The Olfactory Diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine—Sweat Odor Normal human sweat does not have a strong irritating odor; it is a metabolic product of physiological activities, formed by the evaporation of yang qi (阳气) and body fluids. In pathological conditions, sweat can also be a pathway for evil qi (邪气) to exit the body. Due … Read more
When we eat, we can smell the aroma of food, and when flowers bloom, we can smell their fragrance. The sense of smell is one way we judge our likes and dislikes. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) emphasizes the four diagnostic methods: observation, listening, inquiry, and palpation, where the method of smelling not only refers to … Read more
Olfactory examination includes two aspects: listening to sounds and smelling odors. It allows the practitioner to understand various abnormal sounds and smells emitted by the body to diagnose the condition.Smelling odors primarily involves detecting abnormal smells from the patient’s body, excretions, and the environment to assess the condition and determine the nature of the disease, … Read more