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Observation — Face, Body, Posture

Chapter 7.3: All through history taking, we have time to observe the patient. Judge facial colour, expressions, tongue appearance, deformities, tics and tremors.

Facial Colour Diagnosis

The Heart circulates Blood and heat. Different colours on the face indicate imbalances in different organs:

Pale

Heart Blood deficiency, Liver Blood deficiency

Bright pale

Lung Yang condition

Dull pale

Lung Yin condition

Pale yellow (sallow)

Spleen Blood and Qi deficiency

Red

Heart Yang excess

Red (Liver)

Liver Yang excess

Cheeks only red

Yin deficiency with ascending heat in any organ

Neck red

Lung or Heart Yin deficiency

Bright yellow

Spleen Yang excess

Purple (cyanosis)

Heart Blood stagnation

Grey/Blue

Kidney deficiency (Yin or Yang — check for coldness/dryness)

Posture and Body Type

Observation Tips

  • • Always observe the patient throughout the consultation, not just at the beginning
  • • Note body language, facial expressions, and emotional state
  • • Check for tics, tremors, and asymmetry
  • • Observe skin type (thin/dry, thick/oily, mixed)
  • • Note the voice quality and speech patterns
  • • Body hair distribution indicates Lung and Kidney health

Observation Assessor

Assess face colour and appearance to map organ imbalances.

Tap face colour findings to build your assessment:

Reflect

What did your face colour and body type reveal? Which organ system showed itself through observation alone?

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