What are the four methods of TCM diagnosis?

On the basis of summarizing predecessors' experience, Bian Que put forward "four diagnoses", namely, looking, listening, asking and feeling the pulse. These four diagnostic methods are still widely used today, which is an important basis for TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment.

The so-called "looking" is to observe the changes of the patient's spirit, color, shape and state. "God" is a state of spirit and spirit; "Color" is the manifestation of the external prosperity and decline of qi and blood of the five internal organs; "Shape" is a sign of fullness and weakness; "State" is a dynamic, flexible and sluggish performance. This is to understand the patient's "spirit" by observing his face, mouth, nose, teeth, tongue coating, limbs and skin. Bian Que attaches great importance to and is good at making house calls, ranking it as the first of the four consultations.

The so-called "smell diagnosis" refers to listening to the patient's voice, breathing, coughing, vomiting, burping, belching and so on. You can also smell the patient's body odor, bad breath, phlegm and runny nose.

The so-called "consultation" is to ask the patient about the onset and transformation, cold and fever, sweating, head and body feeling, defecation, diet, chest and abdomen, ears, mouth and so on.

On the basis of summarizing the previous diagnostic methods, Bian Que invented the "pulse diagnosis method". "Historical Records" said: "Up to now, all the words in the world have come from Bian Que." Sima Qian established a biography of famous doctors, taking Bian Que as the top priority, which shows that Sima Qian respected Bian Que and attached importance to the law of pulse diagnosis.

The so-called "pulse diagnosis" means pulse diagnosis and pulse diagnosis. Pulse diagnosis is to feel the pulse and master the pulse condition. Palpation is to touch the patient's body surface to see the patient's temperature, hardness, refusal or preference, thus helping to diagnose.