The strength of Chinese medicine lies within its ability to look at a variety of signs and symptoms and come to a more precise diagnosis of underlying conditions. While the pulse and the tongue are the two principle diagnostic tools in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), looking at the colors and qualities in a persons body and face provides valuable diagnostic information.
|
Body Shape/Demeanor |
Indications |
| muscular/strong | tend towards excess |
| overweight | tend towards dampness sp qi deficiency |
| abrubt/jerky movements | wind |
| active movements | tend towards yang conditions |
| withdrawn/slow movements | tend towards qi a/or yang def |
| hunched over | upper jiao def |
|
Facial Colors |
Indications |
| white | cold or def |
| dull white | blood def |
| bright white | qi or yang def |
| yellow | excess damp or sp def |
| orange/yellow | damp heat |
| red | heat + whole face = excess + mallor flush = yin def |
| blue/green (quin) | lv qi a/or blood stagnation |
| black/dark | kd def or blood stagnation |
|
Skin Quality |
Indications |
| moist and clear | better prognosis |
| dry and lifeless | poorer prognosis |
|
Eye Qualities |
Indications |
| dull expression | shen disturbance |
| unconscious movement | wind |
| red/congested color | lv qi stagnation a/or wind-heat |