Principles |  FAQ's |  Glossary

There are four main techniques to diagnosis in TCM. The first is looking. One can observe the demeanour, vitality, and physical appearance of a person. This includes the health of the hair, skin, nails, and complexion.

The second diagnostic technique is hearing. One can hear the tone and volume of the person's voice, the sound of the breathing, and the type of cough. Another, less frequently used technique is using the sense of smell. Each of the five elements is related to a smell, and a strong odour from the breath, stool, or urine can help pinpoint the cause of illness.

The third method is asking. An initial TCM consultation can be quite involved and may take 1 to 1 ½ hours with questioning of the patient's symptoms, environment, diet, emotions, medical history, family history, and full body system functioning.

The fourth diagnostic tool is palpation. The skin can be felt for temperature, moisture, and texture. Acupoints on the body can also be palpated for sensitivities.

Two techniques that are unique to TCM diagnosis are tongue diagnosis (observation) and pulse diagnosis (palpation). Tongue diagnosis is important, as it is the only internal organ that we can see, and it reflects the health and functioning of the other internal organs. Observation of the tongue is based on four main items: the colour of the body of the tongue, the shape, the coating, and the moisture. Each area is also related to an internal organ. Pulse diagnosis can also give information of the state of the internal organs as well as reflect the movement of Qi and blood. Unlike western medicine, it does not only gage the rate of the pulse. There are three positions on each wrist (at the radial artery), each of which relates to specific organ systems. There are also three depths of pulse taking-superficial, medium, and deep. The strength and characteristics of the pulses on each wrist are determined, and this is a very complex system. There are 28 pulses, and each pulse can be different from the others according to its location, depth, and side of the body.

Principles |  FAQ's |  Glossary