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The tongue belongs to the Heart. The center of the tongue belongs to the Heart, and the root of the tongue also belongs to the Heart. The four peripheries of the tongue belong to the Spleen. Redness on the sides of the tongue indicates Heart Fire (Xin Huo). A white tongue coating indicates Cold, while a yellow one indicates Heat; scorched yellow indicates severe Heat, and black indicates extreme Heat. If it is black yet moist, it is False Heat. The left and right sides of the throat connect to the root of the tongue and belong to the Liver. The uvula is named "Di Ding" (Imperial Ding) and belongs to the Stomach, as well as to the Kidney. The right side of the throat belongs to the Lung and Stomach, while the left side of the pharynx belongs to the Liver and Heart. The right is called the throat (Hou), and the left is called the pharynx (Yan). The hard palate belongs to the Stomach. The mandible belongs to the Spleen. The upper gingiva belongs to the Stomach, and the lower gingiva belongs to the Spleen. The lips share the same affiliation as the gingiva. The teeth belong to the Kidney. The upper teeth are traversed by the Stomach Meridian, and the lower teeth are traversed by the Large Intestine Meridian. The Small Intestine and Sanjiao (Triple Burner) meridians circulate through the Heart and ascend into the pharynx. The Kidney meridian circulates along the throat and flanks the root of the tongue. The area below the earlobes externally belongs to the Liver Meridian, which winds around the throat, as does the clear space behind the ears, also belonging to the Liver Meridian. The "throat flower" (pharyngeal follicles/lymphoid tissue) is located at "Di Zhong" (the vital center related to life), and the purple veins under the tongue are called the lingual frenulum, connecting downward to the Kidney. [Commentary: The last two sentences regarding "flanking the root of the tongue" are suspected to be erroneous. According to the *Nei Jing* (Inner Canon), the normal path of the Kidney meridian ends at the root of the tongue. Wang Ang's annotation states it connects to the hyoid bone and ends at the epiglottis, never reaching the ears. Conversely, the Liver meridian circulates behind the throat, ascends to the nasopharynx, connects to the eye system, emerges above the forehead, and meets the Du Meridian at the vertex. Neither the Kidney nor Liver meridians traverse the ears; only the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian descends behind the ear, with its branch entering the ear from behind and exiting in front. This is an error regarding the Gallbladder meridian, hereby corrected.]

The pharynx (Yan) is the pathway for food and drink, and the throat (Hou) is the portal for respiration; these are critical areas of the human body. Although symptoms vary, they generally归结 to Fire, as the Shaoyin and Shaoyang correspond to Ministerial Fire and Sovereign Fire. Their meridians both network with the throat and pharynx, making them common sites for pathological accumulation. The classics state: "One Yang and One Yin knotting together forms Hou Bi (Throat Bi)." Bi means obstruction. If this obstruction is not cleared, Fire stagnates and Phlegm blocks, leading to death. Fire is the root of Phlegm, and Phlegm is the manifestation of Fire. Thus, speaking of Fire implies Phlegm is involved; speaking of the throat and pharynx encompasses the teeth and tongue. [Commentary: Dampness combined with Heat generates Phlegm; Fire carries Qi upward in rebellion. Phlegm surges with Qi. To resolve Phlegm, regulating Qi downward is primary; since Qi rebels due to Fire, clearing Fire to regulate Qi downward is essential. This is the fundamental method for treating throat disorders, applicable even when latent pathogens have transformed into Heat complicated by Phlegm-Fire. However, if the exterior is unresolving with fluid retention, or if Heat has not transformed but food stagnation exists, one should not lightly attempt this.] Fire can be Excess or Deficiency. Excess Fire arises from overconsumption of fried, roasted, and spicy foods, accumulating heat and toxins. Symptoms include irritability, thirst, constipation, and urinary retention, with Wind-Fire generating Phlegm that obstructs upwards. Three days before the onset of Throat Bi, there is often chest and diaphragmatic discomfort, with a wiry and rapid pulse. Treatment should first dispel Wind-Phlegm, then resolve Heat-Toxins. Deficiency Fire may result from excessive diet, anger, or sexual indulgence, causing Fire-Phlegm to attack upwards, leading to dry throat and pharynx. Bowel movements and urination remain normal, and the Shaoyin pulse is slightly deficient. Treatment should tonify deficiency and descend Fire. [Commentary: The character "tonify" here should be interpreted flexibly.] Medications should not rely solely on cold-natured herbs for immediate effect. [Commentary: Using cold herbs too early extinguishes the surface fire, but residual heat remains in the ashes.] Because upper Heat is not resolved, Middle Cold arises again, allowing toxic vapors to enter the abdomen via deficiency. This presents with swelling in the chest, upper wheezing, lower diarrhea, cyanosis of fingernails and toenails. If after seven days the patient cannot eat at all and the mouth resembles a fish's gills, death ensues. Sweating is strictly contraindicated in treating throat disorders, as it causes significant harm. Pricking to bleed serves a function similar to inducing sweating. If Cold injures the Kidney, or if the Di Zhong swells, pricking is especially inadvisable. In cases of internal injury and deficiency where the throat loses voice, there is no effective treatment. In the initial stage of throat disorders, if chills appear on the first day followed by fever resolution, without oral ulceration or double tongue, or if bowel and bladder functions are free, it should not be diagnosed as a Heat syndrome. This is Upper Excess and Lower Deficiency. The Phlegm should not be completely extracted, as this Phlegm is derived from Body Fluids. It should only be gently reduced, not excessively drained. This differs from Heat syndromes like Mutton Tongue (Ru E) or HT tongue with Phlegm-Toxin swelling, which heal by completely eliminating toxic Phlegm. Complete extraction leads to exhaustion of fluids and spirit, resulting in death. Blowing medicaments or using rush grass to induce sneezing can open the throat, followed by decoction. The first dose disperses and harmonizes; the second nourishes Yin and warms tonifies. If chills recur after three to four days, accompanied by heartache, bone pain, or leg pain, the prognosis is poor. During attacks, the jaw is tightly closed, throat and tongue swell, the mouth is ulcerated and foul-smelling, possibly with double tongue or yellow scales on the tongue. After the attack, afternoon chills and fever, along with closed bowels and cold urine, indicate a Heat syndrome. [Commentary: When atmospheric moisture and heat are stagnant, earthy pathways are blocked; thus, if truly a Heat syndrome, stools must be hard.] Qin Lian Bai Du San (Scutellaria and Coptis Decoction to Defeat Toxins) is the main formula; this is also an easily curable condition. If chills and fever persist after three to four days, although serious, it is not necessarily fatal. However, if the jaw is not tightly closed, lips are not swollen, breath is not foul, and there is no exterior Heat, it is difficult to treat. Pressing the tongue reveals a snow-white color; if vessels become visible and turn purplish-red, the flesh and blood are dead. (Original note: Whiteness upon pressing does not necessarily mean death.) However, foul breath suggests potential survival. [Commentary: Stomach Qi still exists, thus steaming upward to cause odor, indicating the toxin has a tendency to exit outward.] If there is thirst, shortness of breath, profuse thick sputum resembling peach gum, death is imminent. Generalized neck redness and swelling is also a critical condition. A purple complexion, greenish face with white patches, and deficient spirit are all difficult to save. Mutism indicates death. Slight ability to speak suggests a chance of survival. A spiritless complexion and preference for sitting low are difficult to treat. The throat flower is at Di Zhong, vital to life. The purple vein under the tongue is the lingual frenulum, connecting to the Kidney. White swelling untreated, or injury to it, leads to death. All treatments require careful examination.