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Dampness is a pathogenic accumulation of fluid, often derived from the environment or internal dysfunction (esp. Spleen).

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Symptoms

  • Heaviness in limbs or body

  • Sticky tongue coat

  • Turbid discharges

  • Poor appetite, fatigue

  • Cloudy urination

Slippery pulse

Dampness
(Shi 湿)

1

Generalized or localized fluid accumulation in tissues, causing swelling. Often due to dysfunction of the Lung (upper), Spleen (middle), or Kidney (lower).

Oedema
(Shui Zhong 水肿)

2

Main Body Fluid Pathologies

Loss or underproduction of fluids due to:

  • Yin Deficiency, febrile diseases, excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea

  • Often affects Lung, Stomach, or Kidney

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Symptoms

  • Dry mouth and throat

  • Dry skin, lips, eyes

  • Scanty urine, constipation

  • Emaciation, 5-palm heat (if Yin Deficient)

  • Red tongue with little or no coat

  • Thin, rapid pulse

Fluid Deficiency
(Jin-Ye Xu 津液亏虚)

1

This is clear, thin fluid accumulation in the body due to impaired transformation. It includes several subtypes, depending on location

Retention of Fluids
(Shui Yin 水饮)

2

Phlegm is a pathological byproduct of impaired fluid metabolism — thicker and more turbid than water retention.

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Symptoms

  • Chronic cough with thick sputum

  • Nausea, chest oppression, nodules

  • Dizziness, stroke symptoms

Plum-pit Qi (globus hystericus)

Phlegm
(Tan 痰)

2

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Body Fluids Pathology
(津液病)

Body Fluids (Jin-Ye) moisten the skin, muscles, orifices, and Zang-Fu organs. Their formation depends on Spleen transformation and Kidney-Yang vaporization.  Body Fluids (Jīn Yè 津液) refer to all the normal physiological fluids of the body — sweat, saliva, tears, mucus, gastric fluids, synovial fluid, urine, etc. These fluids moisten and nourish tissues and are vital for organ function, joint mobility, skin hydration, and mental clarity. Disorders of Body Fluids reflect disturbances in production, distribution, transformation, or excretion, and they are always tied to the function of Spleen, Lung, Kidney, and San Jiao. Production and Transformation of body fluids include:

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  • Spleen transforms and transports fluids from food

  • Lung distributes fluids throughout the body

  • Kidney Yang provides the heat to vaporize and move fluids

  • San Jiao (Triple Burner) regulates water passages and distribution

 

When any of this fail, pathological accumulation or deficiency of fluids occurs.

Heat agitates or thickens Blood

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Symptoms

Skin eruptions, bleeding, restlessness

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Pathophysiology

  • Heat enters the Blood level (especially in febrile diseases)

  • Heat may arise from emotions, exogenous pathogens, or Yin deficiency

  • Can lead to reckless movement of Blood (haemorrhage)

 

Key Symptoms

  • Skin rashes (acne, urticaria, boils)

  • Nosebleeds, haemoptysis, heavy or early menstruation

  • Mental agitation or mania (if affecting Heart Shen)

  • Red tongue, yellow coat

  • Rapid, forceful pulse

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Treatment Principle

Cool the Blood, clear Heat, stop bleeding

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Common Points

  • LI11, SP10 — cool and move Blood

  • BL17, LR2, DU14 — clear Heat, regulate Liver

Blood Heat
(血热 Xue Re)

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Cold congeals Blood, causes contraction

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Symptoms

Pain, cold limbs, dark menstrual blood with clots

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Pathophysiology

  • Cold contracts and congeals, slowing Blood flow

  • Can be external Cold invasion or internal Yang deficiency

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Key Symptoms

  • Dysmenorrhea with cold sensation, worse with cold

  • Clotted menstrual blood, dark colour

  • Cold limbs, pain relieved by warmth

  • Pale-purple tongue, thick white coat

  • Slow, tight pulse

 

Treatment Principle
Warm the channels, dispel Cold, move Blood

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Points

  • Ren4, Ren6, ST29 — warm the uterus, move Blood

  • SP10, SP6, BL17 — regulate Blood

Blood Cold
(血寒 Xue Han)

Not enough Blood to nourish or moisten

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Symptoms

Dizziness, dry skin, pale complexion, insomnia

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Pathophysiology

  • Often due to Spleen Qi deficiency, chronic illness, haemorrhage, or Liver dysfunction

  • Affects the Liver, Heart, and Spleen

 

Key Symptoms

  • Pale lips, face, and nails

  • Dizziness, light-headedness

  • Dry hair or skin

  • Numbness in limbs

  • Insomnia, anxiety, poor memory (Heart Blood Deficiency)

  • Scant or delayed menstruation

  • Tongue: pale and thin

  • Pulse: thin, weak, or choppy

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Treatment Principle

Nourish Blood, strengthen Spleen and Liver, calm the Shen

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Common Points

  • SP6, ST36 — tonify Qi to generate Blood

  • LR8, BL17 — nourish and move Blood

Blood Deficiency
(血虚 Xue Xu)

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Blood does not circulate freely

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Symptoms

Fixed, stabbing pain, dark clots, purplish tongue

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Pathophysiology

  • Qi stagnation fails to move Blood → leads to stasis

  • Trauma, Cold, emotional stress, or Heat may also congeal Blood

  • Often affects Liver, Uterus, Heart, or Chest

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Key Symptoms

  • Sharp, fixed, localized pain (e.g., chest, abdomen)

