How is the diagnosis made?

TCM has developed unique diagnostic and therapeutic methods such as tongue diagnosis, pulse reading, herbal formulas, and acupuncture. TCM treats patients holistically, that is as a whole, rather than treating individual parts.

Inspection

The TCM doctor inspects (observes) the patient’s mental state, complexion, physical condition, and behavior. The practitioner observes the person’s vitality (qi), face and skin color, body figure, hair, eyes, lips, teeth, throat, and other features. The most important observation is of the tongue to see its color, size, and coating or “fur.”

Auscultation and Olfaction

Auscultation (listening) and olfaction (smelling) are used to detect the health status of the patient. The practitioner listens to the voice, breathing, and coughing. The odors of the patient are also noted. TCM considers these sounds and odors to be reflective of the health status of the various body organs.

Inquiring

Inquiring involves asking the person and his or her relatives about such things as the person’s history, symptoms, family history, and previous therapies. Typically, the practitioner will ask the person about the presence of chills and/or fever, excessive perspiration, pain, sleep, diet, thirst, alcohol consumption, other beverage consumption, urination, bowel movements, menstruation, and childhood illnesses.

Palpation

Palpation is a physical examination that includes pulse reading and the use of the hands to touch and press certain areas of the body. Pulse reading is one of the most important Chinese diagnostic methods. 24 different pulses can be read from a person’s wrists.

Based on all the data obtained from the four diagnostic methods, a differential diagnosis is made according to the eight principal syndromes: yin or yang, exterior or interior, cold or heat, and deficient or excessive.

According to TCM theories, treatment is based on an overall analysis of symptoms and signs. The doctor considers four characteristics in deciding on a treatment. The cause of the illness is the nature of the illness location of the illness the patient’s overall physical condition

In this way, treatment is individualized. It may be changed according to changes in the patient’s condition during the disease.