DIAGNOSTIC METHODS
The Interview
“The exterior reflects the interior.” This is the guiding principle in
diagnosis. Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners utilize many parts
of the body which are directly accessible by touch or sight.
Since the
balance of the whole organism is the basis of the medicine, a useful
diagnosis will account for the condition of all parts (and their
relationships) of the human being. This requires gathering enough
information to understand the context of the person. Listening to both what
is said and how it’s said are also of primary importance. The examination is
thus very thorough and includes an extensive interview.
Questioning
The interview is of prime importance as this is how the majority of signs
and symptoms of the specific complaint and underlying systemic imbalance are
discovered and classified. The interview is often referred to as The 10
Questions. In reality there are approximately 10 categories and 100
questions. If you have already filled out the Online Diagnosis questionnaire
you’ll probably recognize the “10 Categories” below
|
TEMPERATURE
|
URINE
|
|
PERSPIRATION
|
THIRST
|
|
DIGESTION
|
APPETITE
|
|
SLEEP
ENERGY
|
REPRODUCTION
|
|
EXERCISE
|
STOOLS
(feces)
|
Listening
|
Pulse |
Smelling |
Tongue |
Visual |
