Table Of ContentInternational
Acupucture
Textbooks
Diagnostics of Traditional
Chinese Medicine
Chief Editors: Zhu Bing
and Wang Hongcai
Advisor: Cheng Xinnong
London and Philadelphia
China Beijing International Acupuncture Training Center
Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion
China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
Advisor: Cheng Xinnong
Chief Editors: Zhu Bing, Wang Hongcai
Deputy Editors: Hu Xuehua, Huang Hui, Yu Min, Wang Huizhu
Members of the Editorial Board: Huang Hui, Hong Tao, Hu Xuehua, Liu Xuan, Liu Yuting,
Wang Fang, Wang Hongcai, Wang Huizhu, Wang Yue, Wu Mozheng, Yu Min, Zhu Bing,
Zhang Nan, Zhang Yi
Copyright © People’s Military Medical Press 2008 and 2010
First published in 2010
by Singing Dragon (an imprint of Jessica Kingsley Publishers)
in co-operation with People’s Military Medical Press
116 Pentonville Road
London N1 9JB, UK
and
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978 1 84819 036 8
ISBN pdf eBook 978 0 85701 019 3
Printed and bound in the United States by
Thomson-Shore, 7300 Joy Road, Dexter, MI 48130
prEfACE
More than 2000 years ago, a Chinese doctor named Bianque saved the life of a crown
prince simply with an acupuncture needle. The story became one of the earliest
acupuncture medical cases and went down in history. It is perhaps since then that
people have been fascinated by the mystery of acupuncture and kept on studying it.
In 1975, at the request of the World Health Organization, an acupuncture school
was founded in Beijing, China, namely the China Beijing International Acupuncture
Training Center. As one of the sponsor institutions, the Center compiled a textbook
of Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion for foreign learners, published in 1980
and reprinted repeatedly afterwards, which has been of profound, far-reaching
influence. It has been adopted as a ‘model book’ for acupuncture education and
examination in many countries, and has played a significant role in the global
dissemination of acupuncture.
Today, with the purpose of extending this ‘authentic and professional’
knowledge, we have compiled a series of books entitled International Acupuncture
Textbooks to introduce incisively the basic theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine
(TCM) and acupuncture–moxibustion techniques, by building on and developing the
characteristics of the original textbook of Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion;
and presenting authoritatively the systematic teaching materials with concise
explanation based on a core syllabus for TCM professional education in China.
In addition, just as the same plant might have its unique properties when
growing in different geographical environments, this set of books may reflect,
in its particular style, our experience accumulated over 30 years of international
acupuncture training.
Zhu Bing and Wang Hongcai
ConTEnTs
Chapter 1 introduction ........................................... 13
I. The concept of diagnostics of TCM .......................... 14
II. The content of diagnostics of TCM .......................... 14
III. The principles of diagnostics of TCM........................ 16
Chapter 2 Diagnostics ............................................. 17
I. Inspection ...................................................... 18
1. Observation of vitality .......................................... 18
2. Observation of colour ........................................... 20
3. Observation of appearance ...................................... 24
4. Observation of the head and five sense organs .................... 26
5. Observation of the tongue ...................................... 47
II. Auscultation and olfaction ................................... 57
1. Listening ....................................................... 57
2. Smelling ....................................................... 63
III. Inquiring ........................................................ 65
1. Chills and fever ................................................. 65
2. Perspiration .................................................... 69
3. The head and body ............................................. 71
4. The ears and eyes ............................................... 77
5. Appetite, thirst and taste ........................................ 78
6. Sleep ........................................................... 82
7. Stools and urine ................................................ 83
8. Menses and leucorrhoea ......................................... 86
9. Infants ......................................................... 88
IV. Palpation ....................................................... 89
1. Feeling the pulse ................................................ 89
2. Palpation of different parts of the body .......................... 107
Chapter 3 Differentiation of syndromes ..................... 113
I. Differentiation of syndromes according to the Theory of
the Eight Principles ........................................... 114
1. Exterior and interior ............................................ 114
2. Cold and Heat .................................................. 116
3. Deficiency and excess ........................................... 119
4. Yin and Yang ................................................... 125
II. Differentiation of syndromes according to the Theory of
Aetiology ....................................................... 133
1. Differentiation of syndromes according to the Theory of the Six
Exogenous Factors and Pestilential Epidemic Factors ............. 134
2. Differentiation of syndromes according to the Theory of the Seven
Emotional Factors .............................................. 138
