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Chinese Medicine
Diagnostics
Following the macro philosophy of disease, traditional Chinese diagnostics are based on overall observation of human symptoms rather than “micro” level laboratory tests. There are four types of TCM diagnostic methods: observe (wàng), hear and smell (wén), ask about background (wèn) and read the pulse (qiè).
Systems of diagnosis include:
- Yin or Yang
- Five elements
- Eight principles
- Zang Fu theory
- Meridian (Chinese medicine)
- Six levels
- Four stages
- Three jiaos
Modern practitioners in China often use a traditional system in combination with Western methods.[citation needed]
Traditional Chinese medicine is considered to require considerable diagnostic skill. This often depends on the ability to observe what are described as subtle differences. This may be contrasted with a straightforward laboratory test which indicates an unambiguous cause. A training period of years or decades is said to be necessary for TCM practitioners to understand the full complexity of symptoms and dynamic balances. According to one Chinese saying, A good (TCM) doctor is also qualified to be a good prime minister in a country
Diagnostic techniques
- Palpation of the patient’s radial artery pulse(Pulse diagnosis) in six positions
- Observation of the appearance of the patient’s tongue
- Observation of the patient’s face
- Palpation of the patient’s body (especially the abdomen) for tenderness
- Observation of the sound of the patient’s voice
- Observation of the surface of the ear
- Observation of the vein on the index finger on small children
- Comparisons of the relative warmth or coolness of different parts of the body
- Anything else that can be observed without instruments and without harming the patient
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