Reference · 体征

The sign index

Every sign this site scores, grouped by how it is observed. Each entry says which patterns it belongs to, at what weight, and which condition pages list it.

This is a reference table, not a symptom list. To start from something you are feeling, use conditions instead.

118 signs across 11 groups, weighted into 12 patterns. The table underneath every page on this site is this one — the pattern pages are projections of it, not the other way round.

Mark	Means
● Defining	The pattern is hard to argue without it. ×3 in the self-check.
◐ Common	Usually present. ×2.
○ Supporting	Compatible but not required. ×1.

Sensation 感觉 41

Sign	中文	Patterns
Aversion to cold	畏寒	● Kidney yang deficiency · ◐ Qi deficiency · ○ Spleen qi deficiency · ● Spleen yang deficiency
Blurred vision or floaters	视物模糊、飞蚊	● Liver yin deficiency · ◐ Blood deficiency · ◐ Kidney yin deficiency · ◐ Liver yang rising
Chest tightness or oppression	胸闷	◐ Liver qi stagnation · ● Phlegm · ○ Liver yang rising
Cold hands and feet	手足不温	◐ Qi deficiency · ○ Spleen qi deficiency · ◐ Kidney yang deficiency · ◐ Spleen yang deficiency
Cold sensation in the lower abdomen	小腹冷	◐ Kidney yang deficiency · ○ Spleen qi deficiency · ● Spleen yang deficiency
Cold, aching lower back	腰膝冷痛	● Kidney yang deficiency · ○ Dampness
Constant throat clearing	频频清嗓	○ Phlegm · ○ Liver qi stagnation
Copious sputum or mucus	痰多	● Phlegm · ◐ Dampness
Cough with sticky sputum	咳痰黏稠	◐ Phlegm · ○ Dampness
Distension or moving pain under the ribs	胸胁胀满窜痛	● Liver qi stagnation · ○ Dampness
Dizziness	头晕	● Blood deficiency · ◐ Phlegm · ◐ Kidney yin deficiency · ○ Liver qi stagnation · ◐ Liver yin deficiency · ● Liver yang rising
Dizziness or blurred vision on standing	起立时头晕目眩	● Blood deficiency · ◐ Qi deficiency · ○ Kidney yin deficiency · ◐ Kidney yang deficiency · ○ Spleen yang deficiency · ○ Liver yang rising
Dizziness with a sense of heaviness	头晕目眩伴沉重	● Phlegm · ◐ Dampness
Dragging or bearing-down feeling	下坠感	○ Spleen qi deficiency · ○ Qi deficiency
Dry eyes or blurred vision	目干涩视物模糊	◐ Blood deficiency · ◐ Kidney yin deficiency · ● Liver yin deficiency · ◐ Liver yang rising
Dry mouth at night	夜间口干	◐ Kidney yin deficiency · ◐ Damp-heat · ○ Liver qi stagnation · ◐ Liver yin deficiency · ○ Liver yang rising
Dull abdominal ache relieved by pressure	腹痛喜按	◐ Spleen qi deficiency · ○ Qi deficiency · ● Spleen yang deficiency
Dull ache under the ribs	胁肋隐痛	● Liver yin deficiency · ○ Blood deficiency
Feeling hot and restless	身热烦躁	◐ Damp-heat · ○ Kidney yin deficiency · ◐ Liver yang rising
Head heavy, feet light, unsteady	头重脚轻	● Liver yang rising · ○ Liver yin deficiency
Headache that distends or throbs	头胀痛	● Liver yang rising · ◐ Damp-heat
Heat in the palms, soles, and chest	五心烦热	● Kidney yin deficiency · ○ Damp-heat · ● Liver yin deficiency
Heaviness of the limbs and body	肢体困重	● Dampness · ◐ Phlegm · ◐ Spleen qi deficiency · ○ Damp-heat · ○ Spleen yang deficiency
Heavy, muzzy head	头重如裹	● Dampness · ◐ Phlegm · ○ Damp-heat
High-pitched tinnitus	耳鸣音细	◐ Kidney yin deficiency · ○ Blood deficiency · ○ Kidney yang deficiency · ◐ Liver yin deficiency · ◐ Liver yang rising
Hot flushes with sweating	烘热汗出	○ Kidney yin deficiency · ○ Damp-heat · ◐ Liver yin deficiency
Jaw clenching or teeth grinding	紧咬牙、磨牙	○ Liver qi stagnation · ○ Dampness · ◐ Liver yang rising
Mucus to clear every morning	晨起痰多	◐ Phlegm · ◐ Dampness
Muscle twitches or cramps	筋肉瞤动	○ Blood deficiency · ○ Dampness · ○ Kidney yin deficiency · ◐ Liver yin deficiency · ○ Liver yang rising
Not thirsty	口不渴	◐ Dampness · ◐ Phlegm · ○ Spleen yang deficiency
Numbness or tingling in the limbs	肢体麻木	○ Blood deficiency · ○ Phlegm · ◐ Liver yin deficiency · ○ Liver yang rising
Pain that moves from place to place	疼痛部位游走	◐ Liver qi stagnation · ○ Dampness
Palpitations	心悸	● Blood deficiency · ◐ Kidney yin deficiency · ○ Qi deficiency · ○ Kidney yang deficiency · ○ Liver yin deficiency · ○ Liver yang rising
Sensation of a lump in the throat	咽中如有物梗	◐ Liver qi stagnation · ◐ Phlegm
Soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees	腰膝酸软	● Kidney yin deficiency · ○ Dampness · ● Kidney yang deficiency · ◐ Liver yang rising
Spinning sensation when turning the head	转头时眩晕	◐ Phlegm · ◐ Dampness
Sticky sensation in the mouth	口中黏腻	◐ Dampness · ◐ Damp-heat
Symptoms that change with mood	症状随情绪波动	● Liver qi stagnation · ○ Spleen qi deficiency
Tension headache	头紧束感	○ Liver qi stagnation · ○ Dampness · ○ Blood deficiency · ○ Liver yin deficiency
Thirst, wanting cold drinks	口渴喜冷饮	◐ Damp-heat · ◐ Kidney yin deficiency
Tightness in the neck and shoulders	颈肩紧硬	◐ Liver qi stagnation · ○ Dampness · ○ Liver yang rising

