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TCM Clinic Entrance.
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Entire face is red + excess heat signs | High fever caused by exterior pathogen Zang-fu Yang excess |
Malar flush + night sweating | Yin deficiency |
Sudden malar flush seen in a 'lacking vitality' patient | pseudo heat |
Yellow and pale face + fatigue and poor appetite | Spleen Qi deficiency (Qi and Blood not nourishing) |
Yellow and puffy face + fatigue and poor appetite | Spleen Qi deficiency + pamp accumulation (dysfunction of transportation function) |
Bright white and puffy complexion | Yang deficiency |
Pale face and lips +pale nails | Blood deficiency, Blood loss |
Pale face | Qi deficiency |
Pale and bluish complexion | Yin excess, cold syndrome |
Dark and dry face | Kidney Yin deficiency |
Darkness around the orbit | Kidney deficiency, water retention, Leukorrhagia due to cold damp |
Dark face + scaly skin | Blood stasis |
Bluish and pale face + severe pain in the abdomen | Cold invasion or Yin excess |
Blue and purplish face and lips + intermittent stabbing chest pain | Heart Yang deficiency, Blood stasis |
Blue and purplish face, most obvious at the nose bridge & betw. eyebrows + high fever in infants | Omen of convulsion, convulsion |
overweight | excess of phlegm damp |
Great loss of weight in the course of a long disease | Essential Qi is exhausted |
Barrel Chest (anteroposterior diameter increased) | TCM - phlegm in the LU - LU Qi xu - LU & KD Qi xu WM - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) |
Bowleg/Knock-kneed | TCM - KD Jing deficiency WM - may be congenital, may be the result of rickets |
What is Orthopnea? | Shortness of breath while lying flat |
Orthopnea | Phlegm in the LU as is asthma HT Blood stagnation as in angina pectoris |
Violent movement in the limbs | Wind syndrome such as Tetanus Infant convulsions |
Tremor | Qi, Blood, or Yin deficiency |
Opisthotonos | Wind syndrome |
What is Hemiplegia? | Total paralysis of the arm, leg, and trunk on the same side of the body |
Hemiplegia | Phlegm in the channels, Qi and Blood deficiency |
What is wei syndrome? | Weakness, motor impairment, and atrophy of the limbs |
What is bi syndrome? | Pain, heaviness, swelling, and restricted movement in the joints WM - arthritis |
Extra large infant head with mental anomaly | TCM - KD Jing deficiency WM - congenital hydrocephalus |
What is congenital hydrocephalus? | Build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain |
Undeveloped infant head with mental anomaly | TCM - KD Jing deficieny WM - craniosynostosis (premature closure of the sutures), microcephaly |
Infant fontanel that is full and tense | TCM - heat syndrome WM - high fever, meningitis |
What is meningitis? | Disease caused by the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord known as the meninges |
Infant fontanel that is collapsed | TCM - KD Jing deficiency, loss of body fluid |
Infant fontanel closure delay | TCM - KD Jing deficiency WM - rickets |
What is rickets? | Softening of bones in children due to deficiency or impaired metabolism of vitamin D, magnesium,[1] phosphorus or calcium |
Deviation of the mouth and eye; eye cannot be closed | Wind syndrome (stroke) |
Chin redness, swelling, and pain | TCM - toxic heat syndrome WM - mumps |
diffuse swelling on one or both sides of neck w/ no distinct boundary; soft; moves when swallows | TCM - LV Qi Stagnation WM - goiter, hyperthyroidism |
cervical lymph nodes infected by TB | TCM - LU and KD Yin xu, phlegm accumulation, wind and toxin invasion, Qi and Blood stagnation WM - scrofula |
pain and stiff neck with high fever, severe headache, vomiting | TCM - toxic heat invasion WM - meningitis |
jugular vein distended | TCM - HT Yang xu, water invading HT WM - congestive heart failure |
hair falls out easily | KD xu or Blood xu |
hair falls out suddenly in clumps | Blood xu and wind invasion |
infant hair that is dry and stands up | TCM - malnourishment; SP Qi xu; essence and Blood xu WM - infant malnutrition |
red corners of the eye | HT Fire |
pale corners of the eye | Blood xu |
red and ulcerated eyelids | SP heat damp |
red sclera | LU Fire |
yellow sclera | jaundice (Yin or Yang) |
whole eye is red, painful and swollen | wind heat invasion or LV Fire |
eyelids with edema | SP Qi xu |
eyelids with edema and red color | heat damp |
lower eyelid is puffy | senile KD xu |
What is exophthalmos? | a marked protrusion of the eyeballs |
exophthalmos of both eyes | hyperthyroidism |
exophthalmos of one eye | severe disease |
looking upward or straight forward | LV wind |
sleeping with eyes open | SP xu |
ptosis: upper eyelid drooping | SP Qi xu |
dilated fixed pupils | essence exhausted, impending death; drug side effect |
small fixed pupils | excess syndrome; miotic eye drops |
pupil size not equal | critical |
ears: thin tissue, dry skin | kidney yin deficiency |
white ears | cold |
black dry ears | kidney yin exhausted |
red ears | heat or wind |
