Many traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners have their own inquiry checklists for diagnosing patients, which they send to patients during online consultations for completion. The doctor then determines the diagnosis based on the symptoms filled out by the patient along with the tongue diagnosis.
However, the most practical and operationally effective inquiry form is that of Mr. Zhang Qingjun. It captures the main symptoms of the six meridian diseases while allowing patients to assess their own pulse, effectively addressing the limitation of online consultations where pulse diagnosis is not possible, thus increasing diagnostic accuracy.
Due to the clarity and simplicity of the six meridian inquiry form, it has been referred to by many netizens as a “targeted” inquiry form, and it has been emulated by various TCM practitioners, with some even claiming it as their own and offering it to readers for a fee.
Detailed Explanation of the Inquiry Form for Cold Damage Disease
The key points for diagnosing the six meridian diseases must be kept in mind, and one must learn to distinguish between a strong pulse and a weak pulse. Once these methods are mastered, when reviewing TCM cases from “Thirty Years of Han Prescription Therapy” and “Experiments with Classical Formulas,” many confusions in the cases can be easily resolved by applying the methods of disease, pulse, and symptom treatment along with the strength of the pulse.
Tips for Inquiring about Shaoyang Disease
1. Inquiry Form for Taiyang Disease
1. Is there a headache?
If the patient has ear pain, a strong pulse, and is sensitive to cold and wind, it indicates Taiyang disease. Ear pain is considered a type of headache; when the medical sage Zhang Zhongjing wrote about headaches, he included the entire head, and eye pain is also considered a headache. For example, in cases of glaucoma with eye pain, if the pulse is weak, it often corresponds to the Wu Zhu Yu Decoction syndrome. If the patient experiences dry heaving, salivation, and headache, the Wu Zhu Yu Decoction is indicated (as per “Treatise on Cold Damage”, section 394). Here, the headache includes the eye pain from glaucoma.
The medical sage followed the principle of encompassing the whole within the part when writing the “Treatise on Cold Damage”. Any pain above the neck is considered a headache, including nasal pain and toothache. Of course, diagnosing Taiyang disease is not solely based on headache; one must also observe whether the pulse is floating and strong, and whether the patient is sensitive to cold and wind. However, headache serves as an important indicator; when encountering a patient with a headache, one should consider Taiyang disease.
2. Is there discomfort in the neck?
If the patient feels discomfort in the neck, consider the use of Ge Gen (Kudzu) decoction. Asking about the neck is to determine if the patient requires Ge Gen decoction. Ge Gen can also be used externally to treat cervical spondylosis; it can be boiled in water for half an hour, then a towel soaked in the boiled water can be used for external hot compress.
If the patient only has cervical spondylosis or only heel pain, soaking the feet in Shaoyao (Peony) and Gancao (Licorice) decoction can yield rapid results, sometimes even faster than oral administration, and without adverse reactions, making it safe to use in any quantity.
3. Are you sensitive to cold?
The sensitivity to cold here refers toa strong pulse indicating sensitivity to cold. For example, patients with bronchitis often experience flare-ups in winter, which is also referred to as sensitivity to cold; this is the patient’s own feeling. Additionally, it can be observed by the practitioner that the patient’s condition worsens or relapses upon exposure to cold, which is also termed sensitivity to cold.
The entire “Treatise on Cold Damage” discusses sensitivity to cold; many may not have noticed that many sections specifically mention the term – cold damage.
4. Are you sensitive to wind?
Experiencing wind invasion is termed sensitivity to wind. Some patients with stomach issues often wear belly wraps, feeling as if wind is invading their stomach; others wear hats, feeling as if wind is invading their head; some wear knee pads, feeling as if wind is invading their knees… This sensation of wind invasion is all referred to as sensitivity to wind.
5. Do you sweat easily?
Sweating includes many types; besides the common sweat we refer to, there are other forms of sweating you may not be aware of. For instance, clear nasal discharge is also considered sweating, as the nose is sweating; if a patient is constantly tearing, the eyes are sweating; if a patient has ulcers that continuously ooze clear fluid, the skin around the ulcer is sweating; and if a woman has clear, thin vaginal discharge, that is also sweating. Therefore, when observing elderly patients whose noses are not itchy but are dripping with clear mucus, one can determine that they sweat easily.
What is meant by not sweating or having no sweat?