Complexion and appearance 面色与形体 13

Sign	中文	Patterns
Bruising easily	易有瘀斑	○ Spleen qi deficiency · ○ Blood deficiency
Dry skin, brittle nails or thinning hair	皮肤干燥、爪甲脆薄	◐ Blood deficiency · ○ Kidney yin deficiency · ○ Kidney yang deficiency · ○ Liver yin deficiency
Itchy or weeping skin eruptions	皮肤瘙痒渗液	◐ Damp-heat · ○ Dampness
Overweight with soft flesh	形体偏胖而松软	○ Phlegm · ○ Dampness
Pale complexion	面色淡白	● Blood deficiency · ◐ Qi deficiency · ○ Spleen qi deficiency
Pale lips and nail beds	唇甲色淡	● Blood deficiency · ◐ Qi deficiency
Pale, slightly puffy face	面色㿠白	◐ Kidney yang deficiency
Puffiness around the ankles	下肢浮肿	◐ Kidney yang deficiency · ◐ Dampness · ○ Spleen yang deficiency
Recurring mouth ulcers	口舌生疮	◐ Damp-heat · ○ Kidney yin deficiency · ○ Spleen yang deficiency
Red eyes or flushing of the face	目赤面红	◐ Damp-heat · ○ Liver qi stagnation · ◐ Liver yang rising
Sallow complexion	面色萎黄	● Spleen qi deficiency · ◐ Qi deficiency · ○ Blood deficiency · ◐ Spleen yang deficiency
Slow healing of small cuts	小伤口愈合慢	◐ Qi deficiency · ◐ Blood deficiency
Waves of heat rising into the face	面红升火	● Liver yang rising · ◐ Damp-heat

