Wu Hong-zhou, Fang Zhao-qin, Cheng Pan-ji (eds.) Introduction to diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine

Translated by Chou-ping Han. — Singapore & Shanghai: World Scientific Publishing, 2013. — x, 537 p. — (World Century Compendium to TCM, Vol. 2) — ISBN: 9781938134135.Diagnosis in Chinese medicine mainly covers two aspects: collection of the signs, symptoms and case histories by inspection, auscultation and olfaction, inquiry and palpation; then evaluation and differentiation of the disease, syndrome and prognosis prior to treatment. This book will mainly focus on syndrome differentiation (or pattern identification), namely the pattern identification of the eight principles, etiology, qi, blood and blood fluids, zang–fu organs, meridians, and the six meridians, wei (defense), qi, ying (nutrients) and blood, and Sanjiao. The four diagnostic methods are inspection, auscultation and olfaction, inquiry, and palpation. Inspection aims to understand a medical condition by observing the patient’s spirit, color, shape, five sense organs, tongue and secretions or discharges. Auscultation and olfaction aims to identify a medical condition by listening to the patient’s voice and breathing as well as smelling the patient’s odor of the body, breathing and discharges.