Dry skin is termed no sweat, and a dry nose is also termed no sweat. The dry areas of skin disease lesions are also considered no sweat. Sjögren’s syndrome is essentially a state of no sweat, with dry eyes, dry nose, and dry mouth; Western medicine states that saliva cannot be secreted, which is no sweat. One must consider Taiyang disease.Western medicine has no effective treatment, but the methods of disease, pulse, and symptom treatment in TCM have effective therapies; treating according to Taiyang disease will alleviate dryness as soon as sweating occurs.
The above is the inquiry for Taiyang disease, primarily focusing on a strong pulse and sensitivity to cold, with other details aimed at more accurately selecting prescriptions.
This article can be saved for future reference ☞: The only way to improve diagnostic and treatment levels is through disease, pulse, and symptom treatment. After reading this article, you will gain insights, and the number of patients seeking your treatment will quickly increase.
2. Inquiry Form for Shaoyang Disease
1. Is there a bitter taste in the mouth? Follow our public account: Ben Neng System Medical Theory
If a patient is continuously vomiting bile, they will definitely have a bitter taste in the mouth. When asking the patient if they have a bitter taste, if they think for a long time and say they occasionally have a bit of bitterness, that is not a bitter taste. Remember, when we ask patients if they have a bitter taste, if they do, they will immediately respond that they have a strong bitter taste, not think for a long time before answering.
“Shaoyang disease is characterized by a bitter taste, dry throat, and dizziness.” The bitter taste has significant diagnostic value in Shaoyang disease. A strong pulse with a bitter taste indicates Shaoyang disease, while a weak pulse with a bitter taste indicates Jueyin disease. This point is particularly important in diagnosing female diseases and must be understood.For female patients with a bitter taste and a weak pulse, they should be classified as Jueyin disease.
2. Is there fullness or pain in the chest and hypochondrium?
When asking the patient if they have fullness or pain in the chest and hypochondrium, they may not understand, so it is necessary to point to the chest and hypochondrium area and ask if it hurts here or if it feels bloated. This is how to ask; these are all detailed questions.
Bitter taste? Fullness or pain in the chest and hypochondrium? These questions pertain to Shaoyang disease.
3. Inquiry Form for Yangming Disease
Is the stool dry? Are you thirsty? Is your appetite large? Are you sensitive to heat? Do you feel vexed? Is your throat sore? These questions pertain to Yangming disease. The fundamental characteristic of Yangming disease is sensitivity to heat and a strong pulse.
1. Is the stool dry?
“Yangming disease is characterized by fullness in the stomach.” Dry stool with a strong pulse indicates Yangming disease.Dryness of the stool is the simplest criterion for judging Yangming disease; further inquiry is needed to determine if the stool is smooth. If a patient has dry stool but only defecates every few days, it indicates that the amount of stool is insufficient; if the pulse is strong, it is Yangming disease. Clinically, some patients eat a lot, although they defecate once a day, the amount is very small; if the pulse is strong, it is also Yangming disease.
2. Are you thirsty?
After asking if they are thirsty, continue to ask if they want to drink water; if they do, further inquire whether they prefer hot or cold water. This is to refine the symptoms. Thirst, where drinking water does not alleviate it, and the more one drinks, the thirstier they become, is termed “Xiaoke”; thirst, where drinking water is desired but only rinsing the mouth and then spitting it out, indicates a blood stasis syndrome.
3. Is your appetite large? Follow our public account: Ben Neng System Medical Theory
If the patient eats a lot and feels hungry quickly, a strong pulse indicates the use of gypsum decoction; a weak pulse indicates the use of Huangqi decoction. Many doctors overlook the importance of “appetite”; patients are even more likely to overlook it; if not asked, the patient will definitely not mention it.
4. Are you sensitive to heat?
Some patients will directly tell you they are sensitive to heat; others may find their condition worsens in a hot environment, which is also sensitivity to heat, contrasting with sensitivity to cold.
5. Do you feel vexed?
Feeling vexed means feeling uncomfortable or distressed. Patients who feel vexed in their hearts may have stomach discomfort that they cannot articulate, resembling a mental breakdown; this is rarely seen clinically, but it does occur, and it corresponds to the Zhi Zi Chi Tang syndrome.
6. Is your throat sore?
If the patient has a sore throat, gypsum should be added. It is known that for a sore throat, Jiegeng (Platycodon) and Gancao (Licorice) decoction is used; however, in cases of sore throat with a strong pulse, the first choice is Sheng Shi Gao (Raw Gypsum). The Xiao Chai Hu Decoction combined with Sheng Shi Gao requires observing the patient’s symptoms; if the throat is sore, it must be added; if not sore, it should not be added.