Tongue 舌象 10

Sign	中文	Patterns
Greasy tongue coat	舌苔腻	● Dampness · ◐ Damp-heat · ● Phlegm
Pale tongue	舌淡	● Qi deficiency · ● Blood deficiency · ◐ Spleen qi deficiency · ◐ Kidney yang deficiency
Pale, swollen tongue	舌淡胖	● Kidney yang deficiency · ◐ Dampness · ◐ Spleen yang deficiency
Red tongue	舌红	● Damp-heat · ◐ Kidney yin deficiency · ○ Liver yin deficiency
Red tongue with little moisture	舌红少津	◐ Liver yin deficiency · ◐ Kidney yin deficiency · ○ Damp-heat
Thick tongue coat	苔厚	◐ Phlegm · ◐ Damp-heat
Tongue with little or no coat	舌红少苔	● Kidney yin deficiency · ○ Damp-heat · ◐ Liver yin deficiency
Tongue with teeth marks	舌有齿痕	◐ Qi deficiency · ● Spleen qi deficiency · ◐ Spleen yang deficiency
White tongue coat	苔白	◐ Spleen qi deficiency · ◐ Dampness · ◐ Spleen yang deficiency
Yellow tongue coat	苔黄	● Damp-heat · ○ Dampness

Pulse 脉象 9

Sign	中文	Patterns
Deep, slow pulse	脉沉迟	● Kidney yang deficiency · ◐ Spleen yang deficiency
Empty pulse	脉虚	● Qi deficiency · ◐ Blood deficiency · ○ Kidney yang deficiency
Slippery pulse	脉滑	● Phlegm · ◐ Damp-heat
Slippery rapid pulse	脉滑数	● Damp-heat · ○ Phlegm
Soggy pulse	脉濡	● Dampness · ○ Spleen qi deficiency
Thin pulse	脉细	● Blood deficiency · ◐ Kidney yin deficiency · ◐ Qi deficiency · ○ Kidney yang deficiency · ◐ Liver yin deficiency
Thin rapid pulse	脉细数	● Kidney yin deficiency · ○ Blood deficiency · ● Liver yin deficiency
Wiry and thin pulse	脉弦细	● Liver yin deficiency · ◐ Liver qi stagnation
Wiry pulse	脉弦	● Liver qi stagnation · ◐ Damp-heat · ● Liver yang rising

Energy and stamina 精力 10

Sign	中文	Patterns
Breathless when talking at length	言多气短	◐ Qi deficiency · ○ Phlegm
Catching colds easily	易感冒	◐ Qi deficiency · ○ Spleen qi deficiency · ○ Spleen yang deficiency
Fatigue that worsens after eating	食后困倦	● Spleen qi deficiency · ◐ Dampness · ◐ Spleen yang deficiency
Fatigue with minimal exertion	稍动即疲	● Qi deficiency · ◐ Spleen qi deficiency · ◐ Blood deficiency · ○ Damp-heat · ◐ Kidney yang deficiency · ○ Spleen yang deficiency
Low voice, reluctance to talk	声低懒言	● Qi deficiency · ○ Spleen qi deficiency · ○ Spleen yang deficiency
Night sweats	盗汗	● Kidney yin deficiency · ○ Blood deficiency · ◐ Liver yin deficiency · ○ Liver yang rising
Shortness of breath on stairs or hills	活动后气短	◐ Qi deficiency · ○ Phlegm · ○ Spleen qi deficiency
Sweating on mild exertion	动则汗出	● Qi deficiency · ○ Spleen qi deficiency
Waking without feeling rested	晨起不解乏	◐ Qi deficiency · ◐ Spleen qi deficiency · ○ Dampness · ○ Kidney yang deficiency · ○ Spleen yang deficiency
Weakness in the limbs	四肢乏力	◐ Qi deficiency · ◐ Spleen qi deficiency · ○ Blood deficiency · ◐ Kidney yang deficiency

Sleep 睡眠 2

Sign	中文	Patterns
Difficulty falling or staying asleep	失眠	◐ Blood deficiency · ◐ Kidney yin deficiency · ○ Liver qi stagnation · ○ Damp-heat · ◐ Liver yin deficiency · ◐ Liver yang rising
Dream-disturbed sleep	多梦易醒	○ Liver qi stagnation · ◐ Blood deficiency · ○ Kidney yin deficiency · ◐ Liver yang rising

Emotion 情志 5

Sign	中文	Patterns
Crying easily, often without a clear reason	善悲欲哭	○ Liver qi stagnation · ○ Qi deficiency
Depression or irritability that tracks stress	情志抑郁或易怒	● Liver qi stagnation · ○ Damp-heat · ○ Liver yin deficiency · ◐ Liver yang rising
Frequent sighing	善太息	● Liver qi stagnation · ○ Qi deficiency
Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy	兴趣索然	◐ Liver qi stagnation · ○ Qi deficiency
Quiet low mood with little drive	情绪低落少动	○ Qi deficiency · ○ Spleen qi deficiency · ○ Kidney yang deficiency

