TCM Diagnostic Principles Flashcards

A pale tongue with a moist white coating and a deep, slow pulse would indicate which TCM pattern?

Answer: Interior Cold deficiency or excess

Pale tongue, moist white coat, deep slow pulse are classic Cold signs pointing to Interior Cold whether from Yang deficiency or Cold excess.

In TCM inquiry (Wen Zhen), asking about a patient's thirst and fluid intake helps differentiate:

Answer: Heat from Cold, and Excess from Deficiency patterns

Thirst and fluid preference reveal the thermal nature (hot/cold) and fullness/emptiness of a pattern, distinguishing Heat from Cold and Excess from Deficiency.

The 'Chong Mai' is referred to as the 'Sea of Blood' primarily because it:

Answer: Regulates menstruation and nourishes Blood throughout the body

The Chong Mai regulates the uterus, menstruation, and circulates Blood to nourish the entire body, earning its title as the Sea of Blood.

In TCM, the color associated with the Liver in Five-Element theory is:

Answer: Green/Blue-green (Qing)

Green or blue-green (Qing) is the color associated with the Wood element and the Liver/Gallbladder organ system.

Which pathogenic factor is described as 'heavy, turbid, sticky, and descending' in TCM etiology?

Answer: Dampness

Dampness is characterized as heavy, turbid, sticky, and tending to descend and accumulate in the lower body.

A patient complains of a bitter taste in the mouth and hypochondriac pain. Which organ pattern does this suggest in TCM?

Answer: Liver/Gallbladder Damp-Heat

Bitter taste in the mouth and hypochondriac (rib-side) pain are classic signs of Liver/Gallbladder Damp-Heat or Liver Qi stagnation turning to Heat.

In TCM, 'True Cold with False Heat' (Zhen Han Jia Re) describes a condition where:

Answer: Extreme interior Cold forces Yang to float outward, mimicking heat signs

When interior Cold is extreme, Yang Qi is repelled outward producing superficial false heat signs while true Cold remains inside.