bubble_chart Concept

Sore throat, also known as throat pain, refers to pain in the throat area.

Sore throats caused by "diphtheria" or "throat ulcers" are often associated with throat swelling and are discussed in separate entries, not within the scope of this condition.

bubble_chart Pattern Analysis

1. External Contractionwind-cold︰The throat often presents with mild pain or stabbing pain, with a dark red and swollen mucous membrane. It is commonly accompanied by nasal congestion, sneezing, clear nasal discharge, cough with thin phlegm, headache, body aches, fever without sweating, a thin white tongue coating, and a floating, tight pulse. Wind-cold throat pain is caused by the invasion of external wind-cold. The throat, as the gateway of the lungs and stomach, is the first to be affected. When the lungs fail to disperse and regulate, pathogens accumulate in the throat, leading to throat pain. Symptoms such as fever, aversion to cold, and absence of sweating may also be observed. Treatment focuses on dispersing wind and dissipating cold, with the prescription of Liu Wei Zong Fang.
2. Wind-heat Syndrome of External Contraction︰The throat often exhibits stabbing pain, which is pronounced during swallowing and worsens with eating. The pharyngeal membrane is red and swollen. It is often accompanied by fever, aversion to wind, sweating, and headache. The tongue texture is red with thin yellow coating, and the pulse is floating and rapid. Severe wind-heat throat pain presents with symptoms such as fever, aversion to wind, and sweating. It is advisable to use Lonicera and Forsythia Powder to disperse wind and clear heat.
3. Dampness-heat︰Severe pain or stabbing pain, red and swollen mucous membrane with small blisters that may rupture and form ulcers. Often accompanied by fever, cough, expectoration of yellow sputum, and discomfort in the chest and diaphragm. The tongue texture is red with a yellow and greasy coating, and the pulse is rapid. Dampness-heat sore throat is caused by spleen and stomach dysfunction, leading to internal accumulation of dampness-heat in the middle energizer, combined with external pathogens. The interaction of dampness and pathogens obstructs the throat, resulting in severe sore throat, small blisters in the throat, which may rupture and form ulcers. The treatment should focus on {|###|}clearing heat and removing toxin, draining dampness{|###|}, and the recommended formula is Sweet Dew Decoction with the addition of Dyers Woad leaf.
4. Stagnant Fire︰Sore throat with stabbing pain, rapid onset, and severe progression, accompanied by difficulty swallowing, inability to even drink water, rapid breathing, red and inflamed throat mucosa, and epiglottis edema. The tongue appears red with little or thin yellow coating, and the pulse is full and rapid. Sore throat due to stagnant fire belongs to the acute condition of "throat obstruction," characterized by epiglottis edema, extreme difficulty swallowing, and sometimes rapid breathing and suffocation. This is caused by stagnant fire accumulating in the throat, disrupting qi movement. The treatment principles are to reduce fire and dissipate stagnation. The empirical prescription Dan Zhi Xuan Bi Tang (Xuan Bi Tang with added Moutan bark and Gardenia) is recommended for treatment.
5. Yin Deficiency︰Dry and sore throat, dry mouth with desire to drink, a sensation of phlegm obstruction in the throat that is difficult to expectorate, aggravated pain in the afternoon, dark red sticky membrane. Accompanied by {|###|}afternoon tidal fever{|###|}, or {|###|}feverish feeling in palms and soles{|###|}, {|###|}night sweat{|###|}, dry stool, yellow urine. The {|###|}tongue texture{|###|} is red with scant coating, and the pulse is thin and rapid. {|###|}Yin deficiency{|###|} sore throat is caused by {|###|}yin deficiency{|###|} and fluid damage, with {|###|}deficiency fire flaming upward{|###|}, scorching the throat. Its characteristics are dry and sore throat and dry mouth with desire to drink. The causes of this syndrome are either {|###|}lung yin deficiency{|###|} or {|###|}lung-kidney yin deficiency{|###|}. For cases attributed to {|###|}lung yin deficiency{|###|}, they are often accompanied by {|###|}dry cough{|###|} and can be treated with {|###|}enriching yin and clearing the lung{|###|} decoction. For cases attributed to {|###|}lung-kidney yin deficiency{|###|}, they are mostly due to constitutional {|###|}yin deficiency{|###|} or excessive sexual activity, with {|###|}ministerial fire{|###|} flaring upward, manifesting as soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, {|###|}tinnitus{|###|} and blurred vision, restlessness and {|###|}insomnia{|###|}, etc. The treatment should focus on {|###|}enriching and tonifying the lung and kidney{|###|}, clearing deficiency heat, and {|###|}Anemarrhena, Phelloendron and Rehmannia Pill{|###|} can be prescribed.
6. Deficiency of Both Qi and Yin︰Dryness and pain in the throat, mostly dull pain, aggravated by fatigue, shortness of breath, lack of strength, tidal fever, dry stool, pale tongue with thin coating, thready and weak pulse. Deficiency of both qi and yin. Throat pain not only exhibits symptoms of yin deficiency but also signs of qi deficiency, such as aggravated throat pain after exertion, weak speech, and general lack of strength. Treatment should focus on tonifying qi and nourishing yin. Lily Bulb Metal-Securing Decoction with qi-tonifying herbs can be used for treatment.

Sore throat can be attributed to four aspects: external wind, fire, phlegm, and deficiency. Wind, fire, and phlegm are mostly excess pattern, characterized by severe throat pain, difficulty swallowing, rapid breathing, throat obstruction, red and inflamed mucous membranes, and swelling. The characteristics of sore throat in deficiency pattern are mild throat pain and dryness, often accompanied by lack of strength, low-grade fever, and other deficiency pattern manifestations.