Summary

• The use of bian zheng (patterns of illness) is the basis of differential diagnosis in Chinese medicine.
  
  
• Bian zheng allows the practitioner to understand the nature of the yin yang disharmony as it is manifesting in a particular patient at a particular point in time.
  
  
• The most widely used method of pattern differentiation in TCM is the eight principles ( ba gang bian zheng ).
  
  
• The eight principles involves the differentiation of signs and symptoms by the parameters of interior and exterior; heat and cold; excess and deficiency; and yin and yang.
  
  
• Traditionally, there are four general methods of gathering information that are used in TCM to create a diagnosis: asking, looking, listening, and feeling.

This completes the “Diagnosis” section. Click the forward arrow to advance to the “Treatment” section.