Diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Diagnosis
The diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine is done in four methods to come up with a treatment plan for the abnormalities in the human body. Below are the four methods of diagnosis:
1. Inspection: Careful visual inspection on the patient’s body in the complexion and tongue to find any abnormalities. The tongue can reveal many of the disorders in the human body and needs careful examination. Below is the feature that could be observed by examining the patient’s tongue:
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Colour: The colour indicates the state of blood, organs, and Qi through the body
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Shape: Reflects deficiency or excess of certain minerals in the body and also gives information about the status of blood, organs, and Qi
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Any marks on the tongue. For instance, if there are teeth marks found, indicates that the tongue rests on the teeth which is often indicate a disorder in the digestive system
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Moisture on the tongue indicates the status of fluids in the body
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The coating of the tongue indicates the state of organs especially the stomach. The thickness of the coat indicates a deficiency or any disorders concerning an individual’s health
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The coat root of the tongue indicates the impairment of organs if it is found not attached to the tongue’s surface.
2. Listening: Listening to patients breathing and their tone of voice helps in diagnosing abnormalities in the human system. Their further tones and diagnostic results are given below:
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Loud and course voice indicates an excess pattern in the human system
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The low and weak voice indicates a deficiency in the system
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A deficiency in the cold pattern is diagnosed when the patient lacks the interest in speaking
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Similarly, a heat pattern is diagnosed when the patient talks in an incessant manner
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Hoarse Voice: Indicates the throat is red and sore, deficient of Qi in the lungs
3. Smelling: Observing the odor of the patient’s breath, secretions and excretions give the patient abnormalities information which helps in diagnosis. In general, excess heat patterns produce a foul odor and cold patterns are indicated by less odorous secretions. The odor and their indications:
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Foul stools: Happens in case of urgent diarrhoea indicating damp-heat in the large intestine
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Sour odor: Indicates retention in food
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Bad breath: Indicates heat in the stomach
4. Inquiring: Asking patients questions regarding the observable symptoms and the intervals they occur to help diagnose illness and come up with a treatment plan. Below are the questions usually asked to a patient by the practitioner:
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I. Demographic details: Name, age, sex, profession, life circumstances
II. Past medical history: Birth history, childhood illness, learning disabilities ​
III. Traumas: Sudden demise of a loved one, harassment (physical, verbal, sexual), accidents
IV. Medical vaccinations: Like antibiotics or inquiring if the patient is allergic to certain medicine
V. Habits: Smoking, consumption of recreational drugs, consumption of alcohol or intake of caffeine
VI. Exercise History: Workout routines practiced to keep the body fit if any. Also, workouts are done in the past
VII. Family Medical History: History of high blood pressure, diabetes, hepatitis or asthma
VIII. Chief Complaint: The reason for the patient to choose TCM
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5. Palpation: The pulse variation could be determined by pressing the corresponding parts of the body for a better understanding of the patient’s system. The pulse gives information on the state of balance in the human body and state of individual organs. The below diagram gives a clear understanding of the location, division, and indications of levels in the body.
The above-mentioned methods are not limited and there might be more assessments done by the practitioner to get a better picture of the patient’s health condition.