Yangming diseases are usually caused by exogenous pathogenic wind and cold which convert to heat and transmit directly into the interior, attacking the Yangming. They may also be due to delayed treatment causing body fluid consumption, which dries the stomach and intestines, resulting in constipation. yangming diseases exhibit the greatest conflict between pathogenic and anti-pathogenic factors. They are also divided into syndromes of the Yangming channel and Yangming fu organ.

Yangming channel syndromes
Fever, perspiration, thirst with preference for drinking, irritability, yellow dry tongue coating, forceful pulse.

Pathogenic heat retained in the Yangming channel causes hyperactivity of heat in the stomach, manifesting as fever. pathogenic heat forces the body fluid to flow outward, thus sweating occurs. This perspiration consumes fluids, so there is thirst with a preference for drinking. Irritability is due to heat disturbing the hear-mind. A dry yellow tongue coating is a sign of excessive heat injuring the body fluid. A forceful pulse indicates excessive heat and preponderant yang.

Yangming fu organ syndromes
Fever, tidal fever at dusk, sweating, constipation, fullness and pain of the abdomen (worse with pressure), irritability, delirium or even coma, yellow and dry tongue coating, or yellow coating with thorns, deep, forceful shi pulse.

Constipation is due to dryness of the intestine. The dysfunction of qi circulation in the fu organ causes a fullness and distending pain in the abdomen which is worse with pressure. Steaming of interior heat is the cause of fever and sweating. The Yangming qi, peaking at dusk, causes tidal fever when it contends with pathogenic factors. Irritability and delirium or even coma are caused by heat disturbing the hear-mind. Deep and shi pulse, and yellow and dry tongue coating with thorns are signs of interior shi heat leading to the insufficiency of body fluid.