3. Improper diet, overstrain, stress .................................. 140
4. Traumatic injury ................................................ 141
III. Differentiation of syndromes according to the Theory of
Qi, Blood and Body Fluid ..................................... 142
1. Syndromes of Qi ............................................... 142
2. Syndromes of Blood ............................................ 144
3. Syndromes of Qi and Blood ..................................... 146
4. Syndromes of Body Fluid ....................................... 149
IV. Differentiation of syndromes according to the Theory of
the Zang Fu Organs ............................................ 152
1. Syndromes of the Heart and Small Intestine ...................... 152
2. Syndromes of the Lungs and Large Intestine ..................... 159
3. Syndromes of the Spleen and Stomach ........................... 166
4. Syndromes of the Liver and Gallbladder ......................... 175
5. Syndromes of the Kidneys and Bladder .......................... 185
6. Complicated syndromes of the Zang Fu organs ................... 190
V. Differentiation of syndromes according to the Theory of
the Six Meridians .............................................. 199
1. Taiyang syndrome .............................................. 199
2. Yangming syndrome ............................................ 200
3. Shaoyang syndrome............................................. 201
4. Taiyin syndrome ................................................ 201
5. Shaoyin syndrome .............................................. 201
6. Jueyin syndrome ................................................ 202
7. Transmission between meridians ................................. 202
VI. Differentiation of syndromes according to the Theory of
Wei-defence, Qi, Ying-nutrient and Xue-Blood ............ 203
1. Weifen syndrome ............................................... 203
2. Qifen syndrome ................................................ 203
3. Yingfen syndrome .............................................. 204
4. Xuefen syndrome ............................................... 204
5. Transmission between syndromes ................................ 204
VII. Differentiation of syndromes according to the Theory of
the Triple Burner .............................................. 205
1. The syndrome of the Upper Burner .............................. 205
2. The syndrome of the Middle Burner ............................. 205
3. The syndrome of the Lower Burner .............................. 205
4. Transmission between the Burners ............................... 206
Chapter 4 How to Write Case reports ........................ 207
Glossary ............................................................... 213
Bibliography .......................................................... 217
Index .................................................................. 219
C h a P t e r 1
inTroDuCTion
14 Diagnostics of Traditional Chinese Medicine
i. THE ConCEpT of DiAgnosTiCs of
TrADiTionAl CHinEsE MEDiCinE (TCM)
Guided by the theory of Chinese medicine, the diagnostics of TCM involves
studying how to differentiate and diagnose diseases. It is the bridge between the
basic theories and treatments, in the system of TCM.
ii. THE ConTEnT of DiAgnosTiCs of TCM
1. DIAGnOSTIC METhODS: InSPECTIOn, AuSCulTATIOn AnD
OlFACTIOn, InQuIrInG, AnD PAlPATIOn
1.1 Inspection
Observation by the doctor, using his eyes, of the systemic and regional changes in
the patient’s vitality, colour, appearance, secretions and excretions.
1.2 Auscultation and olfaction (listening and smelling)
Listening to the patient’s speech, respiration, and cough, and smelling the odours
of the patient.
1.3 Inquiring
Asking the patient, or the patient’s companion, about the conditions associated with
the illness in order to understand the pathological process.
1.4 Palpation
Includes feeling the pulse, and palpation of different parts of the patient’s body.
2. EIGhT PrInCIPlES
The Eight Principles describe the eight basic categories of syndromes – namely,
Yin and Yang, exterior and interior, Cold and Heat, and deficiency and excess –
used to analyze the location and nature of diseases, and the relative strength of the
pathogenic factors and antipathogenic Qi.
II. The Content of diagnostics of TCM 15
3. SYnDrOME DIFFErEnTIATIOn
This involves a comprehensive analysis of the symptoms and signs obtained through
applying the four diagnostic methods and interpreting them through the Eight
Principles (see Figure 1.1).
Differentiation of syndromes according to
the Theory of the Eight Principles
Applicable for all clinical
treatments
Differentiation of syndromes according to
the Theory of Aetiology
Differentiation of syndromes according to
the Theory of Qi, Blood and Body Fluid
Applicable for diagnosing
endogenous diseases
Differentiation of syndromes according to
the Theory of the Zang Fu Organs
Differentiation of syndromes according to
the Theory of the Six Meridians
Differentiation of syndromes according
Applicable for diagnosing
to the Theory of Wei-defence, Qi, Ying-
acute febrile diseases
nutrient and Xue-Blood
Differentiation of syndromes according to
the Theory of the Triple Burner
Figure 1.1
Each method has its own features and lays stress on a particular aspect while connecting
with and supplementing the others.
4. hOW TO WrITE CASE rEPOrTS
This is the basic skill that should be mastered by clinical doctors.
16 Diagnostics of Traditional Chinese Medicine
iii. THE prinCiplEs of DiAgnosTiCs of TCM
1. To examine the entirety of the pathological changes and the environmental
conditions of the patient.
2. To differentiate the syndromes and seek causative factors.
3. To use the four diagnostic methods in combination for a comprehensive
analysis.
