Foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine Flashcards

Which of the following is considered a 'curious' or 'extraordinary' organ (Qi Heng Zhi Fu) in TCM?

Answer: Uterus (Bao Gong)

The Extraordinary Organs include the Brain, Marrow, Bones, Blood Vessels, Gallbladder, and Uterus — they store like Yin organs but don't transform like Yang organs.

A practitioner observes a malar flush, night sweats, and a thin rapid pulse with an empty quality. Which pattern is most likely?

Answer: Kidney Yin deficiency with empty heat

Malar flush, night sweats, and a thin, rapid, empty pulse are classic signs of Kidney Yin deficiency generating empty (deficiency) heat.

In TCM, which color corresponds to the Heart and the Fire element?

Answer: Red (Chi)

Red is the color associated with the Heart and Fire element in the Five Element correspondences.

The concept of 'Liu Yin' (Six Excesses or Six Climatic Pathogens) does NOT include which of the following?

Answer: Stagnation (Yu)

The Six Excesses are Wind, Cold, Summer-Heat, Dampness, Dryness, and Fire — stagnation (Yu) is a pathological result, not an external climatic pathogen.

Which pulse quality is classically described as feeling like 'beads rolling on a plate' and often indicates Phlegm or pregnancy?

Answer: Slippery (Hua)

The Slippery (Hua) pulse feels smooth and rolling, associated with Phlegm, food stagnation, or pregnancy.

In TCM, 'Wei Qi' (Defensive Qi) primarily circulates where and during what time?

Answer: Outside the meridians on the body surface, predominantly during the day

Wei Qi circulates in the skin and muscles (outside the vessels), moving primarily during the day to protect against external pathogens.

Which TCM diagnostic method involves observing the sublingual veins and is particularly useful for identifying Blood stasis?

Answer: Tongue diagnosis (She Zhen)

Tongue diagnosis includes inspection of the tongue body, coating, and sublingual veins — purple/distended sublingual veins indicate Blood stasis.