A patient exhibits hypochondriac pain, vomiting, nausea, yellowish complexion, and a thick-sticky yellow coating on the tongue. What is the diagnosis?

The presence of a thick-sticky yellow coating on the tongue is a key indicator of specific pathological conditions in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In this case, the symptoms of hypochondriac pain, vomiting, nausea, and a yellowish complexion point towards an excess of heat and dampness in the body, particularly related to the spleen and stomach.

The thick-sticky yellow coating on the tongue suggests that there is an accumulation of dampness and heat, which is consistent with the symptoms observed. The yellow color indicates a heat condition, while the thickness and stickiness signify the presence of phlegm or damp accumulation. When diagnosing in TCM, the tongue's appearance gives significant insight into the internal environment of the body, helping practitioners to craft appropriate treatment plans.

In contrast, the other options do not reflect the combination of symptoms effectively. A pale or normal tongue indicates deficiency, a red tongue without coating suggests a different heat condition without dampness, and a red tongue with thin white coating might signify another pattern that does not match the presented symptoms of damp-heat. Therefore, the thick-sticky yellow coating is the most indicative of the patient's internal condition, confirming this diagnosis.