NCCAOM Foundations of Oriental Medicine Questions and Answers

Question 1

A patient presents with a pale, swollen tongue with teeth marks on the sides, fatigue, poor appetite, and abdominal bloating after meals. According to Zang-Fu theory, which organ is most likely experiencing a Qi deficiency?

Accepted Answer

Spleen

Answer

The Spleen in Traditional Chinese Medicine governs transformation and transportation of food and fluids. Symptoms like fatigue, poor appetite, bloating, and a pale, swollen tongue with teeth marks are classic signs of Spleen Qi deficiency, indicating it is failing to perform its transformative and transporting functions properly.

Question 2

Which of the following correctly describes the Sheng (Generating) Cycle of the Five Elements?

Accepted Answer

Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water, Water generates Wood, Wood generates Fire.

Answer

The Sheng or Generating Cycle describes the nourishing or promoting relationship between the Five Elements. In this cycle, each element serves as the 'mother' that gives birth to the next element: Wood fuels Fire, Fire's ash creates Earth, Earth bears Metal, Metal can be melted to a liquid state like Water (or collects water), and Water nourishes Wood.

Question 3

A patient is diagnosed with a condition in the Tai Yang stage of the Six Stages of disease progression. Which of the following symptom patterns would be most expected?

Accepted Answer

Fever, aversion to cold, headache, stiff neck, and a floating pulse.

Answer

The Tai Yang stage is the most superficial of the Six Stages, representing the initial invasion of an external pathogen. Its key manifestations include fever, aversion to cold, headache, a stiff neck and back, and a floating pulse, as the body's defensive Qi (Wei Qi) battles the pathogen at the surface.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT considered a primary function of Qi in Traditional Chinese Medicine?

Accepted Answer

Storing the Shen (Spirit)

Answer

The primary functions of Qi include transformation, transportation, warming, defending, and holding/containing. Storing the Shen (Spirit) is a primary function of the Heart Zang organ, not of Qi itself.

Question 5

Within the Five Element theory, the emotion of anger is associated with which Zang organ?

Accepted Answer

Liver

Answer

In Five Element theory, each element has corresponding organs, emotions, seasons, and other phenomena. The Wood element is associated with the Liver and Gallbladder, the season of Spring, and the emotion of anger or frustration.

(NCCAOM) National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Practice Test

(NCCAOM) National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Practice Test

NCCAOM Foundations of Oriental Medicine Questions and Answers