  • Masses, fibroids, tumours

  • Menstrual pain with dark clots

  • Purple lips or complexion

  • Purplish tongue, often with petechiae

  • Choppy or wiry pulse

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Treatment Principle

Invigorate Blood, eliminate stasis, regulate Qi

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Common Points

  • SP10 (Xue Hai) — invigorates Blood

  • BL17 (Ge Shu) — Influential point of Bloo

Blood Stasis
(血瘀 Xue Yu)

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Blood Pathology
(血病)

Blood nourishes the organs and tissues and anchors the Shen (Spirit). It must be sufficient and circulate smoothly. Blood pathology arises when Blood is insufficient, stagnant, overheated, or affected by Cold, disrupting its nourishing and circulating functions. Proper diagnosis of Blood disorders is essential to address pain, gynaecological issues, emotional imbalance, and skin or neurological conditions.

Extreme Qi deficiency → loss of function

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Symptoms

Organ prolapses, severe fatigue, incontinence, weak pulse

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Definition

A critical exhaustion or sudden loss of Qi, often following severe Qi Deficiency, haemorrhage, or trauma. It’s a life-threatening condition.

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Clinical Signs

  • Sudden weakness, collapse

  • Incontinence (urine and stool)

  • Cold limbs

  • Profuse cold sweating

  • Fainting or coma

  • Tongue: pale, moist

  • Pulse: minute, hidden or scattered

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Common Causes

  • Prolonged illness

  • Sudden, profuse blood loss

  • Shock or trauma

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Treatment Principle

Rescue Yang, astringe and stabilize Qi, restore consciousness

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Example

Postpartum Qi Collapse (due to haemorrhage)
→ Pale face, cold limbs, unconsciousness

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Points

Ren6, DU20, ST36, moxa at Ren8 (tonifying/rescuing technique)

Qi Collapse (气脱)

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Qi flows in wrong direction (esp. LU, ST, LR)

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Symptoms

Cough, asthma, nausea, vomiting, belching, headache

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Definition

Qi flows in the wrong direction — typically upward instead of downward, depending on organ involved.

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Common Causes

  • Emotional stress (esp. Liver)

  • Improper eating (esp. Stomach)

  • Chronic deficiency (LU/ST Qi)

  • Heat or Phlegm obstructing normal flow

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Treatment Principle

Redirect Qi, calm rebellion, harmonize organ

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Example

Redirect Qi, calm rebellion, harmonize organ

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Points

Ren12, ST36, PC6, SP4 (regulate ST Qi, calm rebellion)

Rebellious Qi (气逆)

Qi Deficiency (气虚)

Insufficient production or function of Qi

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Symptoms

Fatigue, spontaneous sweating, weak voice, pale tongue, weak pulse

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Definition

A lack of Qi production or function, resulting in hypoactivity of physiological processes. Often rooted in Spleen, Lung, or Kidney deficiency.

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Clinical Signs

  • General fatigue, lack of strength

  • Weak voice, shortness of breath

  • Spontaneous sweating

  • Pale complexion

  • Poor appetite (if Spleen is involved)

  • Tongue: pale, thin white coat

  • Pulse: weak, especially in position corresponding to deficient organ

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Common Causes

  • Chronic illness

  • Overwork, lack of rest

  • Poor diet

Constitutional weakness

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Treatment Principle

Tonify Qi, strengthen affected organ

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Example

Spleen Qi Deficiency
→ Fatigue, poor appetite, loose stools

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Points

ST36, SP3, BL20, Ren12 (Tonify technique, possible moxa)

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Qi does not flow freely

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Symptoms

Distension, emotional constraint, irritability, sighing, wiry pulse

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Definition

Qi is not moving smoothly, leading to blockage in meridians or organs. Often affects the Liver, which governs free flow of Qi.

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Clinical Signs

  • Distension or fullness (not pain)

  • Emotional lability, sighing

  • Irritability, PMS

  • Irregular menstruation (if Liver involved)

  • Tongue: normal or slightly red sides

  • Pulse: wiry (especially in LR position)

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Common Causes

  • Emotional stress

  • Qi constraint (due to inactivity, trauma)

  • Overeating or irregular meals

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Treatment Principles

Move Qi, harmonize affected organs (especially Liver)

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Example

Liver Qi Stagnation
→ Chest or hypochondriac distension, irritability

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Points

LR3, GB34, LI4, SJ6 (Dispersing technique)

Qi Stagnation (气滞)

Qi Pathology

Qi is the basic vital energy that drives all bodily functions: transformation, movement, protection, and containment. Qi pathology refers to disorders in the production, distribution, movement, or containment of Qi (气). Because Qi governs transformation, transportation, protection, holding, and warming, any imbalance can lead to a wide range of functional disturbances. The four major types of Qi disharmony include:

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  1. Qi Deficiency (气虚 Qì Xū)

  2. Qi Stagnation (气滞 Qì Zhì)

  3. Qi Collapse (气脱 Qì Tuō)

  4. Rebellious Qi (气逆 Qì Nì)

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Qi, Blood and Body Fluids

Qi (气), Blood (Xue 血), and Body Fluids (Jin-Ye 津液) are the three fundamental vital substances that sustain physiological function and life. Their quality, quantity, and movement determine health or disease. When pathology arises, TCM examines how these substances are deficient, stagnant, rebellious, or accumulated.

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Qi, Blood and Body Fluid Pathology

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