Tongue/Pulse/Complexion Flashcards
diagnostic methods
looking
hearing
asking
pulse/palp
tongue
what to observe when looking?
body condition
complexion
mobility
shen
tongue
what to observe when hearing/smelling
tone of voice
communication
breathing
odour
asking
ask how you can help them
focus on their main symptoms
history of their complaint
ask about general health
medical history
medications
treating critical patient
complaint
symptoms
tongue and pulse
if an area is hot
inflammation
if an area is cold
qi xu or internal cold
if an area is swollen
dampness
if area is tender
qi/xue stagnation
when to take tongue and pulse
after consultation, when patient is settled
what does the pulse tell
condition of zang, fu, qi and xue
six pulse positions reflect
the 12 meridians (zangfu pair)
tendons, blood, eyes pathology
liver imbalance
muscle, mouth
spleen imbalance
sinus, skin
lung imbalance
ear, bones
kidney imbalance
tongue, blood vessel
heart
dry eyes
liver blood / yin syndrome. always consider the root of the issue
in order to make a diagnosis
ask your patient what is normal for them
consider the person as a whole
avoid assumptions
when in doubt
trust the tongue and pulse
which channel spreads over the surface of the tongue
spleen primary channel
eyes are dull
complexion is grey
body is soft
slow responses
lack of vitality
severe mental health illness
severe loss of essence and qi
loss of vitality
more severe than lack of vitality
reasons for loss of vitality
decline in essence
excessive pathogens
complexion colour-red
heart fire excess
seen at cheeks and nose
heat syndrome
complexion colour - blue
heart fire imbalance
sudden shock/trauma
cold syndrome or pain
seen around the mouth
complexion colour - green
liver wood imbalance
migraines
seen on the temples
complexion colour - white
lung metal imbalance
cold or xu syndrome
seen on whole face
complexion colour - yellow
spleen earth imbalance
suggests spleen (qi) xu
bright-yang
dull-yin
complexion colour - black
indicates kidney syndrome
blood stagnation/xu
dark circles - kidney or liver xu
if a person always leans forward while sitting
lung syndrome
texture of sputum shows
if still at a damp stage, or if thicker at phlegm stage
excessive saliva
due to spleen xu and cold in spleen and stomach
looking at vomit tells us
how well stomach qi is breaking down food
how well liver qi is controlling flow of qi
normal stool
is yellow, cylindrical and well formed
variation indicates imbalance internal temp and ZF