DEFINITION OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE CONDITIONS BASED ON THE ORGAN SYSTEM DISORDERS AND MAIN MERIDIAN PATTERNS

ORGAN SYSTEM
CHARACTERISTICS MAIN MERIDIAN PATTERNS CHARACTERISTICS
DISORDERS
Liver system This section contains Liver meridian pattern *A pattern characterized by pain in the waist and an inability to look upwards and downwards. In men
disorders a series of TM (zú jué yīn gān jīng zhèng) there are swellings and pain in the groin and scrotum while in women there are swellings of the lower
disorders that are all 足厥阴肝经证 abdomen. Symptoms and signs also include chest fullness, counterflow vomiting, diarrhea with
attributable to undigested food, inguinal swellings and incontinent and obstructed urine. It may be explained by Liver
dysfunction of the meridian dysfunction.
liver system. The **Characterized by lower back pain, chest fullness, hiccups, enuresis, inhibited urination, hernia and
system consists of the lower abdominal swelling. This pattern often results from impaired qi flow of the liver meridian.
organs liver and Gallbladder meridian pattern *A pattern characterized by bitter taste in the mouth, frequent sighs, pain in the heart and rib-sides and
gallbladder, tendons, (zú shào yáng dǎn jīng zhèng) an inability to rotate the body from side to side. Symptoms and signs also include headache and pain
nails, eyes, related 足少阳胆经证 along the side of the face, pains at the lateral corners of the eyes, distension and pain in the
meridians and supraclavicular fossa, swelling beneath the axilla, pain in the chest, thighs, along the outer knees down
collaterals. the shin, to the external malleolus and within various joints, and impaired use of the fourth toe. It may
be explained by Gall Bladder meridian dysfunction.
**Characterized by a bitter mouth, blurred vision, alternating fever and chills, headache, pain in the chin,
outer canthus and clavicle, armpit swelling, pain along the chest, subcostal region, thigh and lateral
aspect of the leg and foot, and a feverish sensation along the lateral aspect of the foot. This pattern often
results from impaired qi flow of the gallbladder meridian.
Heart system This section contains Heart meridian pattern *A pattern characterized by dry thoat, heart pain and thirst with a desire to drink. Symptoms and signs
disorders a series of TM (shǒu shào yīn xīn jīng zhèng) also include yellow eyes, pain in the lateral abdomen, pain and circulation reversals in the ulnar aspect
disorders that are all 手少阴心经证 of the arm and heat and pain in the palms. It may be explained by Heart meridian dysfunction.
attributable to **Characterized by cardiac pain, a dry throat, thirst, yellowish eyes, pain in the subcostal region and
dysfunction of heart along the medial aspect of the arm, and a feverish sensation in the palms. This pattern often results from
system. The system impaired qi flow of the heart meridian.
consists of the heart, Small intestine meridian pattern *A pattern characterized by throat pain, jaw swelling, inability to turn the head to look backwards and
vessels, tongue and (shǒu tài yáng xiǎo cháng jīng zhèng) pulling up and back of the (muscles) of the shoulders and arms. Symptoms and signs also include
related meridians and 手太阳小肠 经证 deafness, cheek swelling and pain along the neck, jaws, shoulders, upper arms, elbows and ulnar aspect
collaterals. of the forearms. It may be explained by Small intestine meridian dysfunction.
**Characterized by lower abdominal pain, lower back painlower back pain that radiates towards the
testis, deafness, yellowish eyes, swollen cheek, a sore, swollen throat and pain along the posterior border
of the lateral aspect of the shoulder and arm. This pattern often results from impaired qi flow of the small
intestine meridian.
Pericardium meridian pattern *A pattern characterized by heat in the palms, spasms in the forearms and elbows and axillary swelling.
(shǒu jué yīn xīn bāo jīng zhèng) Symptoms and signs also include heart vexation and heart pain. It may be explained by Pericardium
meridian dysfunction.
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 手厥阴心包 经证 **Characterized by cardiac pain, chest tightness, restlessness, mania, armpit swelling, arm contracture
and a feverish sensation in the palms. This pattern often results from impaired qi flow of the pericardium
meridian.
Sanjiao meridian pattern *A pattern characterized by deafness and tinnitus, swelling and obstruction of the throat. Symptoms and
(shǒu shào yáng sān jiāo jīng zhèng signs also include sweating, pain at the lateral corners of the eye and cheeks, pain behind the ear and
手少阳三焦 经证) along the shoulders, upper arms, elbows and outer border of the forearms and impaired use of the fourth
finger. It may be explained by Triple Energizer meridian dysfunction.
**Characterized by abdominal distension, oedema, enuresis, inhibited urination, deafness, tinnitus, a
sore throat, red, swollen and painful eyes, swollen cheeks, and pain behind the ears and along the lateral
aspect of the shoulder, arm and elbow. This pattern often results from impaired qi flow of the Sanjiao
meridian.
Spleen system This section contains Spleen meridian pattern *A pattern characterized by stiff tongue root, vomiting after eating, stomach pain, abdominal distention
disorders a series of TM (zú tài yīn pí jīng zhèng) and a feeling of weakness and heaviness in the entire body. Symptoms and signs also include the pain in
disorders that are all 足太阴脾经证 the tongue root, trembling, indigestion, heart vexation, cramping pain beneath the heart, swelling and
attributable to upset of meridian Qi flowing along the inner aspect of the knee and thigh, and impaired use of the first
dysfunction of the toe. It may be explained by Spleen meridian dysfunction.
spleen system. The **Characterized by gastric pain, vomiting immediately after eating food, belching, abdominal distension,
system consists of the loose stools, jaundice, body heaviness and weakness, pain or stiffness of the base of the tongue, swelling
spleen and stomach along the medial side of the leg and cold limbs. This pattern often results from impaired qi flow of the
organs, muscle, lips, spleen meridian.
mouth, related Stomach meridian pattern *A pattern characterized by cold shivering, a tendency to groan, frequent yawning, and dark complexion.
meridians and (zú yáng míng wèi jīng zhèng) Symptoms and signs include nasal congestion, facial deviations, lip sores, neck swelling, throat
collaterals. 足阳明胃经证 obstructions, water swelling in the abdomen and swelling and pain in the patella. Pain occurs along the
channel path from the breast to groin, along the thigh and down the lateral shin to the top of the foot. It
may be explained by Stomach meridian dysfunction.
**Characterized by bowel sounds, abdominal distension, oedema, stomach ache, vomiting, fast hunger
after eating food, thirst, a sore, swollen throat, nosebleed, pain in the chest or knee, fever and mania.
This pattern often results from impaired qi flow of the stomach meridian.
Lung system This section contains Lung meridian pattern *A pattern characterized by distention and fullness in the chest difficulty in breathing, cough and pain in
disorders a series of TM (shǒu tài yīn fèi jīng zhèng) the supraclavicular fossa. Symptoms and signs include pain and flow reversals along the inner aspect of
disorders that are all 手太阴肺经证 the arm and heat in the palms, pain in the shoulders and back. It may be explaind by Lung meridian
attributable to dysfunction.
dysfunction of the **Characterized by cough, panting, shortness of breath, haemoptysis, chest fullness/distension, a sore,
lung system. The swollen throat, pain in the clavicle and along the anterior border of the medial aspect of the arm, and
system consists of the pain with a cold sensation in the shoulder and back. This pattern often results from impaired flow of lung
lung and large meridian qi.

