Looking at the face is as important a diagnostic tool as listening to the pulse. When observing the face, there are three aspects that are noted. First is the physical structure - the size, shape, and placement of bone and cartilage. This corresponds to "man." Second is the glitter of the eyes and overall spiritual presence. This corresponds to "heaven." Third is the status of the physiological processes going on in the individual (corresponding to "earth").
In pathology (or lack of harmony or balance) these physiological processes manifest as colors, lines and lesions on the face. This article presents a brief picture that is highly effective in clinical practice and is easy to learn. It's based on a sheet given to me while I was a student at the International College of Oriental Medicine (UK) in 1978. The heaven-earth-man paradigm is based on Shokanten lecture notes from ICOM; additional information about the Shokanten and face diagnosis is available by contacting me. The sources for all of this information are the late Dr. J.D. van Buren and ICOM.
The face has three distinct geographic locations. The upper third belongs to heaven, the lower third to man, and the middle third to earth. Each location is subdivided as well.
Heaven
Hair
Temples
Lower forehead and between the eyebrows
Earth
Eyebrows divided into three areas
Eyelids
Eye
Little lines lateral to outer canthus of eye
Area below eye
Ears correspond to kidneys
Nose corresponds to lungs
Cheek
Man
Medial to the angle of the jaw - see above
Mouth - in general, controlled by Spleen
Directly below mouth
Chin
Neck area directly below the mandible
Neck area, lateral and posterior
Special thanks to Pauline van Buren, principal of ICOM, for her review of this article.
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