Making the diagnosis
The acupuncturist spends a lot of time and attention on making a good diagnosis. Most people can clearly name their complaint. That is important information, but it is not enough for the acupuncturist. Because he sees body and mind as one whole, he is looking for additional information. He will ask all kinds of questions about your physical and mental condition.
Establishing the correct diagnosis consists of four parts that are explained below; the conversation, attentive observation, tongue diagnosis, and pulse diagnosis.
The conversation
If you come to an acupuncturist for the first time, he will talk extensively with you about your complaint. But other things are also discussed, such as your appetite, bowel movements, and sleep pattern. If you are a woman, he will ask about the course of your menstrual cycle. The acupuncturist also wants to know about your daily schedule, activities, and mood. And whether you are a morning person or a night owl. This broad approach gives the acupuncturist a good idea of your daily functioning. And from that, he can deduce how your energy balance is doing.
Looking attentively
By looking attentively at you, the acupuncturist also learns a lot about your physical and mental condition. Your body language and posture reveal a lot about how you feel. But also the condition and possible discolorations of the skin, the pattern on your face, and the condition of your hair and nails provide a wealth of information about your energy balance.
The tongue diagnosis
Your tongue provides a lot of information about your health. The acupuncturist looks at whether there is a lot or little coating on it. What is the color of your tongue and the coating? Are there cracks or pimples on your tongue? What is the shape of the tongue and how is the moisture?
The pulse diagnosis
For the acupuncturist, feeling the pulse is a very important
way to arrive at a diagnosis. This goes beyond just 'feeling the
pulse'. At each wrist joint, he feels at three places and at three different depths. By accurately measuring the tension, width, depth, and speed at each spot, the acupuncturist learns a lot about the quantity and quality of energy in the various organs.
