Body Appearance

Question 1

Obesity indicates:

Answer 1

phlegm damp accumulation with qi deficiency

Question 2

Underweight (thin and dry) indicates:

Answer 2

qi and blood deficiency
or
yin deficiency with fire

Question 3

Emaciation indicates:

Answer 3

qi and essence exhausted, zang fu organ failure, critical condition

Question 4

What does height reflect?

Answer 4

condition of congenital essence and acquired essence

“normal” must be compared to height and weight of genetic pool patient comes from

Question 5

What does deformation of joints, spine, etc usually indicate, and how does it manifest?

Answer 5

• indicates congenital essence insufficiency and/or poor nourishment after birth
• manifests as SP/KD depletion and softness of bones

Question 6

What causes swelling?

Symptoms: usually unilateral, localized with pain and change in skin colour

Answer 6

Blood stasis or Phlegm stasis

which obstructs local qi and body fluid circulation

Question 7

What are the symptoms of edema cause by Wind Damp attack?

Answer 7

• abrupt onset (wind)
• starts from upper portion of body
• puffy face and eyelids

Question 8

What is indicated by Edema with slow onset, usually found in the lower portion of the body?

Answer 8

SP and/or KD-yang deficiency

(SP deficiency - dysfunction of water metabolism, accumulation of damnpess)
(KD-yang deficiency - provides essential heat for water metabolism)

Question 9

What are the 2 causes of qi, blood, and marrow deficiency?

Answer 9

• pathogenic wind, damp, or cold obstructing the channels and collaterals
• zang fu organ deficiency, esp. KD

Question 10

What does joint deformity of multiple small joints of the hands and feet indicate?

Answer 10

KD deficiency with Cold Damp

Question 11

What does swelling of one or more joints with redness indicate?

Answer 11

damp heat
or
wind damp heat

Question 12

What lying position is yang? What posture?

Answer 12

face up ; extended

Question 13

What lying position is yin? What posture?

Answer 13

face down ; flexed

Question 14

What is internal wind?

Answer 14

spasm of tendons and muscles

any condition that results in loss of nourishment to the muscles and sinews can give rise to contractions or spasms

Question 15

What can cause muscles and sinews to lose nourishment? (3)

leads to contraction and spasm/ internal wind syndrome

Answer 15

• exuberant heat injures body fluids
• yin or blood deficiency
• pathogens obstruct the channels

Question 16

How might a damp heat toxin or wind damp heat manifest in body bearing and movement?

Answer 16

• hypertonicity of the limbs
• convulsive spasms
• tremors
• shaking
• clenched jaw
• opisthotonus in severe cases (spasm causing backward arching of the head, neck, and spine, as in severe tetanus, some kinds of meningitis, and strychnine poisoning)

Question 17

Deviated eyes and mouth, facial paralysis, or hemiplegia indicates:

Answer 17

phlegm damp obstructing channels

Question 18

What does quivering and twitching indicate?

Answer 18

KD deficiency with cold damp

Question 19

What are the Eight Pathological Bearings?

Answer 19

• movement/ stillness
• strong/ weak
• face up/ face down
• extended/ flexed

Question 20

What can lead to Atrophy Disorder (wei zheng)? (3+1)

Answer 20

• SP and ST deficiency: muscles lose nutrition
• LR yin deficiency: sinews lose strength
• KD deficiency: bones lose strength

OR obstruction of any of these channels by Damp, Phlegm, Blood, or Qi stagnation.

Question 21

What is indicated by: heavy, cumbersome limbs that are limp/ lack strength, they may be slightly swollen or numb with sensations of heaviness, more likely occurring in lower limbs.

Answer 21

Damp Heat

dampness tends to sink to lower limbs; “feel heavy”= dampness

Question 22

What is indicated by: gradually worsening weakness and wilting of limbs.

Answer 22

SP and ST qi deficiency

can’t nourish muscles

Question 23

What is indicated by: chronic and gradual onset of numbness without pain, usually effecting the lower limbs.

Answer 23

LR and KD yin deficiency

sensation= Shen; where Blood goes, Shen goes