Chinese medicine is both rich in theory and treatment methods. Developing treatment solutions that were orientated at treating the individual, meant that theories needed to take into consideration each individual’s unique internal, as well as external environment. As a result, Chinese medicine theory is not only extensive, but also has much depth.  Out of this vast body of theory, a wide range of treatment modalities were developed.

 

One important pillar of this theory is Diagnosis and it is one that a good practitioner must master. No matter how good the practitioner is at treatment protocols, if he cannot deliver an accurate diagnosis, he will be unable to treat the individual’s disease effectively. This is why at TCM Healing Qi, I insist that the focus of the first appointment should be on the individual’s diagnosis. The diagnosis sets the path for effective treatment that brings results. Disease is not a static process and there are often changes in symptoms along the healing journey. With this in mind, better results are achieved when the practitioner spends time to check the effectiveness of the treatment and changes the treatment strategy as required.

 

There are four major methods of diagnosis, all requiring a good knowledge of theory and many years of experience.

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• Interrogation

• Observation

• Listening

• Palpation

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During the first appointments, the practitioner will spend much time asking about your condition, symptoms and disease progression, previous ailments and traumas, lifestyle, environment, family history etc.. She will take a look at your tongue, skin and complexion, build and posture, demeanor and movements. Listen to your voice, breath and other noises in the body that stand out. She will also palpate the pulse, meridians, acupuncture points, tendons, joints and muscles. If you are familiar with Chinese medicine, you will know that much information about the body is gained from the tongue and pulse diagnosis. Through looking at the shape, colour, coating and moisture of the tongue, the practitioner can judge the a person’s health and emotional state; the condition of their Qi; Blood and Fluids; and Yin and Yang. Pulse diagnosis is not associated with measuring the frequency of the heart beat as in conventional medicine. It is a complex procedure of associating the pulse with 27 different pulse qualities, which allow the practitioner to assess the health of each organ in the body.  Through all of these methods, a good practitioner is able to assess your Qi flow, Yin and Yang imbalances and make a diagnosis to create a unique treatment plan suited for your healing and recovery.