red swollen ears | heat damp |
long ear lobe, full and lustrous | kidney qi sufficiency |
ear lobe atrophied and dry | kidney qi exhausted |
what is tin er? | purulent discharge in the ear |
tin er | liver and gallbladder heat damp |
nostril flapping + high fever in infant | TCM - heat in the lung WM - infant pneumonia |
nose tip red and swollen | blood heat or blood stasis |
clear nasal discharge | wind cold |
turbid nasal discharge | wind heat |
pale lips | blood deficiency |
red lips | heat |
dry scorched lips | heat impairing body fluids |
blue lips | TMC - cold or pain or blood stasis WM - cardiovascular omen |
purplish lips | blood stasis |
excess salivation | spleen deficiency + damp |
excess salivation with deviated mouth | stroke |
lip ulcer | heart and spleen damp heat WM - lack of vitamin B-12, iron, folic acid |
white lustrous teeth | normal + kidney qi sufficiency |
teeth dry as a bone | kidney yin deficiency |
pale gums | blood deficiency |
red swollen gums | ST fire, KD yin deficiency with fire rising |
swollen red painful throat | wind heat or lung stomach heat |
swollen red painful throat with ulcerations | extreme heat |
chronic sore throat, worse at night | kidney yin deficiency |
plum pit qi | liver qi stagnation |
scratchy throat | wind cold |
squamous and dry skin | blood stasis |
yang edema | epi or lung not ventilating |
yin edema | spleen or kidney yang deficiency |
red warm painful skin and edema | heat or toxic heat syndrome |
what is a macule? | red, flattened spot or discoloration; color remains unchanged when pressed |
what is a yang macule? | bright red or dark red |
yang macule | heat |
what is a yin macule? | light red |
yin macule | deficiency |
papule | TMC - toxic heat invasion or wind heat invasion WM - measles, rubella, hives |
what is urticaria? | hives |
shallow vanules on infants finger | exterior syndrome |
deep venules on infants finger | interior syndrome |
red venules on infants finger | heat |
hidden, red vanules with natural skin color on infants finger; don't extend past Qi gate | normal |
pale venules on infants finger | deficiency |
venules that extend beyond Qi-gate on infants finger | interior and getting worse |
venules that extend beyond life-gate on infants finger | serious, life-threatening disease |
pale nails | blood deficiency |
blue-purplish nails | blood stasis |
club nail | TCM - blood stasis WM - chronic oxygen deprivation |
spoon nail | TCM - LV blood deficiency WM - iron deficiency |
yellow, thick sputum | heat damp |
white, thin sputum | cold damp |
profuse white sputum with easy expectoration | phlegm accumulation |
small amount of sticky sputum that is hard to expectorate | dry phlegm |
white, watery nasal discharge | wind cold |
yellow, turbid nasal discharge | wind heat |
watery vomit, thin, no odor | cold vomit |
thick vomit, sour, stink | heat vomit |
sour vomit, odor, undigested food | food stagnation |
bitter, watery yellow/green vomit | LV and GB damp heat |
Light Red tongue | Normal |
Pale tongue | Deficiency syndromes (Qi, Blood, Yang) or Cold syndrome |
Red tongue | Heat syndromes (Excess or Yin deficiency) |
Deep red tongue | Extreme heat syndromes (Excess or Yin deficiency) or Blood stasis |
Purple tongue | Blood stasis (Excess heat, Cold congealing, or not) |
Blue tongue | Blood stasis (Cold congealing or not) |
Rough tongue | Excess syndrome |
Tender tongue | Deficiency syndrome |
Swollen tongue | Damp & phlegm accumulation or Yang deficiency or Heat |
Teeth prints on the tongue | Damp & phlegm accumulation or Yang deficiency or Qi deficiency or Normal |
Thin & small tongue | Qi and Blood or Yin deficiency |
Prickled tongue | Excess heat syndrome |
Fissured tongue | Yin deficiency or Blood deficiency or Heat syndrome or Normal |
Mirror tongue | ST Qi or ST Yin exhausted (Serious) |
Rigid tongue | Heat invading PC or Excess heat impairing body fluids or Phlegm accumulation or Wind stroke |
Flaccid tongue | Qi, Blood, and Yin deficiency or Heat impairing body fluids |
Trembling tongue | Qi, Blood, or Yang deficiency or Extreme heat producing wind |
Deviated tongue | Wind stroke (omen of wind stroke) |
white coating | exterior syndrome or heat syndrome or cold syndrome or normal |
yellow coating | heat syndrome |
grey coating | heat or cold |
black coating | heat or cold |
thin coating | exterior syndrome or light interior syndrome or normal |
thick coating | interior syndrome or damp/phlegm or food stagnation |
sticky coating | damp/phlegm or food stagnation |
curdy coating | phlegm or food stagnation or heat damp |
dry coating | heat impairing bod fluid or Yin deficiency |
slippery coating | cold damp or Yang deficiency or water retention |
peeled-mirror coating | ST Qi or ST Yin exhausted (serious) |
peeled - geographic | ST Qi or ST Yin deficiency or normal |
two veins underneath tongue distended with purple, blue, or red spots | Blood stasis |
Pale with teeth marks on border | Qi deficiency |
