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(Original views of Wu and Zhang)

The left side is the pharynx (Yan), belonging to the Stomach; the right side is the larynx (Hou), belonging to the Lung. They are the critical junctions of the body's joints and the gateway for the entry and exit of respiration. The *Neijing* states: "When one Yin and one Yang knot together, Bi syndrome occurs." By "one Yin," it refers to the Ministerial Fire of the Hand-Shaoyin, which is the pulse qi of the Heart. By "one Yang," it refers to the Ministerial Fire of the Hand-Shaoyang, which is the pulse qi of the Sanjiao (Triple Burner). These two meridians connect jointly to the larynx; when Qi becomes hot, it knots internally. Severe knotting leads to swelling, and severe swelling leads to Qi obstruction. "Bi" implies numbness or insensibility; this is the origin of the name "Laryngeal Bi" (Hou Bi). Conditions such as Ru E (Millet Ear/tonsillitis), Hou Bi, and Chan Hou (Entangling Throat) all belong to the category of Bi syndromes (Wu's view). There are distinctions among Wind, Cold, Fire, Dampness, Toxin, and Deficiency. Swelling may result from the combat between Wind and Fire, or it may be due to Deficient Fire. A fine and slow pulse indicates Deficient Cold. The manifestations of these six categories can be inferred by analogy. Generally, in the initial stage of a disease, if the Right Cun (Cun position on the right wrist) pulse is surging and tight, it indicates Lung Wind; if both Guan (Guan positions) 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 deep and slow, it indicates latent Cold in the Lung; if the Right Cun pulse is surging yet fine, it indicates latent Heat in the Lung; if the Right Chi (Chi position on the right wrist) pulse is surging and large, it indicates hyperactive Fire in the Sanjiao; if the Left Chi pulse is floating, surging, and forceful, it indicates Kidney Deficiency with flaming-up Fire. Regarding the general treatment for these six pulse patterns, Liuwei Tang (Six-Ingredient Decoction) can be used with modifications. If the condition is perilous, the pulse requires careful examination, followed by observing the physical form to trace the source, and prescribing medication accordingly, which will naturally lead to recovery. The *Classic* states: "The skills of the Divine, Sacred, Workman, and Clever healers rely merely on Observation, Auscultation/Olfaction, Inquiry, and Palpation. With careful deduction and detailed analysis, errors can be avoided" (Zhang's view).

The larynx has two openings: the left is the pharynx, belonging to the Stomach, serving as the gate for food intake; the right is the larynx proper, belonging to the Lung, serving as the gate for air intake. The upper part inside the mouth belongs to Stomach Yin, the lower part belongs to Spleen Yang, the center of the tongue belongs to the Heart, the periphery belongs to the Lung, the root of the tongue also belongs to the Heart, the uvula (also called Di Ding) belongs to the Stomach, the areas around the larynx and the root of the tongue belong to the Liver, the area below the outer earlobes also belongs to the Liver, the upper part of the gum roots belongs to the Stomach, and the lower part belongs to the Spleen. White tongue coating indicates Cold; yellow indicates Heat; scorched black indicates extreme Heat. Tongue coating color alone should not be the sole criterion for diagnosis; if there is moisture, it is not true Heat, and cooling herbs should not be indiscriminately administered. Instead, methods to guide fire back to its source (Yin Huo Gui Yuan) should be employed. An enlarged tongue with red edges indicates Spleen Fire, which can be treated with cooling agents. The location of Laryngeal Abscess (Hou Yong) belongs to the Liver. If it extends inward by about one cun, whether ulcerated or swollen, it belongs to Fire-Toxin of the Spleen and Stomach. Syphilitic toxins (Jie Du) can also present similarly, but in cases of Jie Du, the Guan pulses must be deep; if the Guan pulses are floating, it is not Jie Du. This is a general overview of meridian differentiation; consulting anatomical diagrams will provide full understanding (Zhang's view).