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withdrawn/slow movements | tend towards qi a/or yang def |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 |
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