Mind and memory 神志 2

Sign	中文	Patterns
Foggy thinking	头目不清	◐ Phlegm · ◐ Dampness
Poor memory or poor concentration	健忘、注意力差	◐ Blood deficiency · ○ Kidney yin deficiency · ○ Phlegm · ○ Kidney yang deficiency · ○ Liver yin deficiency · ○ Liver yang rising

Digestion and appetite 消化 9

Sign	中文	Patterns
Appetite that varies with stress	食欲随情绪变化	◐ Liver qi stagnation · ◐ Spleen qi deficiency
Belching	嗳气	◐ Liver qi stagnation · ○ Spleen qi deficiency
Bitter taste in the mouth	口苦	● Damp-heat · ○ Liver qi stagnation · ○ Liver yin deficiency · ○ Liver yang rising
Bloating in the abdomen	脘腹胀闷	◐ Liver qi stagnation · ◐ Spleen qi deficiency
Nausea or wanting to vomit	恶心欲呕	◐ Phlegm · ○ Liver qi stagnation
Poor appetite	食少纳呆	● Spleen qi deficiency · ○ Phlegm · ○ Liver qi stagnation · ● Spleen yang deficiency
Sour fluid rising after meals	反酸	◐ Liver qi stagnation · ○ Damp-heat
Stuffy fullness in the upper abdomen	脘腹痞满	◐ Dampness · ◐ Spleen qi deficiency · ◐ Phlegm · ◐ Spleen yang deficiency
Symptoms worse after cold drinks or raw food	遇冷食则加重	● Spleen yang deficiency · ○ Kidney yang deficiency

Stool and urine 二便 11

Sign	中文	Patterns
Alternating constipation and loose stools	大便时干时稀	○ Liver qi stagnation · ○ Spleen qi deficiency
Clear, frequent urine	小便清长频数	○ Qi deficiency · ○ Kidney yin deficiency · ◐ Kidney yang deficiency · ○ Spleen yang deficiency
Dark, scanty urine	小便短黄	● Damp-heat · ○ Kidney yin deficiency
Dry, hard stool	大便干结	◐ Kidney yin deficiency · ○ Damp-heat
Getting up at night to pass urine	夜尿	◐ Kidney yin deficiency · ○ Qi deficiency · ● Kidney yang deficiency
Loose or unformed stools	大便溏薄	● Spleen qi deficiency · ◐ Dampness · ◐ Kidney yang deficiency · ● Spleen yang deficiency
Sticky, foul-smelling stool	大便黏臭	● Damp-heat · ◐ Dampness
Sticky, incomplete bowel movements	大便黏滞不爽	● Dampness · ◐ Damp-heat
Straining with little result	排便无力	◐ Qi deficiency · ◐ Spleen qi deficiency · ○ Spleen yang deficiency
Undigested food visible in the stool	完谷不化	● Spleen yang deficiency · ○ Kidney yang deficiency
Urgent stools soon after waking	晨起急便	◐ Spleen qi deficiency · ○ Kidney yin deficiency · ◐ Kidney yang deficiency · ◐ Spleen yang deficiency

Menstrual 月经 6

Sign	中文	Patterns
Breast distension before the period	经前乳房胀痛	◐ Liver qi stagnation · ○ Blood deficiency
Cramping pain with periods	痛经	◐ Liver qi stagnation · ○ Blood deficiency
Heavy or prolonged periods	经量多或经期长	○ Qi deficiency · ○ Blood deficiency · ○ Damp-heat
Irregular menstruation	月经先后无定期	◐ Liver qi stagnation · ○ Blood deficiency
Mood drop before the period	经前情绪低落	◐ Liver qi stagnation · ○ Blood deficiency
Scanty or missed periods	经量少或闭经	◐ Blood deficiency · ○ Qi deficiency · ○ Liver yin deficiency

350 pattern assignments across 118 signs, an average of 2.97 patterns per sign. 74 of the 118 are named on at least one condition page. Weights and how they are used are set out in the methodology.