How to Determine if You Have Excessive Liver Fire or Excessive Lung Fire

To determine whether it is excessive liver fire or excessive lung fire, differentiation can be made from the following aspects: 1. Symptom presentation: Excessive liver fire commonly presents with irritability, dry and bitter mouth, distension and pain in the hypochondriac region, dizziness, and headache. In contrast, excessive lung fire primarily manifests as cough, yellow phlegm, sore and dry throat, shortness of breath, and constipation. 2. Affected anatomical site: Excessive liver fire is usually associated with pathological changes in the liver, whereas excessive lung fire is related to diseases of the lungs. 3. Tongue examination: In cases of excessive liver fire, the tongue edges may display vertical or crosswise fissures, the tongue body is typically purplish-red in color, with yellow coating. In excessive lung fire, the tip of the tongue appears reddish, with a thin yellow coating, and sometimes small transverse fissures may be observed. Based on the above points, one can make a relatively accurate differentiation between excessive liver fire and excessive lung fire. If in doubt, it is recommended to consult a qualified physician for syndrome differentiation and treatment.