Portland Oregon Acupuncture

How Does an Acupuncture Practitioner Diagnose Illness?

Traditional acupuncture has raised a lot of skepticism due to the unconventional approaches and techniques used. The old principles are also getting a lot of abuse from modern medical standards since people cannot fully fathom the connection between physical illness and system equilibrium. What is the basis of an acupuncturist’s diagnosis and is it really accurate?

Pulse Interpretation

Acupuncture for several centuries has followed a very subjective course on the basis of Taoist philosophy and the concept of Yin and yang. During the 1950s, acupuncture diagnosis was developed when Dr. Yoshio Nakatani from Japan discovered ryodoraku. Ryodoraku is also known as pulse diagnosis wherein acupuncturists identify symptoms and health problems based on pulse descriptions usually taken from the wrists of the patient.

Dr. Nakatani initially developed the electronic evaluation system used in both traditional and modern acupuncture by measuring skin conductance at the yuan or source point of the wrist and ankle. Ryodoraku compared to pulse diagnosis used by ancient acupuncturists who palpate 12 pulse points for about 15 to 20 minutes per wrist is almost identical. Historically, practitioners use 28 pulse characteristics to get a definitive pulse diagnosis. However, health problems can be determined by finding out if a specific meridian is not in tune with the 12 primary points.

Pulses and Meridians

The ryodoraku system was renamed EMI or electro-meridian imaging in 1982 and is considered to be very reliable and easy to learn and use. Practitioners can now determine meridian status through their electric conductivity by adding the measured values of the meridian points then dividing the sum by 24 to represent the 12 bilateral meridians.

Ryodoraku successfully introduced split meridians that show a correlation between pulse points and different areas of the body. The pulse will be described in different qualities and characteristics to point out the existing conditions and pathogens in the body.

Tongue Diagnosis

Tongue diagnosis is another tool used in acupuncture wherein practitioners assess the tongue and describe it thoroughly to distinguish the condition of the patient and look for presence of pathogens.

Compared to pulse diagnosis, the tongue is less subjective and easier to assess and learn. It is also less median specific and it cannot be altered greatly by short-term conditions like nervousness. Tongue diagnosis can adequately present the extent and nature of a disease as well as the progress of the patient.

Basic tongue geography and meridian correlations are as follows. The lower Jiao or base of the tongue refers to the large and small intestine, kidney and urinary bladder meridians. The middle Jiao of sides of the tongue refer to the liver and gallbladder meridians. The middle part of the tongue refers to the stomach and spleen meridians. The upper Jiao or tip of the tongue refers to the lung and heart meridians.

Other characteristics will also be observed such as the shape and color of the tongue body. The tongue coating indicates the condition of the stomach and spleen as well as the temperature, strength and depth of pathogenic features. Coat rooting will also be assessed.

More Diagnostic Procedures

Traditional acupuncturists may also rely on other diagnostic procedures and tools to identify imbalances of Qi or vital energy. Included are questioning which identifies a patient’s medical history and lifestyle factors that predispose the current condition, listening which involves observing breathing sounds, palpation which involves pulse-taking, touching and pressing, smelling which involves observation of body odor, breath and urine and observing which involves looking at the posture, color and other visual characteristics. Deficiency or excess of yin, yang and blood are also assessed. Pulse and tongue diagnosis are used in conjunction with these approaches to get a more accurate diagnosis.

Zang-Fu or organ imbalances are also checked to make a diagnosis. They use a specific set of symptoms similar to natural elements or forces such as the wind or water.

Acupuncture points, herbs and breathing exercises are some of the techniques used once diagnosis is confirmed. Channel dysfunctions are another type of diagnostic system which checks the proper flow of qi or blood in the pathways or body systems. Blockage can disrupt the yin and yang aspects thereby leading to pain or injury. Confirmation can further be done through diagnostic imaging, neurological tests and palpation.