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Diagnosis
Methods in TCM
The human body is an organic entity, so local pathological
changes may affect the whole body. Moreover, the pathological
changes of the internal organs may reflect on the body
surface.
Diagnostic methods in traditional Chinese medicine include
four basic methods: inspection, auscultation and olfaction,
inquiry and palpation. The case history, symptoms, and
signs gained through those four diagnostic methods are
analyzed and generalized to find the causes, nature, and
interrelations of the disease, and to provide evidence
for the further differentiation of syndromes. The four
diagnostic methods are therefore indispensable and important
steps in the differentiation and treatment of syndromes.
Basic Theory Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
The traditional
Chinese medical practices form an integral part of Chinese
culture. In fact, the Chinese medical practice use the
culture beliefs to interpret the states of illness.
The TCM recognizes three fundamental causative factors
in diseases:
- External causing
agents, as the Yang 陽
factor, including climatic, infectious and contagious.
- Internal dysfunction, as Yin 陰 factor
- Accidental and traumatic injuries,
which are partly Yin and partly Ying.
Any disharmony of the equilibrium of Yin and Ying
陰 陽 or disturbance of their flow would causing weakness
or illness. The task of Chinese doctor is to restore
such imbalance of these two cosmological forces , (maintain
the homeostasis in our modern term.) Treatment are not
limited to herbal medicine, the also apply surgery,
acupuncture, moxibustion, massage, breathing exercise,
diet , and so on. The aim of the treatment is to enhancing
or reducing the Yin or Ying in order to treat the body
as a whole symptom, rather than any particular symptom.
Too much Yin--characterized by Cold symptoms
Too much Yang--characterized by Heat symptoms
Too little Yin--characterized by Internal Heat symptoms
Too little Yang--characterized by general coldness
The Chinese culture believes in the harmony of nature
between heaven , earth and Man. Man is
composed just like any other beings or items in the
world, by five xing 五 行 (Five elements), namely, Metal
金, Wood 木, Water 水, Fire 火 and Earth 土. These five xing
are in mutual production 相 生and mutual conquest 相 克.
Like fire conquers Metal, but can be controlled by Water.
Man constitutes a microcosm in the macrocosm in the
universe, such a microcosm is balanced by two opposite
cosmological forces of natural: Yin and Yang. Different
parts of the body correspond to different Yin and Ying
and the five xing.
- Fire: heart , small intestine, tongue
- Water: kidney and ears
- Wood: gall-bladder and eyes
- Metal: large intestine,
- Earth: stomach, spleen and mouth
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