Page 1 of 331
TCM TESTS DAILY EXAM STUDY GUIDE THIS YEAR
WITH 650 QUESTIONS AND WELL ELABORATED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES JUST RELEASED
QUESTION: 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 - ANSWER✔✔B. Wind Wheel refers both canthi
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.
, Page 2 of 331
QUESTION: In index finger diagnosis in children, the first joint is the
A. Qi bar
B. Blood bar
C. Wind bar
D. Life bar - ANSWER✔✔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
QUESTION: 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?
, Page 3 of 331
A. Stomach Yin Deficiency
B. Blood Stasis in the Stomach
C. Stomach Fire
D. Stomach Phlegm-Fire - ANSWER✔✔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
QUESTION: Five Element theory
, Page 4 of 331
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 - ANSWER✔✔B. Has not always
been the most popular theory of Chinese medicine
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
QUESTION: Ancient Greek philosophy and Chinese philosophy share
TCM TESTS DAILY EXAM STUDY GUIDE THIS YEAR
WITH 650 QUESTIONS AND WELL ELABORATED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES JUST RELEASED
QUESTION: 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 - ANSWER✔✔B. Wind Wheel refers both canthi
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.
, Page 2 of 331
QUESTION: In index finger diagnosis in children, the first joint is the
A. Qi bar
B. Blood bar
C. Wind bar
D. Life bar - ANSWER✔✔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
QUESTION: 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?
, Page 3 of 331
A. Stomach Yin Deficiency
B. Blood Stasis in the Stomach
C. Stomach Fire
D. Stomach Phlegm-Fire - ANSWER✔✔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
QUESTION: Five Element theory
, Page 4 of 331
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 - ANSWER✔✔B. Has not always
been the most popular theory of Chinese medicine
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
QUESTION: Ancient Greek philosophy and Chinese philosophy share
