tcm-diagnosis

Many people new to acupuncture may ask, "Why does my acupuncturist ask so many questions?"

An initial visit to an acupuncturist usually involves filling out an extensive health history form and having an in-depth discussion with your practitioner. An acupuncturist will ask a number of questions about your health and lifestyle, many of which may seem unrelated to your main reason for seeking acupuncture. The questions, however, are linked together and your answers provide valuable input into the diagnostic process. Along with tongue and pulse diagnosis, asking what are known as the "10 questions" allows your practitioner to create a unique treatment plan for you as an individual. This taking into account a wide variety of signs and symptoms is the key to the success of acupuncture and your practitioners ability to treat conditions where other methods may have failed.

Listening to a persons voice and noticing any particular body odors that they may have are a basic part of the "Four Examinations" in Chinese medicine. Along with the more precise diagnostic tools such as pulse and tongue diagnosis, listening and smelling provide valuable input to form an appropriate TCM diagnosis.

While used more as a casual observation by most TCM practitioners, listening and smelling form an integral part of the Classical Five Element color, sound, odor and emotion (CSOE) method of diagnosis.

The strength of Chinese medicine lies within its ability to look at a variety of signs and symptoms and come to a more precise diagnosis of underlying conditions. While the pulse and the tongue are the two principle diagnostic tools in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), looking at the colors and qualities in a persons body and face provides valuable diagnostic information.

Body Diagnosis - Shape, Demeanor and Indications

Facial Diagnosis - Colors and Indications

Skin Diagnosis - Qualities and Indications

Eye Diagnosis - Qualities and Indications

Sources and More Information

The information on our site is drawn from our own lecture notes and clinical experience.

One of the most common questions that people ask about acupuncture is: "Why does my acupuncturist check my pulse?"

Pulse and tongue diagnosis are two of the more important diagnostic tools in Chinese medicine. They are both used to derive a TCM diagnosis for your condition which is used to plan your treatment. Of the diagnostic tools, pulse diagnosis is one of the more important tools used in Chinese and Japanese acupuncture and herbal medicine. While tongue diagnosis provides valuable clinical information, the pulse can be used to gain a deep understanding of the patient on many levels. "Mastering" pulse diagnosis is difficult without the guidance of a skilled teacher. Even at basic levels, however, the pulse provides immediate and specific information that can help clarify contradictory diagnostic information and symptomology.

One of the most common questions that people ask about acupuncture is: "Why does my acupuncturist look at my tongue?"