Traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis emphasizes four methods.
They are called: observing, listening and smelling, inquiring, and pulse-taking.
This is also the most well-known skill of Chinese medicine, or the foundation for diagnosing patients.
Observing refers to checking complexion; listening and smelling means hearing sounds and smelling odors; inquiring involves asking about symptoms; pulse-taking refers to feeling the pulse.
This is collectively known as the four diagnostics!
The "Medical Traditions of Ancient and Modern" states: "Observing, listening and smelling, inquiring, and pulse-taking are truly the guidelines of medicine."
Those who know by observing, see the five colors and know the illness.
Those who know by listening, hear the five sounds and distinguish the disease.
Those who know by inquiring, ask about the desire for the five flavors to know the origin of the disease.
