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Among the five zang organs, six fu organs, and twelve meridians of the human body, except for the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian (Foot-Taiyang Yangming), the remaining eleven meridians all internally circulate through the throat. Therefore, these meridians can all be affected by disease, not limited to the Lung and Stomach. However, due to differences in Yin-Yang, exterior-interior, wind-dampness, cold-heat, deficiency-excess, slack-tight, and severity, without mastering their transmission patterns, how can one distinguish them? The key to clinically examining the throat is to have light hands and quick eyes; one must never be careless or impetuous. Regardless of whether the patient is rich or poor, old or young, male or female, they must be seated in a bright place. An assistant should support the patient's back from behind and hold their head with one hand. The physician uses a tongue depressor, bamboo slice, or bamboo chopstick to press down the root of the tongue to observe the condition inside the throat—left, right, upper, lower, internal, and external. Conditions may include severe redness, severe swelling, severe pain, or mild redness, mild swelling, and mild pain. Some cases present with severe redness and pain but no swelling; some have no redness or pain but only swelling; some have no redness or swelling, are white in color, yet painful; some have visible forms, others invisible; some onset acutely within moments, while others develop slowly over several days. Swelling and redness may occur both inside and outside the throat, or extend to the head, neck, cheeks, and jaw. Causes may include epidemic diseases leading to extreme thirst, or contraction of wind-cold causing fever and aversion to cold. Pus may form but fail to rupture quickly, or residual swelling may persist after rupture. The throat may be ulcerated or damaged by incorrect acupuncture. After examining the throat, observe the tongue: check for the presence or absence of coating, its color (yellow or white), moisture (wet or dry), or shade (gray or black). Examine the lips: are they pale red or pale white? Is the redness severe with scorched edges, or purple and black? Assess the authenticity of exterior symptoms, examine the patency or obstruction of urination and defecation, smell the intensity of halitosis, and inquire about the temperature of water intake. Cold and heat will naturally become distinct, and deficiency and excess will clearly differ. Generally, seven out of ten throat diseases are caused by wind-heat, three out of ten by fire syndromes, and less than two out of a hundred by cold syndromes. Clinical examination must be detailed and thorough, employing observation, auscultation-olfaction, inquiry, and palpation. The throat is vital to life; negligence leads to grave consequences. It is common for wealthy individuals and women to be reluctant to get out of bed. Physicians must not indulge this, as viewing the throat from bed yields unclear results. If the examination is inaccurate, prescribing medication lacks assurance. One must be meticulous and cautious, never negligent. These are essential clinical principles, true transmissions of inner methods. Adherence to them ensures miraculous skill. Detailed descriptions of syndrome differentiation, treatment, preparation of pills and powders, and various internal and external medical prescriptions follow. Clinicians should adjust dosages based on the severity and urgency of the disease, applying flexible and ingenious strategies.

In the initial stage of throat diseases: if the Right-Cun pulse is floating and tight, it indicates Wind affecting the Lung; if both Guan pulses are floating and rapid, it indicates Stomach Fire and Liver Wind; if the Left-Cun pulse is floating and surging, it indicates Heart Fire; if the Right-Cun pulse is slow and deep, it indicates latent Cold in the Lung; if the pulse is deep and fine, it indicates latent Heat in the Lung; if the Right-Chi pulse is surging and large, it indicates Hyperactive Fire in the Sanjiao; if the Right-Cun pulse is floating, surging, and forceful, it indicates Deficiency Fire due to Kidney deficiency; if there is redness and swelling with a floating pulse, it indicates Wind-Fire; if the pulse is fine, rapid, and floating, it indicates Deficiency Fire; if the pulse is deep, solid, and rotten-like without swelling, it indicates Toxicity; if the pulse is fine and slack, it indicates Deficiency-Cold; if both Guan pulses are floating, it is not accumulated toxicity. Pulse presentations are roughly as described; careful diagnosis and detailed reference allow for analogical reasoning.

The upper part of the oral cavity belongs to Stomach Yin, and the lower part belongs to Spleen Yang. The center of the tongue belongs to the Heart; the four sides belong to the Spleen; the root of the tongue also belongs to the Heart. The uvula, also known as the "Di Ding," belongs to the Stomach. The left and right sides of the throat and the root of the tongue belong to the Liver. The upper part of the gum belongs to the Stomach, and the lower part belongs to the Spleen. A white tongue coating indicates Cold; yellow indicates Heat; scorched indicates severe Heat; black indicates extreme Heat. Tongue coatings should not only be judged by color but primarily by whether they are moist or dry. A moist coating does not necessarily indicate true Heat, while a scorched and dry coating definitely excludes Cold. Additionally, there is a specific epidemic disease called White Diphtheria (Bai Hou). It begins with aversion to cold and fever; it must not be mistaken for an exterior syndrome. When white spots or patches appear in the throat, it must not be mistaken for a cold syndrome. Prescribing ascending and dispersing herbs such as Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang), Cinnamomi Ramulus (Guizhi), Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix (Qianghuo), and Saussureae Radix (Duhuo) to disperse toxicity, or using tonics like Ginseng Radix (Renshen), Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (Shengjiang), and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi) to aid toxicity, will render even immortal elixirs ineffective. Patients with throat diseases must strictly avoid labor-inducing, fishy, greasy foods, as well as pungent and hot substances like Ginger Rhizome (Ganjiang) and Piperis Longi Fructus (Jiaoteng). This is of utmost importance.