Pale and thin tongue | Blood or Qi and Blood deficiency |
Pale, swollen and tender tongue | Yang deficiency |
Pale with moist coating (slippery) | Cold syndrome |
Light red tongue | Normal |
Red with prickles or yellow coating | Excess heat syndrome |
Red with little to no coating | Yin deficiency heat syndrome |
Deep red, or with prickles in Warm diseases | Heat invasion of Ying Fen or Heat invasion of Blood Fen |
Deep red with little to no coating or cracked | Yin deficiency producing fire or Yin exhausted |
Deep red with thin moist coating | Blood stasis |
Purple with dry coating | Excess heat impairing the fluids or Qi and Blood stagnation |
Light or blue purple with moist coating | Cold congealing; Blood stasis |
Purple spots on the tongue | Blood stasis |
Blue purple tongue | Cold congealing; Blood stasis |
Blue or purple border with a dry mouth and not wanting to drink | Blood stasis |
Rough tongue | Excess syndrome |
Tender tongue | Deficiency syndrome |
Pale and swollen | Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency |
Light red and swollen tongue with think yellow coating | Heat damp syndrome |
Light red and teeth prints with a thin coating | Qi deficiency |
Fresh, red swollen tongue with pain | Heart and Spleen heat |
Light red, thin and small | Qi and Blood deficiency |
Deep red, thin and small with a dry coating | Yin deficiency producing fire |
Prickled tongue with dark yellow coating | Heat invading the Qi Fen |
Prickled deep red tongue without a coating | Heat invading the Ying Fen or Xue Fen |
Prickles on the tip of the tongue | Heart fire |
Prickles in the center of the tongue | Spleen and Stomach heat |
Deep red fissured tongue | Excess heat impairing body fliuds |
Pale fissured tongue | Blood deficiency and not nourishing |
Pale and mirror tongue | Qi and Blood exhausted |
Deep red and mirror tongue | Stomach and Kidney Yin exhausted |
Deep red rigid tongue with a dry coating | Heat invading the PC and impairing body fluids |
Rigid tongue with a thick coating | Phlegm accumulation |
Light red/blue purple rigid tongue | Wind stroke or omen of wind stroke |
Pale flaccid tongue | Qi and blood extreme deficiency |
Deep red flaccid tongue with little coating | Yin exhausted |
Deep red flaccid tongue with a dry coating | Heat impairing the body fluids |
Pale or light red slightly trembling tongue | Qi and Blood or Yang deficiency |
Deep red severely trembling tongue | Extreme heat producing wind |
Deviated tongue | Wind stroke or omen of wind stroke |
light red tongue | normal tongue |
pale tongue with teeth marks | Qi deficiency |
pale small tongue | Blood deficiency |
pale swollen tongue | Yang deficiency |
pale slippery tongue | cold |
red tongue with coating | heat |
red tongue with prickles | heat |
red tongue with no or little coating | Yin deficiency + heat |
deep red tongue with coating | extreme heat |
deep red tongue with no or little coating | Yin deficiency producing Fire or Yin exhausted |
deep red moist/slippery tongue | Blood stasis |
redish-purple tongue | heat - Blood stasis |
light purple tongue | cold - Blood stasis |
purple dots on tongue body | Blood stasis |
blue tongue | cold - Blood stasis |
rough tongue | excess |
tender tongue | deficiency |
swollen tongue with thick coat | damp/phlegm |
red swollen tongue | heat |
teeth prints with thick coat | damp/phlegm |
light red tongue with teeth marks | normal person with abnormal tongue |
thin/small tongue with no or little coat | Yin deficiency |
red spots on the tongue | heat |
enlarged papilla with no color change | heat |
red tongue with enlarged papilla | heat |
fissured tongue with no or little coat | Yin deficiency |
pale fissured tongue | Blood deficiency |
deep red fissured tongue | heat |
born with fissures | normal person with abnormal tongue |
mirror tongue | ST Qi or ST Yin exhausted |
rigid tongue + metal symptoms | heat invading the PC |
deep red rigid tongue; dry | heat impairing body fluids |
rigid tongue with thick coating | phlegm |
light red/blue purple rigid tongue | wind stroke |
deep red flaccid tongue with no or little coat | Yin deficiency |
pale flaccid tongue | Qi and Blood deficiency |
deep red flaccid tongue; dry | heat impairing body fluids |
pale tongue with slight tremble | Qi, Blood, or Yang deficiency |
deep red tongue with severe tremble | heat producing wing |
deviated tongue | wind stroke or omen of wind stroke |
white coat with chills and fever | exterior syndrome |
white piled powder coat | heat |
light yellow coat | mild heat |
deep yellow coat | severe heat |
burnt yellow heat | heat accumulation |
grey coat + dry | heat |
gray coat + slippery | cold |
black coat + dry | heat |
black coat + slippery | cold |
pale mirror tongue | ST QI exhausted |
red mirror tongue | ST Yin exhausted |
pale geographic tongue | ST Qi deficiency |
red geographic tongue | ST Yin deficiency |
light red geographic tongue | normal person with an abnormal tongue |
talkative and restless with loud voice | excess; heat |