Follow our public account: Ben Neng System Medical Theory
Tips for Inquiring about Taiyin Disease
Is the stool loose? Is it sticky? Do you feel uncomfortable after eating cold foods? These questions pertain to Taiyin disease.
1. Inquiry Form for Taiyin Disease
If the patient has a weak pulse and feels uncomfortable after eating cold foods, it indicates Taiyin disease.
The key points for Taiyin disease are: “Taiyin disease is characterized by abdominal fullness and vomiting, inability to eat, and self-relief, with occasional abdominal pain. If purged, there will be hardness below the chest.” This outline only applies to a portion of Taiyin disease patients; more can be diagnosed using my methods. The diagnostic key for Taiyin disease is discomfort after eating cold foods and a weak pulse.
2. Inquiry Form for Jueyin Disease
Are your hands and feet cold? This pertains to Jueyin disease. Jueyin disease is characterized by a weak pulse and cold hands and feet. The outline for Jueyin disease states: “Jueyin disease is characterized by thirst, qi rising to the heart, heart pain and heat, hunger without desire to eat, and vomiting of roundworms. If purged, the diarrhea does not stop.” Diagnosing Jueyin disease according to this outline is quite challenging; many people have studied for years without success. I have distilled and summarized the patterns of Jueyin disease from extensive clinical practice.The key diagnostic point is cold hands and feet.
Jueyin disease prescriptions include: ① Upper heat and lower cold, Wumei Pill. ② Cold hands and feet, weak pulse, Danggui Si Ni Decoction; for long-term illness, add Wu Zhu Yu and Sheng Jiang decoction. ③ Chai Hu Gui Zhi Gan Jiang Decoction combined with Danggui Shaoyao San, characterized by cold hands and feet, weak pulse, with exterior symptoms and a bitter taste.
The key to accurately diagnosing Jueyin disease is correctly interpreting cold hands and feet: simply cold hands with a weak pulse indicate Jueyin disease; simply cold feet with a weak pulse indicate Jueyin disease; cold hands and cold feet with a weak pulse also indicate Jueyin disease; hot hands and cold feet with a weak pulse still indicate Jueyin disease. These situations are commonly encountered in clinical practice; the Wenjing Decoction syndrome is characterized by hot palms, dry lips, cold feet, and a weak pulse. The Wenjing Decoction contains Danggui, which is a prescription for Jueyin disease.
3. Inquiry Form for Shaoyin Disease
How is your spirit? Are your limbs cold? This pertains to Shaoyin disease. Patients with a weak pulse, cold limbs, and poor spirit indicate Shaoyin disease. The representative herb for Shaoyin disease is Fuzi (Aconite), and the representative prescription is Si Ni Decoction.
The key points for diagnosing the six meridian diseases must be kept in mind, and one must learn to distinguish between a strong pulse and a weak pulse. Once these methods are mastered, when reviewing TCM cases from “Thirty Years of Han Prescription Therapy” and “Experiments with Classical Formulas,” many confusions in the cases can be easily resolved by applying the methods of disease, pulse, and symptom treatment along with the strength of the pulse.
Condensed Inquiry Form for Cold Damage Disease
1. Taiyang Disease: Is there a headache? Is there discomfort in the neck? Are you sensitive to cold? Are you sensitive to wind? Do you sweat easily?
2. Shaoyang Disease: Is there a bitter taste in the mouth? Is there fullness or pain in the chest and hypochondrium?
3. Yangming Disease: Is the stool dry? Are you thirsty? Is your appetite large? Are you sensitive to heat? Do you feel vexed? Is your throat sore?
4. Taiyin Disease: Is the stool loose? Is it sticky? Do you feel uncomfortable after eating cold foods?
5. Jueyin Disease: Are your hands and feet cold?
6. Shaoyin Disease: How is your spirit? Are your limbs cold?
7. Is the pulse strong or weak?
8. How is the urination? Is the stomach distended?
9. Is the lower abdomen distended?
10. What is the condition of the tongue coating?
11. Is there tenderness in the stomach?
12. Is there jaundice?
Recommended reading ● The only way to improve diagnostic and treatment levels is through disease, pulse, and symptom treatment. After reading this article, you will gain insights, and the number of patients seeking your treatment will quickly increase.● On the brink of life and death, saved by the folk “Detox King” Wang Erming, several detoxification cases are astonishing.● The fascinating essence of TCM – the method of resolving diseases.
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