'Old fashioned' Diagnosis

[Guest guest]

5,000yr+ old protcol

 

Traditional

Diagnostic methods

 

In TCM there are four diagnostic methods, namely :

 

Inspection is a method of diagnosis in which the

doctor understands and predicts the pathological

changes of internal organs by observing abnormal

changes in the patient ' s vitality, colour,

appearance, secretions and excretions.

 

In their long - term medical practice, the Chinese

physicians realized the close relationship between the

external part of the body, especially the face and

tongue, and the zang - fu organs.

 

Any slight changes appearing in these areas can tell

pathological conditions in various parts of the body.

 

Inspection of the exterior of the body, therefore, is

of much help in diagnosis.

Observation of the vitality

Observation of the color

Observation of the appearance

Observation of the five sense organs

Observation of the tongue

Auscultation and olfaction refer to listening and

smelling.

 

Inquiring is asking the patient or the patient ' s

companion about the disease condition in order to

understand the pathological process.

Inquiries are made systematically with questions

focused on the chief complaint of the patient

according to the knowledge necessary in

differentiating a syndrome.

 

Inquiring covers a wide range of topics.

Chills and fever

Perspiration

Appetite

Thirst

Taste

Defecation

Urination

Pain

Sleep

Menses

Leukorrhea

 

Palpation is a method of diagnosis in which the

pathological condition is detected by palpating,

feeling and pressing certain areas of the body. It is

discussed under the headings of feeling the pulse and

palpation of different parts of the body.

Feeling the pulse

Palpation of the epigastrium

Palpation of the abdomen

Palpation of the acupuncture points

 

As human body is an organic entity, its regional

pathological changes may affect the whole body,

and the pathological changes of the internal organs

may manifest themselves on the body surface.

 

The Medical Book by Master of Danxi says : " One

should observe and analyse the external manifestations

of the patient in order to know what is happening

inside the body, for the disease of internal organs

must have its manifestations on the body surface. "

 

Inspection, auscultation and olfaction,

inquiring and palpation are the four approaches to

understand the pathological conditions.

 

They can not be separated,

but relate to and supplement one another.

In the clinical situation, only by combining the four

can a comprehensive and systematic understanding of

the condition of the disease be gained and a correct

diagnosis made.

Any inclination to one aspect while neglecting the

other three is one - sided, therefore, is not

suggested.

 

http://www.geocities.com/altmedd/acupuncture/diagnostic_methods/diagnostic_metho\

ds.html