speaks little with feeble voice | deficiency; cold |
deep and stuffing sound | EPI invading LU |
sudden loss of voice | EPI invading LU |
stuttering | wind phlegm obstructing collaterals |
delirium | phlegm heat blurring HT |
feeble breathing | LU Qi deficiency |
forceful, coarse breathing | heat |
SOB, difficult inhalation; worse on exertion | KD not grasping the Qi |
cough in a coarse voice | excess |
cough in a feeble voice | deficiency |
dry cough with little thick sputum | dry invading LU or LU Yin deficiency |
whooping cough | TCM - turbid phlegm obstructing airway WM - pertussis |
sigh | LV Qi stagnation |
loud hiccup | cold or heat invading ST or temporary Qi stagnation |
weak hiccup | ST Qi exhausted |
foul and sour belching w + abdominal distention | food stagnation |
abdominal distention worse with emotional changes but belching and flatus makes it better | LV Qi stagnation |
sneezing | EPI |
chronic exterior syndrome with sudden sneezing | disease will be over soon |
fetid odor | heat or damp heat |
fetid mouth odor | ST heat |
fetid stool odor | food stagnation or heat damp in LI |
fetid vaginal discharge odor | heat damp in lower jiao |
fishy smell | deficiency or cold |
loose stool with fishy smell | SP Yang deficiency |
profuse white vaginal discharge with fishy smell | cold damp |
rotten apple smell | diabetic ketoacidosis |
urine smell | renal failure |
chills + fever | exterior |
cold but no fever | cold (excess or deficiency) |
cold (no fever) + abd pn + dislikes pressure +likes warmth | excess cold |
cold (no fever) + loose stool + abd pn + likes pressure and warmth + weak pulse | Yang xu - cold |
feels warm but no cold signs | heat (excess or deficiency) |
high fever, profuse sweating, severe thirst, big pulse | excess heat (Yang Ming Channel Syndrome) |
afternoon fever + constipation + fullness and pn in abd | excess heat (Yang Ming Fu Syndrome) |
tidal fever in the afternoon or evening + night sweats + malar flush + red tongue with little coat + rapid and weak pulse | Yin deficiency tidal fever |
slight fever + fatigue + poor appetite + weak pulse | Qi deficiency |
slight fever + heavy head and body + red tongue with a thick coat | heat damp |
alternating chills and fever | half exterior half interior |
high fever that alternates with chills at regular intervals | half and half WM - malaria |
fever that alternates with chills at irregular intervals + bitter taste in mouth + thirst + fullness in chest and hypochondrium | half and half; Shao Yang disease |
exterior syndrome w/o sweating | exterior excess or exterior cold |
exterior syndrome + sweating | exterior deficiency (Tai Yang Wind Syndrome) |
spontaneous sweating, worse on exertion + fatigue | Qi deficiency |
spontaneous sweating, worse on exertion + fatigue + cold symptoms | Yang deficiency |
night sweating + malar flush +tidal fever or warm | Yin deficiency |
spontaneous sweating | Qi deficiency or Yang deficiency |
profuse sweating | excess heat or Yang collapse |
profuse sweating + high fever + sever thirst + big pulse | excess heat (Yang Ming Channel Syndrome) |
profuse sweating + pale complexion + cold limbs + feeble pulse | Yang collapse (exhausted) |
distending pain | Qi stagnation |
distending pain in the head | LV Fire/LV Yang rising |
heavy pain | damp or damp bi |
unfixed pain in the joints | wind bi |
wandering pain | Qi stagnation WM - IBS or food allergies |
stabbing pain | blood stasis |
colic pain | substantial pathogenic factors obstructing the Qi |
what is nephrolithiasis? | kidney stones |
colic pain in the chest | TCM - chest bi WM - heart attack |
burning pain | heat or fire |
cold pain; relieved by warmth | cold invasion or Yang deficiency |
dull pain | deficiency |
hollow pain | Qi and Blood deficiency |
pain that is worse with pressure | excess: EPI, Qi or blood stagnation, pathogen obstruction |
pain that is relived by pressure | Qi, Blood, or Yang deficiency |
to which channel does pain in the back of the head relate? | Tai Yang - UB |
to which channel does pain in the forehead relate? | Yang Ming - ST |
to which channel does pain on the sides of the head (esp. temples) relate? | Shao Yang - GB |
to which channel does vertex pain relate? | Jue Yin - LV |
back of head and neck pain + chills and fever + floating pulse | exterior (Tai Yang disease) |
chest pain | heart or lung disease |
stabbing chest pain | heart blood stasis |
chest pain, night sweats, cough w/ blood in sputum | lung yin deficiency |
hypochondriac pain | liver or galbladder disease |
hypochondriac distention with wandering pain, irritability, wiry pulse | LV qi stagnation |
hypochondriac pain, jaundice, thick yellow tongue coat | heat damp in the LV and GB (mostly GB) |
stabbing hypochondriac pain + scaly skin + purplish tongue | LV blood stasis WM - LV cancer or end stage LV disease |
burning hypochondriac pain + vesicular skin eruptions | TCM - LV fire and damp WM - shingles |
epigastric pain | stomach and spleen disease |
