CHAPTER 11

VISCERAL PATTERN DIFFERENTIATION

脏腑辨证

Upon completion of this chapter, you are required to:

  1. Master the basic words forming TCM terms associated with this chapter.
  2. Understand new TCM terms formed by these words.
  3. Make new TCM terms using these basic words.
  4. Describe the main symptoms and signs of common visceral disease patterns*.

Visceral pattern differentiation* means to categorize patterns according to the pathological changes of the viscera and bowels.

Through visceral pattern differentiation, the location of a disease can be detected down to the level of the organ, such as cold-dampness encumbering the spleen* and heart fire flaming upward*. Furthermore, patterns of diseases of the viscera and bowels usually show two general types: deficiency and excess.

Only the common patterns involving the heart, lung and spleen will be discussed due to the limited space in this chapter. You may find further information from associated websites, such as the following two: