TCM Tests Daily Questions: Foundations
Board Exam Prep
Source: as Chinese medicine developed, the theory of the Five elements (5E) was not
always applied and was not always the most popular theory; 5E theory was very
popular during the period of the Warring States (475-221 BC) and was applied to
medicine, astrology, music, and politics; however, during the 1st century 5E theory was
seen as too rigid to correctly interpret natural phenomenon where one philosopher said
"If the rooster belongs to Metal and the hare belongs to Wood, why is it that roosters do
not devour hares?"; with the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) the 5E theory began to
wane and from the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 AD) onward 5E theory decreased in
influence and medicine was dominated with identification of patterns according to the
Cold Diseases, Four Levels and Three Burners - The Foundations of Chinese Medicine,
Maciocia, 2015, page 20; 2005 Edition, page 20; 1989 Edition, page 16
Ancient Greek philosophy and Chinese philosophy share
A. An interest in five chemical elements
B. A method of applying natural elements to medicine
C. A theory of the building blocks of nature
D. A theory of the transformative qualities of nature - ✔️✔️D. A theory of the
transformative qualities of nature
In Five Element pulse diagnosis, what is the Yang organ Inch position on the left side?'
A. Stomach
B. Large Intestine
C. Small Intestine
D. Gallbladder' - ✔️✔️B. Large Intestine
A patient has breast distention prior to menstruation, odorless vaginal discharge,
depressed essence-spirit, and normal or light red menses. What would you expect the
menstruation to be?
A. shortened
B. indeterminate
,C. dripping for several days
D. prolonged - ✔️✔️B. indeterminate
Source: This is Liver Depression, Qi Stagnation - Practical Diagnosis in Traditional
Chinese Medicine, Deng, 1999, page 362
Which of the following has an INCORRECT correspondence between the part of the
eye and associated organ?
A. the pupil / Heart
B. the iris / Liver
C. the sclera / Lungs
D. the eyelids / Spleen - ✔️✔️A. the pupil / Heart
Source: The pupil is associated with the Kidneys. Both canthi are associated with the
Heart. The theory of the Five Wheels is used in the diagnosis of eye disorders. It divides
the eyes into five areas called Wheels. The BLOOD WHEEL is associated with the
Heart and corresponds to both canthi. The Heart goversn the Blood. In the inner canthi
are small openings (called palace of tears) from which tears flow and disperse essential
qi that moistens and nourish the eyeball. The WIND WHEEL is asociated with the Liver
and corresponds to the iris (black of the eye) and defends the pupil-spirit. The Liver
governs Wind. The QI WHEEL is associated with the Lungs and corresponds to the
sclera (whites of the eye) which protects the inner system of the eyeball. The Lungs
govern qi. The WATER WHEEL is associated with the Kidneys and corresponds to the
pupil-spirit which should be clear and bright, reflecting the importance to vision. The
Kidneys govern water. The FLESH WHEEL is associated with the Spleen and
corrresponds to the eyelids (top and bottom). The upper eyelid and the eye lashes help
to protect the eyeball. The Spleen governs the muscles.
The theory of the Five Wheels is used in the diagnosis of eye disorders. It divides the
eyes into five areas. Which of the following has an INCORRECT correspondence?
A. Qi Wheel refers to the sclera
B. Wind Wheel refers both canthi
C. Water Wheel refers to the pupil
,D. Flesh Wheel refers to the eyelids - ✔️✔️B. Wind Wheel refers both canthi
Which needle direction will puncture the lung when needling HE-1 (jiquan)?
A. lateral insertion
B. medial insertion
C. superior insertion
D. inferior insertion - ✔️✔️
Source: It is the Blood Wheel that refers to both canthi. The Wind Wheel refers to the
iris. These five wheels are used to determine the physiology and pathology of the eye
and help in diagnosing. It is important to combine the the Five Wheels with the other
types of diagnosis and patterns of differentiation in order to arrive at a determination of
energetic configuration.
In index finger diagnosis in children, the first joint is the
A. Qi bar
B. Blood bar
C. Wind bar
D. Life bar - ✔️✔️C. Wind bar
Source: There are only three bars. The first index finger joint (closest to the knuckle) is
the Wind Bar, the middle joint is the Qi Bar, and the last joint is the Life Bar. In children
it is important to look at the veins of the index finger. The veins are a result of the
protrusion of the yin Lung channel. The veins are relatively clear on children three years
and under. - Practical Diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Deng, 1999, page 26
A patient has no appetite, hot sensations in the afternoon, dry stools, epigastric pain,
desire to drink small sips, full feeling after eating, tongue without root, and floating-
empty pulse on the right middle position. What is the Stomach zang-fu pattern?
A. Stomach Yin Deficiency
B. Blood Stasis in the Stomach
C. Stomach Fire
, D. Stomach Phlegm-Fire - ✔️✔️A. Stomach Yin Deficiency
Source: this is Stomach Yin Xu (dry mouth/throat/stool, burning epigastric pain, fullness
after eating) with Empty Heat (night sweating, afternoon fever); the floating-empty pulse
and rootless coating can manifest in either (just Stomach Yin Xu or Stomach Yin Xu
with Empty Heat); there are symptoms of dryness because the fluids (yin) originate in
the Stomach; when the Stomach is deficient there can be symptoms of dryness; what is
unique and typical about Stomach Yin Deficiency is the dry mouth with a desire to drink
in small amounts; if the only sign is an absence of coating at the center of the tongue, is
enough to make the diagnosis of Stomach Yin Deficiency; the treatment principle is
Nourish Stomach Yin and Nourish Fluids - The Foundations of Chinese Medicine,
Maciocia, 2015, page 658; 2005 Edition, page 622; 1989 Edition, page 268
Five Element theory
A. Was never used in astrology, music, or politics
B. Has not always been the most popular theory of Chinese medicine
C. as never systematically applied to diagnosis
D. Has always been the dominant theory in Chinese medicine - ✔️✔️B. Has not always
been the most popular theory of Chinese medicine
Source: in Greek philosophy the elements (Air, Water, Earth, Fire) can mix with each
other and can even transform into one another; for example, Earth (cold-dry) can
generate Water (cold-wet) if wetness of Water replaces the dryness of Earth; the
interpretation that the elements can transform into one another is similar to the Chinese
theory of the Five Elements; both philosophies see the elements as the transformative
qualities of nature - The Foundations of Chinese Medicine, Maciocia, 2015, page 19;
2005 Edition, page 19; 1989 Edition, page 15
The Girdle or Belt Vessel (dai mai) pathology can result in
A. lower abdominal pain that radiates to the navel
B. purplish tinged colored feet
C. the sensation of sitting in hot water
D. slack outer leg muscles - ✔️✔️B. purplish tinged colored feet
