Traditional Chinese Medicine Assessment

Using the traditional Chinese medicine system of assessment and diagnosis, the Naturopath or Traditional Chinese doctor will rely on 4 specific skills to identify patterns of disharmony that may be negatively impacting one’s health.

Inquiring: The practitioner will ask questions about your general medical health including your reaction to heat and cold, patterns of perspiration, history of headaches, dizziness, pain, bowel and bladder function, your thirst, appetite and tastes, sleep patterns, your sexual functional and reproductive history, as well as your emotional health to identify any organ systems that may not be functioning at an optimum level.

Looking: A close examination of the tongue can reveal important information about the health of the individual.  Changes in the tongue's color, moisture, size, coating, and the location may indicate imbalances in the organ systems of the body.  Also, an evaluation of body language such as styles of movement, posture, and self-presentation, as well as facial color can provide clues to possible health imbalances that may need to be addressed.

Listening/smelling: Listening to the sound of a person's speech, their breathing and their cough, as well as the scent of the individual, can help identify disharmony and provide clues to where treatment needs to focus.

Touching: The quality of a person’s pulse can offer insight as to what may be going on in the body. The ‘pulse’ can be described by qualified practitioners as feeling slippery, choppy, wiry, tight, slow, rapid, thin, big, floating, empty, and full, etc. Disharmonies of the pulse may indicate organ system imbalance(s); the location of the imbalance(s); and the nature of the disease.

The traditional Chinese medicine assessment is not a substitute for conventional diagnostic procedures nor is it intended to take place of medical treatment. 

Questions?
If you have any questions about the Traditional Chinese Medicine assessment, or would like more information on our programs or services please contact IMI at 403.233.0917 or by email at info@i-medi.org