Mouth

The opening through which food passes into the body. The mouth includes the lips, the tongue, teeth, and palate. It is connected with the wind pipe (trachea) and the gullet (esophagus). The mouth is the outer orifice of the spleen. The Magic Pivot (灵枢 líng shū, mài dù) states, Spleen qì flows through to the mouth; when the spleen is in harmony, the mouth can taste the five grains. The hand yáng brightness (yáng míng) yáng brightness (yáng míng) large intestine channel, yáng brightness (yáng míng) stomach channel, greater yīn (tài yīn) spleen channel, lesser yīn (shào yīn) heart channel, lesser yīn (shào yīn) kidney channel, reverting yīn (jué yīn) liver channel, the governing dū vessel, controlling (rèn) vessel, and thoroughfare (chōng) vessel all pass through the mouth.

Patterns

Diagnosis The diagnostic significance of the mouth rests largely on the spleen and stomach. The spleen opens at the mouth; its bloom is in the lips. If the stomach and the spleen are functioning normally, the individual has a good appetite and normal taste in the mouth. In clinical practice, morbidity of the spleen in reflected in the lips, and the tongue and the tongue fur are of great significance in diagnosis. See also lip, spleen opens at the mouth, mouth sore, clenched jaw, and deviated eyes and mouth.