distended epigastric pain; alleviated by belching or flatus | qi stagnation |
dull, lingering epigastric pain; alleviated by pressure | deficiency |
epigastric pain; alleviated by warmth but worse with pressure | cold invading the ST |
abdominal pain | SP, LI, UB disease |
bilateral lower abdominal pain | LV channel |
dull abdominal pain; alleviated by warmth and pressure + LS + fatigue | SP yang deficiency |
distended bilateral lower abdominal pain | LV qi stagnation |
what is lumbago? | LBP |
lumbago | KD or UB disease or injury |
LBP + fatigue | KD deficiency |
colic LBP radiating to perineum + hematuria | KD stone and qi stagnation |
fixed LBP + history of injury | local qi stagnation and blood stasis |
limb pain | bi |
unfixed joint pain | wind bi |
heaviness and pain in the joints | damp bi |
fixed, severe joint pain | cold bi |
joint pain with redness and swelling | heat bi |
thirsty with no desire to drink | yin deficiency, heat and damp, blood stasis |
poor appetite, abd distention, LS, weak pulse | SP Qi xu |
anorexia, jaundice, hypochondriac pn, thick yellow tongue coat | heat damp in the LV and GB |
poor appetite, heavy head and limbs, thick tongue coat | damp invading the SP |
excessive appetite + mouth odor + red, swollen gums + constipation | ST Fire |
excessive appetite, excessive thirst, excessive urination, emaciation | xiao ke |
hungry but doesn't want to eat + burning in the ST + red tongue | ST Yin xu |
can taste but doesn't taste good | SP Qi xu |
sweetish taste or stickiness | heat damp |
sour regurgitation | LV and ST heat |
bitter taste | LV and GB heat |
salty taste | KD xu or cold |
prefers warm food/drink | cold |
prefers cold food/drink | heat |
insomnia + palpitations + night sweats + red tongue with little coat + rapid, weak pulse | yin deficiency |
insomnia + palpitations + LBP + night sweats + red tongue | disharmony betw. heart and kidney |
insomnia + palpitations + poor appetite + fatigue + pale tongue + weak pulse | heart and spleen deficiency |
insomnia + restless mind + dream disturbed sleep + red tongue tip | heart fire hyperactive |
lethargy with heavy sensation in the head and limbs + thick tongue coat + slippery pulse | phlegm damp |
sleepiness esp. after eating, fatigue, poor appetite | spleen qi deficiency |
half asleep with general lassitude, cold limbs | heart and kidney yang deficiency |
lethargic stupor, skin with visible macules or papules, deep red tongue, rapid pulse | heat invading the pericardium |
constipation + high fever, abd. distention, red tongue w/ yellow, dry coat | excess heat |
constipation + pale face, cold limbs, prefers warm drinks, deep, slow pulse | cold |
constipation or dry stool with red tongue w/ little coat | yin deficiency |
constipation or dry stool + fatigue in a longterm disease or with elderly or postpartum pt. | Qi and body fluid deficiency |
cock crow diarrhea, abd pn, borborygmus relieved by defecation, LBP, cold limbs | kidney yang deficiency |
diarrhea with foul smell, sour vomit with odor and undigested food, abd pn relieved by defecation or vomiting | food stagnation |
abd pn with diarrhea, relieved by defecation, related to emotion | TCM - LV overacting on SP WM - IBS |
undigested food in the stool | spleen or kidney deficiency |
alternating constipation and LS | imbalance betw LV and SP |
stool that is 1st dry then loose | spleen deficiency |
bloody stool with mucus and tenesmus with burning at the anus | TCM - large intestine heat damp WM - dysentery |
what is tenesmus? | rectal spasms |
black stool | TCM - far blood WM - GI bleeding |
stool with fresh bright red blood | TCM - near blood WM - hemorrhoid |
tenesmus | large intestine heat damp |
heavy anus or prolapse of anus | spleen Qi deficiency |
clear and profuse urine, cold limbs, likes warmth | yang deficiency |
yellow urine in small amounts | TCM - excess heat WM - dehydration |
small amount of urine + edema | TCM - LU, SP, KD disease WM - may mean kidney failure |
dark or bloody scanty urine, colic LBP or abd pn | TCM - Shi Lin WM - kidney stones |
what is Shi Lin? | kidney stones |
yellow scanty, frequent, urgent, painful urination | TCM - UB heat damp WM - UTI |
excessive urine at night | kidney deficiency |
retention or difficult, dribbling urination in elderly | kidney deficiency |
incontinence in elderly | kidney qi deficiency |
vertigo + fatigue, pale face & lips, pale tongue, weak pulse | Qi and Blood deficiency |
vertigo + heavy head & limbs, thick coating | damp and phlegm |
vertigo + severe headache, red eyes, wiry pulse | LV Yang hyperactive or wind or omen of stroke |
sudden onset tinnitus, high pitch; worse with pressure | excess (LV Fire) |
gradual onset tinnitus, low pitch; alleviated by pressure | Kidney deficiency |
sudden onset deafness | excess |
gradual onset deafness | deficiency (elderly) |
red eyes with blurred vision, headache, tinnitus, LBP | Kidney Yin deficiency or Liver Yang hyperactive |
dry eyes with decreased vision | Liver Blood deficiency or Liver and Kidney Yin deficiency |
