What is an Oriental Medical diagnosis?
An acupuncturists diagnosis is determined in part using methods similar to other health care practitioners: asking patients for a thorough history of their health and chief complaints, performing a physical exam, and ordering laboratory tests, x-rays and MRIs if necessary. However, the acupuncturist also has unique diagnostic techniques, such as taking the patients pulses on both wrists and observing the tongue, complexion and other signs. These are ways in which the body “tells” the acupuncturist what is happening inside the body and aids in diagnosis. Using all the information gathered, the acupuncturist decides which “pattern” the patient may fit into. Chinese “pattern” diagnosis is based on natural phenomena heat, cold, wind, damp and dryness.
