Inspection
wàng zhěnDiagnosis
Overview
Inspection (Wang Zhen) is a diagnostic method in Traditional Chinese Medicine whereby the practitioner observes the patient's overall and local conditions to assess illness, and it is regarded as the foremost of the four diagnostic methods. It encompasses the observation of spirit, complexion, body form, head and facial features, skin, tongue, excreta, and infant finger veins. Tongue diagnosis is particularly distinctive, examining both the tongue body and coating to evaluate visceral conditions and pathogenic factors.
Theoretical points
- Inspection is the first of the four diagnostic methods, relying on the practitioner's visual observation of the patient's whole body and local areas to understand the disease condition.
- The content includes observing spirit (de shen, shi shen, jia shen), complexion (five colors indicating five major pathologies), body form and posture, head and facial features, skin, tongue, excreta, and infant finger veins.
- Tongue diagnosis is the most distinctive aspect, examining the tongue body to differentiate deficiency or excess of viscera and the state of qi and blood, and the tongue coating to identify the nature of pathogenic factors and the preservation of stomach qi.
- Inspection should be conducted under sufficient natural light, and attention must be paid to distinguishing true from false signs and normal physiological variations.
Common patterns
- Loss of spirit (shi shen) indicates severe depletion of vital qi and a poor prognosis, while false spirit (jia shen) may appear as a transient improvement before decline, suggesting critical illness.
- Abnormal complexion colors, such as green, red, yellow, white, or black, correspond to specific pathological patterns like liver wind, heat, dampness, blood deficiency, or cold and pain.
- Tongue body changes, such as pale, red, or purple, reflect deficiencies, heat, or blood stasis, while tongue coating changes, like thick, greasy, or peeled, indicate dampness, heat, or stomach qi exhaustion.
Daily care
- Ensure adequate natural light during inspection to avoid misreading colors and signs.
- Consider the patient's habitual complexion and seasonal variations to distinguish normal from pathological states.
- Combine inspection with inquiry, listening, and palpation for a comprehensive diagnosis.
Connections
Educational content on traditional medicine; not a substitute for a qualified practitioner.