palpitation + big 5 | Heart Qi deficency |
palpitations + Qi deficiency sx + cold | Heart Yang deficiency |
palpitations + ppppp | Heart Blood deficiency |
palpitations + night sweats, afternoon fever, etc. | Heart Yin deficiency |
profuse flow with bright red color, red tongue | heat |
profuse flow with light red color, fatigue, pale tongue, weak pulse | Qi deficiency |
scanty flow with light red color | Blood deficiency |
purplish flow with clots, lower abd stabbing pn | Blood Stasis |
poor appetite, slight abdominal distension after eating, tiredness, lassitude, desire to lie down, pale complexion, weakness of the limbs, loose stools, Tongue: Pale, Pulse: empty | SP Qi xu |
tiredness, digestive disorders, dull-yellow complexion, abdominal distension | SP Pathology |
slight shortness of breath, slight cough, weak voice, spontaneous daytime sweating, dislike of speaking, bright-pale complexion, propensity to catch colds, tiredness, dislike of Cold, Tongue: Pale, Pulse: Empty, especially on Right-Front position | LU Qi Xu |
Qi Xu (weak voice, shortness of breath), pallor, thin chest, sadness, skin problems such as eczema, atopic constitution (allergic asthma and eczema), phlegm, exterior invasions of Wind (aversion to Cold, sneezing, runny nose), no gynecological connection | LU Pathology |
floating/superficial | exterior OR deficiency (Yang Qi floating out) |
sinking/deep | interior (excess or deficiency) |
deep and forceful | interior excess |
deep and weak | interior deficiency |
slow | cold (excess or deficiency) |
slow and forceful | excess cold |
slow and weak | deficiency cold |
rapid | heat (excess or deficiency) |
rapid and forceful | excess heat |
rapid and weak | deficiency heat |
empty | deficiency |
forceful | excess |
slippery | babies, phlegm, food, heat |
choppy | phlegm, food, Qi and Blood stagnation, essence, Blood deficiency |
flooding | excess heat |
thin, thready | deficiency, damp |
tight, tense | cold, pain, food |
moderate | NORMAL, damp, Spleen/Stomach deficiency, Qi or Blood deficiency, morbid moderate |
wiry | Liver or Gallbladder disease, pain, phlegm, malaria |
soggy | deficiency, damp |
minute | deficiency |
frail | Qi and Blood deficiency |
hurried | cardiovascular disease: excess heat, Qi and Blood stagnation, phlegm, food, prostration |
knotted | cardiovascular disease: excess Yin, Qi stagnation, cold phlegm, Blood stagnation |
intermittent | cardiovascular disease: Zong Qi deficiency, wind, pain, fear/fright, injury |
swift | extreme heat and Yin exhausted |
long | NORMAL or Liver Yang rising, excess heat, morbid long |
short | Qi stagnation, Qi deficiency |
hollow | Blood loss, Yin impaired |
tympanic | Blood loss, Essence impaired |
confined | cold, Qi or Blood stagnation |
hidden | pathogens on the interior, Jue syndrome, severe pain |
bean | pain, fright |
scattered | Qi exhausted |
The cun measurement between the anterior and posterior hairlines | 12 cun |
The cun measurement between the glabella and the anterior hairline | 3 cun |
The cun measurement between the angles of the hairline | 9 cun |
The cun measurement between the mastoid processes | 9 cun |
The cun measurement between the posterior hairline and the inferior border of the spinous process of C7 | 3 cun |
The cun measurement between the medial borders of the scapulae | 6 cun |
The cun measurement between the nipples | 8 cun |
The cun measurement between the midpoint of the clavicles | 8 cun |
The cun measurement between the tip of the acromion process and the midline of the body | 8 cun |
The cun measurement between the anterior axillary and cubital creases | 9 cun |
The cun measurement between the cubital crease and the wrist creases | 12 cun |
The cun measurement between the sternocostal angle and the umbilicus | 8 cun |
The cun measurement between the umbilicus and the pubic symphysis | 5 cun |
The cun measurement between the lateral prominence of the greater trochanter (approximately level with the inferior border of the pubic symphysis) and the popliteal crease | 19 cun |
The height of the patella | 2 cun |
The cun measurement between the gluteal fold and the knee | 14 cun |
The cun measurement between the popliteal crease and the lateral malleolus. | 16 cun |
The cun measurement between the popliteal crease and the medial malleolus | 15 cun |
Uses of Moxa | gastrointestinal symptoms |
Uses of Moxa | gynecologic disorders |
Uses of Moxa | breech presentations |
Uses of Moxa | stroke rehabilitation |
Uses of Moxa | complementary care for cancer symptoms |
treatment of infectious diseases, Herpes zoster and other infections. | |
The Purpose of Moxa | warms tissues |
The Purpose of Moxa | stimulate and induce smooth circulation of Qi |
The Purpose of Moxa | promote blood circulation |
The Purpose of Moxa | warms Yang |
The Purpose of Moxa | nourish Yin |
The Purpose of Moxa | descend Qi |
The Purpose of Moxa | warms channels |
The Purpose of Moxa | expels Cold and dampness |
