Treatment Principles Flashcards
7 cards from real NCCAOM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Treatment Principles flashcards as text
In TCM, what does the treatment principle 'zhèng zhì' (正治) mean?
Answer: Using remedies opposite in nature to the disease manifestations
Zheng zhi (orthodox treatment) uses remedies opposite in nature to the disease, such as using cold herbs to treat a heat condition.
Which treatment priority applies when a patient has both an acute exterior condition and a chronic interior deficiency?
Answer: Treat the acute exterior condition first
When an exterior condition is acute, TCM principles dictate treating the branch (biao) first before returning to address the chronic interior root condition.
The Five Element treatment principle 'tonify the mother' (虚则补其母) is based on which cycle?
Answer: The generating (相生) cycle
Tonifying the mother uses the generating (sheng) cycle, strengthening the generating element to support its deficient child element.
Which treatment principle addresses Kidney Yin deficiency causing Liver Yang to rise?
Answer: Nourish Kidney Yin to anchor Liver Yang (yi shui han mu)
'Yi shui han mu' (nourish water to contain wood) treats the root Kidney Yin deficiency, which naturally anchors the rising Liver Yang.
What is the correct treatment principle for an excess cold pattern (实寒证)?
Answer: Warm and dispel cold
Excess cold requires warming and dispersing (散寒) rather than tonifying, since the cold is excess in nature and not due to a deficiency.
What does 'cóng zhì' (从治, paradoxical treatment) involve?
Answer: Using remedies that appear to agree with the false manifestations of the disease
Cong zhi (following treatment) uses remedies that match the apparent false signs, applied when the true condition is masked by contradictory manifestations.
A patient has chronic Spleen Qi deficiency with phlegm-dampness accumulation. What is the most effective treatment approach?
Answer: Tonify Spleen Qi, which will simultaneously resolve phlegm-dampness
Tonifying Spleen Qi is the root treatment; once the Spleen's transforming and transporting functions are restored, phlegm-dampness naturally resolves.