Traditional Chinese Medicine's Method of Diagnosing Illness: Combining the Four Examinations

The first day of classes was basically over, and Su Ziyang felt that everyone had been quite cooperative.

Although the other party were all enthusiasts of traditional Chinese medicine, they did not reject Su Ziyang's statement.

This made Su Ziyang quite happy.

At least it didn't let those who paid high tuition fees cause a commotion and get him kicked off the stage.

Moreover, this questioning method makes the other party feel quite involved.

They were threatening Su Ziyang, forcing Su Ziyang to help with medical treatment, which Su Ziyang found unbearable.

The next day, Su Ziyang prepared content on how traditional Chinese medicine diagnoses illnesses.

Traditional Chinese medicine uses four methods to diagnose diseases: observation, auscultation and olfaction, inquiry, and palpation, collectively known as the four diagnostic methods.

The integration of the four diagnostic methods is a fundamental principle of diagnosis.

The main approach involves collecting information through four methods, cross-referencing it, and making a comprehensive judgment on the condition.

There is no such thing as "diagnosing illnesses simply by feeling the pulse"; that's just a gimmick used by quack doctors, not genuine traditional Chinese medicine.

When this topic came up, everyone started discussing it again, because in their eyes, only a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner who could take a pulse was a true practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine.

If someone doesn't take your pulse right away, then they're not a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Su Ziyang corrected their view once again.

He also explained the content of the four diagnostic methods in detail.

Inspection is the process by which doctors observe a patient's spirit, complexion, appearance, and demeanor, as well as changes in secretions and excretions. Tongue diagnosis is the core component of inspection.

The concept of "worshiping gods" can be categorized into "gaining gods," "losing gods," and "false gods."

Being "spirited" means having a clear mind, bright eyes, and quick reflexes, indicating that one's vital energy is sufficient and the illness is relatively mild;

Apathy, characterized by lethargy, dull eyes, and slow reactions, indicates a deficiency of vital energy and a more serious condition.

A false sense of well-being is a sudden, temporary improvement in the mental state of a critically ill patient; it is a sign of impending death, known in folk tradition as a "last gasp of life."

Observing complexion: This mainly involves observing the color and luster of the face. A normal complexion is rosy and lustrous, while pathological complexions are classified into five types: bluish, reddish, yellowish, white, and black...

Tongue diagnosis.

The tongue is connected to the internal organs through meridians, and diseases of the internal organs can be reflected on the tongue.

Tongue examination mainly involves examining the tongue body and tongue coating:

The tongue reflects the state of the internal organs and the abundance or deficiency of qi and blood;

The tongue coating reflects the depth of pathogenic factors and the presence or absence of stomach qi.

For example, a red tongue indicates a heat syndrome, while a pale tongue indicates a deficiency syndrome or a cold syndrome.

A white tongue coating indicates a cold syndrome, a yellow tongue coating indicates a heat syndrome, and a thick, greasy tongue coating indicates a damp syndrome.

Auscultation includes listening to sounds and smelling odors.

Listen to sounds, including the sounds of speaking, breathing, coughing, and vomiting.

This is the same principle as the use of a stethoscope in Western medicine.

However, traditional Chinese medicine places greater emphasis on humanistic care.

For example, a loud and clear voice often indicates a condition of excess heat, while a weak and feeble voice often indicates a condition of deficiency cold.

Smell assessment includes the smell of the patient's breath, secretions, and excrement. A sour, putrid, or foul odor often indicates a condition of excess heat, while a bland odor often indicates a condition of deficiency cold.

Consultation is the process by which doctors ask patients or their families about their symptoms; it is the most comprehensive method for gathering information.

The consultation includes general information, chief complaint, present illness, past medical history, personal history, and family history.

Traditionally, there is a "Ten Questions Song" that summarizes the key points of diagnosis: First, ask about chills and fever; second, ask about sweating; third, ask about the head and body; fourth, ask about bowel movements; fifth, ask about diet; sixth, ask about the chest and abdomen; seventh, ask about deafness; eighth, ask about thirst; ninth, ask about past illnesses; tenth, ask about the cause; and also consider medication and changes in the condition.

After the three diagnostic methods are completed, the last step is pulse diagnosis, also known as palpation.

There are actually two types: pulse diagnosis and palpation.

Palpation is the same as the visual, tactile, percussion, and auscultation methods used in Western medicine.

Pulse diagnosis is unique to Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Doctors use their fingers to press on the patient's radial artery (on the inside of the wrist) and judge the condition based on the pulse pattern.

Each of the four diagnostic methods has its limitations; they must be combined and used in a comprehensive judgment to accurately diagnose the condition.

These are the fundamental principles that must be followed in TCM diagnosis.