The Purpose of Moxa | To strengthen Yang from collapse |
The Purpose of Moxa | transforms fluids |
The Purpose of Moxa | Resolves heat toxins and drive heat outward |
The Purpose of Moxa | balance the meridians, substances and Zang-Fu depending upon the location and type of moxibustion performed. |
The Purpose of Moxa | prevent diseases and keep healthy |
Direct Moxa | Chronic, deficient, and Cold diseases such as asthma, chronic diarrhea, indigestion, etc |
Moxa on Ginger | -symptoms caused by weakness of the stomach and spleen such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, painful joints, and symptoms due to Yang deficiency |
Moxa on Garlic | scrofula, tuberculosis, early stage of skin ulcer with boils, poisonous insect bite, etc |
Moxa on Salt | abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea, pain around the umbilicus, pain caused by hernia, prolonged dysentery, etc. Has the function to restore to Yang from collapse, e.g., symptoms of excessive sweating, cold limbs and undetectable pulse |
Moxa on Monkshood cake | warm Yang and expel Cold – only suitable to treat deficient, and persistent Yin-Cold syndromes, such as impotence and premature ejaculation caused by declination of the Mingmen (vital gate) Fire. |
Mild-Warm moxibustion | apply ignited moxa stick over pt to bring a mild warmth to area for 5-10 minutes until local area is red. |
"Sparrow-pecking" moxibustion | the ignited moxa stick is rapidly pecked over the pt, paying attention not to burning skin. May also be evenly moved from left to right or in circular movement |
Warm Needle Moxibustion | place moxa on inserted needle – warms the meridians and promotes the free flow of Qi and Blood so as to treat painful joints caused by Cold-Damp, numbness with cold sensation and paralysis |
Contraindications of Direct Moxibustion | sensitive areas of the body, such as the face, nipples, genitals, within the hairline, europathies or other conditions that might limit a patient’s response or ability to sense pain or heat, such as neural injury, DMII or pathology resulting in paralysis. |
Contraindications of Moxibustion | Excess syndrome and heat syndrome (including high fever caused by common cold or heat dur to Yin deficiency). Feeble and rapid pulse. |
Contraindications of Scarring Moxibustion | Should not be applied to face and head or in the area of large blood vessels. |
Contraindications of Moxibustion | Abdominal or lumbosacral region of a pregnant woman |
Contraindications of Cupping | skin ulcer, edema, or on an area overlying large blood vessels (e.g., areas of the neck that are close to arteries), patient with high fever and convulsion, or to abdominal and sacral regions of a pregnant woman. |
Contraindications of Cupping | Patient susceptible to spontaneous bleeding or endless bleeding after trauma. Bleeding disorders or taking anti-coagulant medications. |
Contraindications of Cupping | Patients on anticoagulant medications and supplements that may act as blood thinners. |
Contraindications of Cupping | History or presentation of psoriasis or Köebner phenomenon |
Contraindications of Cupping | Patients who already have keloid scars |
Contraindications of Cupping | Underlying conditions that may increase the risk for syncope (diabetes, renal disease, seizure disorders, fasting or low blood sugar) |
Contraindications of Fire Cupping | diabetes, neuropathies, or other conditions that might limit a patient’s response to pain or the ability to sense heat. |
Contraindications of Cupping | Avoid cupping over active skin lesions, rashes, moles, swelling, trauma, inflammation, infection, injuries, breaks in skin barrier, burns, or sunburns. |
Contraindications of Cupping | Patients who have bleeding disorders such as hemophilia or Von Willebrand’s disease and/or certain supplements. |
Contraindications of Cupping | Cupping should not be applied 48 hours before or 24 hours after chemotherapy treatment. |
Uses of Cupping with bloodletting | treat acute sprains accompanied by Blood Stasis |
Uses of Cupping | has the function of warming and promoting the free flow of Qi and Blood in the meridian, dispelling Cold Dampness, diminishing swellings and pains. |
Uses of Cupping | Treat bi syndrome caused by Wind Dampness, such as pain of the lower back, shoulders, and leg, gastrointestinal disorders such as stomachache, vomiting, and diarrhea, and lung diseases such as cough and asthma. |
Uses of Cupping | acute or chronic pain; mild to severe conditions such as colds, flu, and fever; and problems such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema; functional internal organ problems; musculoskeletal problems; and in any case of recurring or persistent fixed pain. |
Uses of Gua Sha | used in the treatment of pain, pain on palpation, and accompanied “blanching that is slow to fade” indicating sha in the tissue |
Uses of Gua Sha | treats both acute and chronic pain |
Uses of Gua Sha | acute respiratory infection, influenza, and fever |
