🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Facial observation is one of the ancient practices passed down through generations in “inspection diagnosis.” Let me first tell a story. According to the *Records of the Grand Historian*, during the Warring States period, the famous physician Bian Que passed through Qi State and saw Duke Huan of Qi. He immediately noticed signs of illness on the duke’s facial appearance and told him: “You have illness in your skin and flesh; if not treated, it will progress deeper.” The duke replied, “I have no illness.” After Bian Que left, the duke said to his attendants: “Doctors seek money—they try to treat people who are healthy.” Five days later, Bian Que saw the duke again and informed him that the illness had entered his blood vessels. Another five days passed, and he said it had reached the intestines and stomach. Yet the duke still refused treatment. After another five days, when Bian Que looked at the duke’s complexion, he knew he was beyond saving and fled immediately. When the duke sent someone to inquire, Bian Que said: “When the illness was in the skin, it could be cured with herbal baths and moxibustion; when in the blood vessels, acupuncture could help; when in the intestines and stomach, wine therapy could work; now it has entered the marrow—even the Lord of the Underworld cannot save him. So I have nothing more to say.” Five days later, the duke died.
From this story, it’s clear that Bian Que was indeed skilled in inspection diagnosis, achieving the level of “knowing by looking alone.” Though this may involve artistic exaggeration, it illustrates the great significance of observing facial expressions and color in understanding illness and predicting prognosis. Facial diagnosis requires careful observation of the patient’s facial expression, complexion, and features.