Deep Yin Level

Heart (HT), Kidney (KI)

Qi or Yang Deficiency, or Yin Deficiency with Empty Heat

Cold Transformation (Yang Deficiency)

Aversion to cold, cold limbs, lethargy

Diarrhea, absence of thirst

Pale tongue, faint pulse

Heat Transformation (Yin Deficiency)

Irritability, insomnia, dry mouth

Red tongue with little coat, thin rapid pulse

Treatment Principles

Rescue Yang

Nourish Yin, clear Deficiency Heat

Shao Yin (少阴)

Final Stage, Terminal Yin

Liver (LR), Pericardium (PC)

omplex alternation of Heat and Cold, collapse of Yin and Yang

Symptoms

Alternating hot and cold sensation
Thirst, hunger without desire to eat
Diarrhea, possible vomiting of roundworms
Cold limbs, faint pulse

Treatment Principle

Restore balance between Yin and Yang, clear Heat, warm Interior
Complex syndrome, often requires combined approach

Points

LR3, PC6, Ren12, ST36, SP4, DU20

Jue Yin (厥阴)

Half-Interior, Half-Exterior

Gallbladder (GB), Triple Burner (TB)

Alternating pattern, the pivot between Exterior and Interior

Symptoms

Alternating chills and fever
Bitter taste, dry throat, dizziness
Fullness in chest/hypochondrium
Nausea, poor appetite
Wiry pulse

Treatment Principle

Harmonize Shao Yang, do not sweat or purge

Points

TB5, GB41, GB34, LR14, DU13

Shao Yang (少阳)

Interior, Cold Deficiency Stage

Spleen (SP), Lung (LU)

Yang Deficiency of Spleen, leading to Cold Damp retention

Symptoms

Abdominal fullness and pain, relieved by warmth/pressure
Diarrhea, poor appetite
Absence of thirst
Fatigue, cold limbs
Pale tongue with white coat
Deep, slow pulse

Treatment Principle

Warm the Middle Jiao, tonify Spleen Yang, resolve Damp

Points

Ren12, ST36, SP3, Ren6, BL20

Tai Yin (太阴)

Exterior Layer

Bladder (BL), Small Intestine (SI)

Superficial, first stage of invasion

Symptoms

Fever with chills (chills > fever)
Aversion to cold or wind
Stiff neck, occipital headache
Floating pulse
Thin white tongue coating

Treatment Principle

Release the Exterior, expel Wind or Cold, harmonize Wei & Ying

Points

BL12, DU16, GB20, LU7, LI4

Tai Yang
(太阳)

Interior, Full Heat Stage

Stomach (ST), Large Intestine (LI)

Excess Heat in Qi level, strong pathogen + strong Zheng Qi

Symptoms

High fever, profuse sweating
Thirst with desire for cold drinks
Red face, irritability
Big, surging pulse
Red tongue with dry yellow coat

Treatment Principle

Clear Internal Heat, purge Yang Ming Fu organs (esp. ST & LI)

Points

LI11, ST44, ST25, ST37, DU14

Yang Ming (阳明)

The 6 Levels

The Six Levels (六经辨证 Liù Jīng Biàn Zhèng) theory is a classical diagnostic model used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to understand the progression of externally contracted febrile diseases, especially those caused by Cold pathogenic factors. It originates from the ancient medical classic Shāng Hán Lùn (伤寒论), “Treatise on Cold Damage,” by Zhang Zhongjing (circa 3rd century AD). This theory explains how Cold pathogens penetrate deeper into the body, moving through six energetic layers corresponding to meridians and organ systems. The levels are arranged from exterior (superficial) to interior (deep):