Uses of Gua Sha | internal organ diseases where the identified ferroheme metabolism can reduce inflammation and offer immune protection |
Uses of Gua Sha | neck pain |
Uses of Gua Sha | neck and back pain |
Uses of Gua Sha | breast engorgement/mastitis |
Uses of Gua Sha | inflammation and tissue injury, but not directly at the site of active inflammation or injury to skin or underlying tissue |
Contraindicaion of Gua Sha | Over active rash or broken skin, lesion, moles, swelling or recent trauma, inflammation, infection, break in skin barrier, burn, or sunburn. |
Contraindicaion of Gua Sha | Patient’s taking anti-coagulant medication, NSAIDs, Vitamin E, or fish oils or for those who have bleeding disorders – not contraindicated, but should be applied with awareness of patient’s condition. |
Contraindicaion of Gua Sha | Avoid applying for 48 hours before and 24 hours after chemotherapy |
Contraindicaiton of Electroacupuncture | Should not be applied from one side of the chest across to the other side of the chest (front to back or side to side) in the region of the heart |
Contraindicaiton of Electroacupuncture | A circuit should not cross the midsagittal line of the patient. |
Contraindicaiton of Electroacupuncture | Avoid applying near brainstem – posterior cervical area |
Contraindicaiton of Electroacupuncture | Avoid crossing the spine |
Contraindicaiton of Electroacupuncture | Consult with primary physician RE history of seizure disorder |
Contraindicaiton of Electroacupuncture | Infants, children, incapacitated, sleeping or unconscious persons |
Contraindicaiton of Electroacupuncture | Avoid anterior triangle of neck – carotid sinus which regulates blood pressure, the laryngeal muscles associated with breathing, and the vagus nerve (cranial nerve 10) |
Contraindicaiton of Electroacupuncture | In any patient with implanted medical devices: ICDs (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) and pacemakers. |
Uses of Electroacupuncture | used as adjunctive therapy for conditions associated with Qi, Xue, or Phlegm stagnation. |
Uses of Electroacupuncture | Accumulation of Qi – chronic pain syndromes |
Uses of Electroacupuncture | Qi is difficult to stimulate |
Uses of Electroacupuncture | Treatment for palsy |
REN-14, REN-15, KD-21, ST-19 | Incorrect insertion could damage HT |
points above BL-24 should be needled obliquely towards spine rather than perpendicularly. | Incorrect insertion could damage KD |
REN-4 | Incorrect insertion could damage UB |
Contraindicated by pregnancy | Points that strongly direct Qi downward: GB-21, LI-4, BL-60 |
Contraindicated by pregnancy | Points on the abdomen: Ren-3 to Ren-8 |
Contraindicated by pregnancy | Based on empirical evidence: SP-6, BL-31, 32, 33, 34, BL-67, LI-4, UB-60, UB-67, GB-21, LIV-3, SP-6, LU-7, Ren-3 to Ren-7, BL-27 to BL-34 |
Wind Cold | runny nose with white watery mucus, severe occipital stiffness and ache, no sweating, no thirst, Tight pulse, Tongue body color unchanged |
Wind Heat | more fever, runny nose with slightly yellow mucus, occipital stiffness and ache, sweating, thirst, itchy throat, sore throat, swollen tonsils, Rapid pulse, Tongue body color Red on tip or sides, body aches, agitation |
Interior pattern | If no floating pulse in LU position and no aversion to Cold, the Zang Fu Organs are affected. Slower onset, more chronic, deeper, more severe, exhibits change in tongue body |
Exterior pattern | Floating pulse in LU position, aversion to Cold/Wind, affects skin, hair, channels, muscles, space between the muscles and skin. External Pathogens (EPI or EPF) – acute invasion or slow onset. |
Excess Heat | red face/eyes , sweating, rapid pulse, agitation, yellow/green exudate, fever, red tongue w/ a thick yellow coat if odorous exudates, noisy breathing, barking productive cough, full/rapid pulse |
Excess Cold | chilliness cannot get warm, Yin excess, cold hands, feet, limbs, lethargic, intense more severe cramping pain, pain worse w/ pressure, pain relieved by warmth, desire for warm fluids food, not thirst, Pale tongue w/ thick white coat, slow deep tight pulse |
Deficient Cold | dull pain, copious clear urine, dull pale face, can get warm, listlessness, no thirst, pale puffy tongue with thin white coat, wet tongue – KD Yang xu, slow deep tight weak pulse |
Deficient Heat | malar flush, night sweating, Yin is not strong enough to rise in the night, heat sensations – like hot flashes, red tongue with peeled coat – shiny tongue, dry mouth and throat, tidal fever, 5 centers hot, rapid thin thread pulse |
Main Complaint Determination | Observation (to look) |
Main Complaint Determination | Interrogation (to ask) |
Main Complaint Determination | Palpation (to touch) |
Main Complaint Determination | Auscultation (to hear and to smell) |
Pattern Diagnosis | identify the pattern which reflects the signs and symptoms |
Treatment Principle | ocus the therapeutic goals and provide the basis for selecting individual acupuncture points |
Point Selection | Final step in diagnosis |