obtained, it indicates Kidney Water overcoming Spleen Earth (Water suppressing Earth), representing Minor Evil; recovery is expected. A Spleen pulse that is long and weak, coming slowly and departing frequently, with two beats per respiration is Normal, three beats is Li Jing (Departing from the Channel), four beats is Duo Jing (Loss of Essence), five beats is Ming Jin (End of Life), and six beats is Death. A diseased Spleen pulse is solid and vigorous, like a chicken lifting its foot, indicating Spleen Disease. A dying Spleen pulse is hard and sharp like a bird pecking, like a bird's claw, like water leaking from a roof, or dripping water, indicating Spleen Exhaustion. The True Spleen Pulse is weak and intermittent; with a complexion lacking luster, death occurs upon the falling of hair.

(Real and Deficient Patterns of Lung Meridian Pulse and Disease)
The Lung corresponds to Metal, prospers in Autumn, its pulse is like down and floating, its external manifestation is the nose, its vocalization is weeping, its odor is raw/fishy, its taste is pungent, its fluid is nasal mucus, its function is nourishing skin and hair, it governs Qi, its color is white, it governs Po (Corporeal Soul), and the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian is its channel. It combines with the Large Intestine, where the Large Intestine is a Fu organ governing the exterior, and the Lung is a Zang organ governing the interior. Excess Lung Qi leads to surplus Qi, resulting in wheezing, coughing, rebellious Qi, shoulder and back pain, sweating, and pain in the coccyx, yin region, thighs, knees, shins, and feet. This constitutes an Excess pattern of Lung Qi, which should be treated by draining. Deficiency of Lung Qi leads to shortness of breath and inability to complete inhalation, deafness, and dry throat. This constitutes a Deficient pattern of Lung Qi, which should be treated by tonifying. One must avoid cold food and clothing. The Lung desires consolidation; urgently consume sour flavors to consolidate it, and use pungent flavors to drain it. The Lung pulse region is located at the Cun Kou position anterior to the Guan on the right hand. A Lung pulse that is faint, short, and choppy like down is named a Normal Pulse. Autumn relies on Stomach Qi. A pulse coming up and down like tracing chicken feathers indicates Diseased Lung Pulse. With a white complexion, body cold without fever, frequent desire to cough, and a faint and slow pulse, the condition is treatable. In Autumn, when Metal and Lung are prosperous, a pulse that is floating, choppy, and short is a Normal Pulse. If instead a floating, large, and surging pulse is obtained, it indicates Heart Fire overcoming Lung Metal (Fire overcoming Metal), a major reversal difficult to treat. If instead a deep, soft, and slippery pulse is obtained, it indicates Kidney Water overcoming Lung Metal (Child overcoming Mother); it will heal without treatment. If instead a moderate, large, and long pulse, appearing comfortable, is obtained, it indicates Spleen Earth overcoming Lung Metal (Mother returning to Child); although ill, recovery is expected. If instead a wiry and long pulse is obtained, it indicates Liver Wood overcoming Lung Metal (Wood suppressing Metal), representing Minor Evil; although ill, recovery is expected. A Lung pulse that is abundant and light, like a breeze blowing feathers on a bird's back, with two beats per respiration is Normal, three beats is Li Jing, four beats is Duo Jing, five beats is Death, and six beats is End of Life. A Lung pulse that floats like an object or blows like wind indicates Lung Death. In Autumn, slight down with Stomach Qi is Normal; less Stomach Qi and more down indicates Lung Disease; only down without Stomach Qi indicates Death; down with Wiry indicates Spring Disease; excessive Wiry indicates Metal Disease. The True Lung Pulse is large and deficient, like feathers penetrating human skin; with a greenish-white complexion lacking luster, death occurs upon the falling of hair.

