TCM Signs And Symptoms

Question 1

Signs of deficiency (emptiness) in the body (11)

Answer 1

1. Chronic
2. Frail/weak movement
3. Pale or sallow face
4. Shallow breathing
5. Pain relieved by pressure
6. Spontaneous sweating
7. Copious urination
8. Low voice
9. Little appetite
10. Pale tongue with little or no coat
11. Empty thin or otherwise weak pulse

Question 2

Name the signs of deficient yang (14)

Answer 2

1. Chilliness
2. Bright/pale face
3. Cold limbs
4. No thirst
5. Desire for hot drinks
6. Loose stool
7. Frequent pale urination
8. Weak pulse
9. Pale wet tongue
10. Weak voice
11. Slight sweating
12. Slight breathlessness
13. Fatigue
14. No appetite

Question 3

Signs of deficient (empty) yin (8)

Answer 3

1. Low-grade fever
2. Feeling of heat in afternoon
3. 5-Palm heat
4. Dry throat at night
5. Night sweats
6. Emaciation
7. Floating-empty pulse
8. Red-peeled and dry tongue

Question 4

Name the signs of dampness in the body (8)

Answer 4

1. Heaviness in body or head
2. No appetite
3. Stuffiness of chest
4. Sticky taste
5. Urinary difficulty
6. White sticky vaginal discharge
7. Sticky tongue coat
8. Slippery pulse

Question 5

Signs of cold in the body (8)

Answer 5

1. Pain
2. Stiffness
3. Contraction of tendons
4. Chilliness
5. Watery loose stools
6. Pale urine
7. Clear-watery vaginal discharge
8. Clear white nasal discharge

Question 6

Signs of excess fire (full heat) (10)

Answer 6

1. High fever
2. Red face and eyes
3. Dry mouth
4. Bitter taste
5. Constipation
6. Scanty-dark urine
7. Thirst
8. Mental agitation
9. Red tongue with yellow coat
10. Full-rapid pulse

Question 7

Signs of deficient fire (empty heat) (7)

Answer 7

1. Night sweats
2. Feeling of heat in chest, palms and soles
3. Red cheekbones
4. Dry mouth
5. Afternoon fever
6. Red, peeled tongue
7. Floating-empty and rapid pulse

Question 8

Signs of dryness (empty yin and/or blood) (7)

Answer 8

1. Dry throat
2. Dry lips
3. Dry tongue
4. Dry mouth
5. Dry skin
6. Dry stools
7. Scanty urination

Question 9

What are the signs of wind in the body? (7)

Answer 9

1. Aversion to cold or wind
2. Sneezing, cough
3. Runny nose
4. Possible fever
5. Occipital stiffness
6. Itchy throat
7. Floating pulse

Question 10

Signs of Collapsed (Sinking) Qi (6)

Answer 10

1. Feeling of bearing down
2. Tiredness
3. Listlessness
4. Mental depression
5. Prolapse of organs
6. Empty pulse

Question 11

Signs of Stagnant Qi (8)

Answer 11

1. Distention
2. Dispensing pain that moves
3. Abdominal masses that appear and disappear
4. Mental depression
5. Irritability, gloomy feeling, mood swings
6. Frequent sighing
7. Wiry or tight pulse
8. Slightly purple tongue

Question 12

Signs of Deficient (Empty) Blood (10)

Answer 12

1. Sallow complexion
2. Pale lips
3. Dizziness
4. Poor memory
5. Numbness
6. Blurred vision
7. Dry hair, skin and/or nails
8. Insomnia
9. Pale, slightly dry tongue
10. Choppy or fine pulse

Question 13

Signs of Congealed Blood (Blood Stasis)

Answer 13

1. Dark complexion
2. Purple lips
3. Boring, fixed and stabbing pains
4. Abdominal masses that do not move
5. Purple nails
6. Bleeding with dark blood and clots
7. Purple tongue
8. Wiry, firm or choppy pulse

Question 14

Signs of Heat in Blood (6)

Answer 14

1. Feeling of heat
2. Skin diseases with red eruptions
3. Dry mouth
4. Bleeding
5. Red tongue
6. Rapid pulse

Question 15

Signs of Deficient Fluids (Empty Yin) (6)

Answer 15

1. Dry skin
2. Dry mouth
3. Dry nose
4. Dry cough
5. Dry lips
6. Dry tongue

Question 16

Which zangfu causes edema in each of the 3 jiaos?

Answer 16

Lung Qi Deficient: top part of body, face and hands

Spleen Qi Deficient: middle of body

Kidney Yang Deficiency: legs and ankles