In failure or disrepair, symptoms include shallow or uneven breath, coughing, and anoxia. FEI also regulates the passage of water. This function includes the transportation and distribution of nutrients and water, the secretion of perspiration, and the excretion of urine. In abnormality, there will be present hyper- or hypohydrosis, edema, and difficulty in urination due to 'obstruction of the water passage'. FEI furthermore dominates the hair and skin, so that dry hair, rough or 'loose' skin can indicate deficiency or impairment of the lungs as well.
Loose skin relaxes the pores, thus opening the body to a variety of exogenic pathogens and disease.
The FEI uses the nose as its orifice. As such, it dominates growth, reproduction, and normal development. The SHEN produces marrow, dominating the bones and producing blood. When adversely affected, there will be dizziness, tinitus, insomnia, and loss of memory. The bones may become weak and brittle and the blood will be insufficient, often clinically diagnosed as abnormally low blood pressure.