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The Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian is the meridian of the Stomach; its branch circles around the lips and enters to connect with the Spleen. The Spleen and Stomach are exterior-interiorly related. If Wind-Heat pathogenic factors invade and surge upon the lips, contending with Blood and Qi, swelling and nodulation occur. If externally attacked by Wind-Cold, causing the nodulation and swelling not to resolve, a nodule forms.

The Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian is the meridian of the Spleen, and its Qi connects with the mouth. The Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian is the meridian of the Stomach, and the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian is the meridian of the Large Intestine; these two meridians intersect and converge at the mouth. When the Zang-Fu organs are deficient and invaded by Wind, Dampness, and Heat, Qi moves within the vessels and contends with Body Fluids, resulting in sores that are constantly moist, ulcerated, and exudative. This is commonly known as Fei Chuang (Plump Sores), also called Yankou Chuang (Swallow's Mouth Sores).

Rough and fissured skin on the lips and face occurs when Wind-Cold is encountered during cold weather. Cold contracts the Couli (pores/skin texture) and damages the skin, leading to cracking. The Qi of the meridians converges in the face, which is the meeting point of all Yang meridians, including those circling the lips and flanking the mouth. If Blood and Qi are substantial, even strong winds and severe cold cannot harm it; if deficient, the Couli in the face are susceptible to pathogens, allowing Wind-Cold to cause cracking. Additionally, washing the face with warm water or warming oneself by fire in winter opens the Couli through external heat; if Wind-Cold is then encountered, it causes this condition.

Some people are born with a cleft lip, resembling a rabbit's lip, hence termed Tu Que (Rabbit Cleft). It is said in popular belief that this results from a pregnant woman seeing a rabbit or eating rabbit meat.

Bad breath arises from disharmony among the Five Zang and Six Fu organs, causing Qi to ascend to the chest and diaphragm. Since the odors of different Zang-Fu organs vary, their accumulation between the chest and diaphragm generates Heat, which surges to the mouth, causing bad breath. The *Yangsheng Fang* states: "Do not view foul corpses on an empty stomach; if the odor enters the Spleen, white-yellow coating appears on the tongue, and the mouth becomes perpetually foul."

The Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian is the meridian of the Heart, and its Qi connects with the tongue; the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian is the meridian of the Spleen, and its Qi connects with the mouth. When Zang-Fu deficiency-Heat invades the Heart and Spleen, depleting and drying up Body Fluids, it causes dryness and scorching of the mouth and tongue. Palpating the Cun Kou pulse at the right hand, named Qi Kou, located anteriorly: a deep pulse indicates Yin and corresponds to the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. A deficient pulse here indicates suffering from shortness of breath and insufficient respiration, dry throat, and lack of Body Fluids. Furthermore, palpating the Guan position of the right hand: a floating pulse indicates Yang and corresponds to the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. A deficient pulse here indicates suffering from dry lips and mouth. Additionally, palpating the Guan position of the left hand: a floating pulse indicates Yang and corresponds to the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. An excess pulse here indicates suffering from abdominal fullness, inability to ingest food, and dry throat.