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 intestine organs, skin, Large intestine meridian pattern *A pattern characterized by toothache and swollen neck. Symptoms and signs also include dry mouth,
body hair, nose, (shǒu yáng míng dà cháng jīng zhèng) obstructions of the nose and throat, pain in the anterior aspect of the shoulder and upper arm, and
related meridians and 手阳明大肠 经证 impaired use of the forefinger. It may be explained by Large Intestine meridian dysfunction.
collaterals. **Characterized by abdominal pain, bowel sounds, diarrhoea, constipation, dysentery, a sore, swollen
throat, toothache, clear nasal discharge, nosebleed, and pain, hot or cold sensation along the meridian
pathway. This pattern often results from impaired qi flow of the large intestine meridian.
Kidney system This section contains Kidney meridian pattern *A pattern characterized by hunger without the desire to eat, a facial complexion the color of dark
disorders a series of TM (zú shào yīn shèn jīng zhèng) lacquered wood, coughing up blood tinged sputum, thirst with shortness of breath, a desire to rise when
disorders that are all 足少阴肾经证 sitting, dim vision and a worry of starvation. Symptoms and signs also include dry tongue, throat swelling,
attributable to dry and painful throat, pain along the posterior border of the inner thighs, lower limb atrophy, heat and
dysfunction of the pain on the soles of the feet. It may be explained by Kidney meridian dysfunction.
kidney system. The **Characterized by haemoptysis, panting, a dry tongue, a sore, swollen throat, oedema, constipation,
system consists of the diarrhoea, lower back pain, pain along the posterior of the spine and thigh, flaccidity and a feverish
kidney and bladder sensation in the soles. This pattern often results from impaired qi flow of the kidney meridian.
organs, bones, hair, Bladder meridian pattern *A pattern characterized by clashing headache and sensation that the eyes are being torn out. The nape
ears, genitalia, anus, (zú tài yáng páng guāng jīng zhèng) of the neck is tight, there is pain in the spine, the waist arches backwards, the thigh cannot flex, the back
marrow, related 足太阳膀胱 经证 of the knee has lumps and there is a sensation that the calf is being split apart. Symptoms and signs also
meridians and include excess lacrimation, nasal congestion, pain in the head, neck, back, waist, sacrum, back of the
collaterals. knee, calf and foot, and impaired use of the little toe. It may be explained by Bladder meridian
dysfunction.
**Characterized by inhibited urination, enuresis, mania, alternating fever and chills, eye pain, lacrimation
with exposure to wind, nasal obstruction with discharge, nosebleed, headache and pain along the neck,
back, low back, buttocks and posterior aspect of the leg. This pattern often results from impaired qi flow
of the bladder meridian.
Referências:
*WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. Supplementary Chapter Traditional Medicine Conditions – ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics. Geneva: WHO, 2019. pg.51.
**WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. WHO international standard terminologies on traditional Chinese medicine. Geneva: WHO, 2022. pg. 172 (184).

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