(Real and Deficient Patterns of Kidney Meridian Pulse and Disease)
The Kidney corresponds to Water, prospers in Winter, its pulse is like stone and deep, its external manifestation is the ears, its vocalization is groaning, its odor is putrid, its taste is salty, its fluid is saliva, its function is nourishing bones, its color is black, it governs Zhi (Willpower), and the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian is its channel. It combines with the Bladder, where the Bladder is a Fu organ governing the exterior, and the Kidney is a Zang organ governing the interior. Excess Kidney Qi leads to surplus, resulting in abdominal distension, diarrhea with undigested food, edema, wheezing and coughing, sweating, aversion to wind, dark face and eyes, and yellow urine. This constitutes an Excess pattern of Kidney Qi, which should be treated by draining. Deficiency of Kidney Qi leads to cold extremities, cold lower back, chest pain, tinnitus, and severe deafness. This constitutes a Deficient pattern of Kidney Qi, which should be treated by tonifying. Avoid dust and dirt, and avoid wearing heated clothes. The Kidney desires firmness; urgently consume bitter flavors to firm it, salty flavors to drain it, and bitter flavors to tonify it. The Kidney pulse region is located at the Chi position posterior to the Guan on the left hand. A Kidney pulse that comes like pulling a vine, becoming harder upon pressure, indicates Kidney Disease. The Kidney belongs to Water; if the pulse is large and tight, the body has no pain, the form is not emaciated, but the patient cannot eat and suffers from palpitations due to Heart Atrophy, death ensues. In Winter, when Kidney Water is prosperous, a pulse that is deep, soft, and slippery is named a Normal Pulse. If instead a floating, large, and moderate pulse is obtained, it indicates Spleen Earth overcoming Kidney Water (Earth overcoming Water), a major reversal difficult to treat. If instead a floating, choppy, and short pulse is obtained, it indicates Lung Metal overcoming Kidney Water (Mother returning to Child), representing Deficient Evil; although ill, it is treatable. If instead a wiry, thin, and long pulse is obtained, it indicates Liver Wood overcoming Kidney Water (Child overcoming Mother), representing Excess Evil; although ill, it will self-heal. If instead a floating, large, and surging pulse is obtained, it indicates Heart Fire overcoming Kidney Water (Fire suppressing Water); although ill, death will not occur. A dying Kidney pulse emerges and struggles like pulling a rope, sounding 'pi pi' like striking stones, indicates Kidney Death. In Winter, slight stone with Stomach Qi is Normal; less Stomach Qi and more stone indicates Kidney Disease; only stone without Stomach Qi indicates Death; stone with Hook indicates Summer Disease; excessive Hook indicates current illness. The True Organ Qi descends to the Kidney, storing the Qi of marrow and bones. The True Kidney Pulse beats and cuts off, sounding 'pi pi' like striking stones; with a yellowish-black complexion lacking luster, death occurs upon the falling of hair.

All appearances of True Zang Pulses are untreatable.

(Deficient and Excess Patterns of Gallbladder Meridian)
The Gallbladder corresponds to Wood, prospers in Spring, and the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian is its channel. It is the Fu organ of the Liver; planning and deliberation arise from it. All Zang and Fu organs rely on the Gallbladder for decision-making. Excess Gallbladder Qi leads to surplus, resulting in internal abdominal restlessness and trembling of the body. This constitutes an Excess pattern of Gallbladder Qi, which should be treated by draining. Deficiency of Gallbladder Qi leads to Qi rebelling to the throat causing bitterness in the mouth, frequent sighing, vomiting of old bile, palpitations in the epigastrium as if being hunted, throat obstruction with frequent spitting. This constitutes a Deficient pattern of Gallbladder Qi, which should be treated by tonifying.

(Deficient and Excess Patterns of Small Intestine Meridian)
The Small Intestine corresponds to Fire, prospers in Summer, and the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian is its channel. It is the Fu organ of the Heart; fluids flow downward into the Small Intestine to become urine and stool. Excess Small Intestine Qi leads to surplus, resulting in heat in the Small Intestine, exhaustion of fluids leading to dryness and astringency, and lower abdominal distension. This constitutes an Excess pattern of Small Intestine Qi, which should be treated by draining. Deficiency of Small Intestine Qi allows Cold Qi to invade, causing intestinal spasms, muteness, and symptoms that come and go suddenly. This constitutes a Deficient pattern of Small Intestine Qi, which should be treated by tonifying.

