A 57-year-old man presents with 2 weeks of cough producing thick yellow sputum after an initial cold. He now has chest oppression, mild fever, thirst, and a red tongue with greasy yellow coating. Pulse is slippery and rapid. What is the most likely pattern?
Four training angles
Case 3: Pattern
Case 3: Treatment
Case 3: Formula
Case 3: Points
Open the individual question practice pages
Case 3: Pattern
Open to answer first, then reveal the answer and explanation.
Case 3: Treatment
Open to answer first, then reveal the answer and explanation.
Case 3: Formula
Open to answer first, then reveal the answer and explanation.
Case 3: Points
Open to answer first, then reveal the answer and explanation.
Case-to-knowledge links
Greasy Coating
A greasy coating commonly indicates phlegm, dampness, food retention, or other turbid obstruction.
Yellow Coating
A yellow tongue coating is an important sign of heat. Thick yellow suggests stronger excess heat; thin yellow suggests milder heat.
Rapid Pulse
A rapid pulse most often suggests heat, but it can also occur in deficiency heat from Yin deficiency.
Slippery Pulse
A slippery pulse commonly points to phlegm, dampness, or food retention, and may appear with phlegm-heat patterns as well.