Inspection of excretions
Traditionally, a practitioner would gather information about the appearance of saliva, mucus, vomitus, stools, and urine through an inspection. In most cases, h...
Observation of the index fi nger of infants
Up to the age of three, an inspection of the index finger of an infant may give some indications of the condition of the child. The index finger is divided into...
Observation of the extremities
(a) Strong extremities with a normal muscle tonus are a sign of sufficient Qi, Blood, and body fluids. Swelling may be a sign of Dampness, excess, or deficiency...
Observation of the teeth and gums
(a) The teeth are seen in TCM as an extension of the bones and are therefore related to the Kidneys. (i) Good health will result in healthy teeth and gums tha...
Observation of the mouth
(a) According to TCM theory, the mouth is related to the Stomach, while the lips refer to the Spleen. (b) Breathing through an open mouth is usually a sign of d...
Observation of the Ears
The Zang that relates to the ears is the Kidneys. Therefore, it is possible to get an impression of the state of the Kidneys through observation of the ears. (a...
Observation of the nose
Significance of an inspection of the nose for diagnostic purposes: In some instances, specific features that appear on the nose may help to define a final diagn...
Observation of the eye
TCM relates certain areas of the eye to specific Zang: (a) The canthus and the sclera close to the canthus relate to the Heart. (i) Redness in this area may be ...
Observation of the shape of the face
Acute facial edema that also affects the upper extremities can indicate a Yang deficiency possibly of exterior origin with Lung involvement. Gradual onset of fa...
Observation of the Body Shape
The body shape may indicate a condition of excess or deficiency, of a strong or a weak constitution. A lean, strong body indicates sufficient Qi and Blood. An e...