(Deficient and Excess Patterns of Stomach Meridian)
The Stomach corresponds to Earth, prospers in Late Summer, and the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian is its channel. It is the Fu organ of the Spleen and the Sea of Water and Grain; all Zang and Fu organs receive Qi from Water and Grain via the Stomach. Excess Stomach Qi leads to surplus, resulting in abdominal distension and fullness. This constitutes an Excess pattern of Stomach Qi, which should be treated by draining. Deficiency of Stomach Qi leads to hunger but inability to accept food, diarrhea with undigested food, and vomiting/regurgitation. This constitutes a Deficient pattern of Stomach Qi, which should be treated by tonifying. A Stomach pulse that is solid indicates distension; deficient indicates diarrhea. A Guan pulse that is deep indicates Cold in the Stomach; a slippery pulse indicates Excess, fullness of Qi, and loss of appetite. A Guan pulse that is floating indicates accumulated Heat in the Stomach.

(Deficient and Excess Patterns of Large Intestine Meridian)
The Large Intestine corresponds to Metal, prospers in Autumn, and the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian is its channel. It is the Fu organ of the Lung and the Official of Transmission, transforming waste products for excretion. Excess Large Intestine Qi leads to surplus, resulting in cutting pain in the intestines like stabbing with awls or knives without rest, and cold bi-syndrome with cramping in the lower back and back. This constitutes an Excess pattern of Large Intestine Qi, which should be treated by draining. Deficiency of Large Intestine Qi allows Cold Qi to invade, leading to frequent diarrhea. This constitutes a Deficient pattern of Large Intestine Qi, which should be treated by tonifying. Diagnosing the Cun Kou pulse on the right hand, which is the Hand-Yangming channel: a floating pulse indicates Yang; Yang Excess indicates Large Intestine Excess.

(Deficient and Excess Patterns of Bladder Meridian)
The Bladder corresponds to Water, prospers in Winter, and the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian is its channel. It is the Fu organ of the Kidney. The essences of the five grains and five flavors return to the Bladder for Qi transformation, entering the blood vessels to form marrow; the remaining fluids enter the bladder to become urine. Excess Bladder Qi leads to surplus, resulting in heat causing astringency in the bladder, urinary retention, and unilateral swelling and pain in the genitalia. This constitutes an Excess pattern of Bladder Qi, which should be treated by draining. Deficiency of Bladder Qi allows Cold Qi to invade, causing bladder laxity with frequent and profuse urination, and a dark complexion. This constitutes a Deficient pattern of Bladder Qi, which should be treated by tonifying.

(Deficient and Excess Patterns of Sanjiao/Triple Burner Meridian)
Sanjiao refers to the Upper, Middle, and Lower Burners. Qi of the Upper Burner originates from the upper orifice, passes through the pharynx, penetrates the diaphragm, spreads in the chest, travels to the axilla, follows the distribution of the Taiyin channel, reaches the tongue above, and the Foot-Yangming below. It should travel together with Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi, governing intake without excretion. Qi of the Middle Burner also gathers at the stomach opening, emerging after the Upper Burner. This is where Qi is received; it separates waste, receives fluids, transforms them into subtle essence, which flows up to the Lung meridian to transform into Blood, governing neither ascending nor descending exclusively. Qi of the Lower Burner separates from the ileum, pours into the Bladder, and渗 (seeps) in. It governs excretion without intake. Thus, water and grain often reside together in the Stomach, become waste, and descend together to the Large Intestine. These three Qi scorch and dry water and grain, separating clear from turbid, hence named Sanjiao.
Sanjiao is the pathway of water and grain, and the beginning and end of Qi. Excess Sanjiao Qi leads to surplus, resulting in Qi distension filling the interior of the skin, feeling light but unstable, or urinary astringency, or difficult defecation. This constitutes an Excess pattern of Sanjiao Qi, which should be treated by draining. Deficiency of Sanjiao Qi allows Cold Qi to invade, resulting in enuresis, diarrhea, chest fullness, or indigestion. This constitutes a Deficient pattern of Sanjiao Qi, which should be treated by tonifying. Diagnosing a slow pulse at Cun Kou indicates Cold in the Upper Burner; a slow pulse at Chi indicates Cold in the Lower Burner; a floating pulse at Chi indicates Guest Yang in the Lower Burner.