NBCE ACUPUNCTURE 2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔Cold invading the stomach - ✔✔sudden severe pain in the epigatrum, feeling of
cold, cold limbs, preference for warmth, vomiting of clear fluid, nausea, feel worse after
swallowing cold fluids causing vomit, thick white tongue coat, pulse deep tight slow
✔✔stomach Qi rebelling upwards - ✔✔nausea, difficulty swallowing, belching, vomiting,
hiccups, no changes on tongue, pulse tight/wiry on right middle position
✔✔Damp-Heat in Stomach - ✔✔feeling of fullness and pain in epigastrium, feelin g of
heaviness, facial pain, blocked nose or thick sticky boogers, thirst w/o desire to drink,
nausea, feeling of heat, dull yellow complexion, sticky taste, red tongue with sticky
yellow coat, slippery/rapid pulse
✔✔Retention of food in the stomach - ✔✔fullness, pain and distension in epigastrium
relieved by vomiting, nausea, vomiting of sour fluids, foul breath, belching, insomnia,
loose stools or constipation, poor appetite
✔✔Stasis of blood in the stomach - ✔✔severe, stabbing epigastric pain worse at night,
dislike pressure, nausea, vomiting, vomiting blood or food that looks like coffee grounds,
purple tongue, wiry pulse
✔✔stomach and spleen qi deficiency - ✔✔poor appetite, slight abdominal distension
after eating, tiredness, lassitude, pale complexion, weakness in limbs, loose stools,
uncomfortable feeling in the epigastrium, lack of taste, pale tongue, empty pulse
especially on right middle position
✔✔stomach and spleen yin deficiency - ✔✔poor appetite, dry mouth, thirst with desire
for small sips, dry stools, dry lips, slight nausea, tiredness, uncomfortable feeling in
epigastrium, lack of taste, no coating on tongue, floating empty pulse especially on right
middle position
✔✔bowel problems are always associated with - ✔✔small intestine or large intestine
✔✔Full Heat in Small Intestine - ✔✔mental restlessness, insomnia, tongue/mouth
ulcers, pain in throat, deafness, uncomfortable feeling and heat feel in chest, abdominal
pain, thirst with desire to drink cold liquids, scanty/dark urine, burning pain on urination,
blood in urine, red tongue with redder and swollen tip yellow coat, overflowing rapid
pulse especially in front position
✔✔Small intestine Qi Pain - ✔✔Lower abdominal twisting pain which may extend to
back, abdominal distension, dislike pressure on abdomen, borborgymi, flatulence,
abdominal pain relieved by farting, pain in nuts, white tongue coating, deep-wiry pulse
especially in rear position
,✔✔small intestine Qi tied - ✔✔severe abdominal pain, dislike pressure, abdominal
distension, constipation, vomiting, borborgymi, flatulence, thick white coat, deep-wiry
pulse
✔✔infestation of worms in small intestine - ✔✔abdominal pain and distension, bad taste
in mouth, sallow complexion
roundworms - vomiting roundworms
hookworms - desire to eat strange objects like wax or soil
pinworms - itchy anus especially in evening
tapeworms - constant hunger
✔✔small intestine deficient and cold - ✔✔dull abdominal paion alleviated by pressure,
desire for hot drink, borborgymi, diarrhoea, pale and abundant urination, cold limbs,
pale tongue with white coating, deep weak slow pulse
✔✔function of large intestine - ✔✔controls passage and conduction, transforms stools
and reabsorbs fluid
✔✔Ulcerative Colitis and Crohns disease are frequently present with this type of patten
- ✔✔Damp-Heat in Large Intestine
✔✔Damp-Heat in Large Intestine - ✔✔abdominal pain that is not relieved by bowel
movement, abdominal fullness, diahrrhea, mucus and blood in stool, offensive smelling
poop, burning in anus, scanty dark urine, fever, sweating that does not decrease fever,
feeling of heat, thirst w/o desire to drink, feeling of heaviness, red tongue with sticky
yellow coat, slippery rapid pulse
✔✔Heat in the Large intestine - ✔✔constipation with dry stools, burning sensation in the
mouth, dry tongue, burning and swelling in anus, scanty dark urine, thick yellow dry
tongue coat, full rapid pulse
✔✔heat obstructing the large intestine - ✔✔constipation, burning in anus, abdominal
distension and pain that is worse with pressure, high or tidal fever, sweaty lims,
vomiting, thirst, delirium, thick dry yellow tongue coat with red body, deep-full pulse
✔✔cold invading the large intestine - ✔✔sudden cramping abdominal pain, diahrhea
with pain, feeling of cold, cold sensation in abdomen, thick white tongue coating, deep-
tight pulse
✔✔Qi stagnation of the large intestine - ✔✔abdominal distension and pain, constipation
and bitty stools, irritability, aggravation with mood, tongue normal to slightly red on
sides, pulse wiry on both rear positions
,✔✔large intestine dry - ✔✔dry stools that are difficult to poop, dry mouth and throat, thin
body, foul breath, dizziness, dry tongue that is pale or red without rootless coating, fine
pulse
✔✔large intestine cold - ✔✔loose stools like duck droppings, dull abdominal pain,
borborgymi, pale urine, cold limbs, pale tongue, deep weak pulse
✔✔collapse of large intestine - ✔✔chronic diahrhea, prolapsed anus, hemmroids, tired
after pooping, cold limbs, no appetite, mental exhaustion,m desire to drink warm liquids,
desire to have the abdomen massaged, tongue pale, pulse deep fine weak
✔✔function of gallbladder - ✔✔stores and excretes bile, controls decisiveness, controls
sinews
✔✔Unilateral dark tongue coating seen in this type of patten - ✔✔Gallbladder
✔✔dampness of the gallbladder - ✔✔jaundice, dull yellow eyes/skin, hypochondrial
pain, fullness and distension, nausea, vomiting, inability to digest fats, dull yellow sclera,
turbid urine, no thirst,sticky taste, dull headache, feeling of heaviness, white sticky
tongue coating with bilateral in 2 strips or unilateral, slippery wiry pulse
✔✔Gall bladder stones are an extreme form of - ✔✔Dampness and Plegm
✔✔Damp Heat in Gall bladder - ✔✔hypochondrial pain, fulness and distension, nausea,
vomiting, inability to digest fats, yellow complexion, scanty and dark yellow urine, fever,
thirst w/o desire to drink, bitter taste, dizziness, tinnitus, irritability, feeling of heaviness,
numbness of limbs, swelling of feet, loose stools or constipation, alternating hot/cold
feeling, yellow sclera, heat feeling, thick sticky yellow tongue coating with bilateral in 2
strips or unilateral, slippery wiry rapid pulse
✔✔gall bladder deficient - ✔✔dizziness, blurred vision, floaters, nervousness, timidity,
startled easily, lack of courage/initiative, indecision, sighing, waking up early in the
morning, restless dreams, tongue normal or pale, weak pulse
✔✔Damp Heat in the Gall bladder and Liver - ✔✔hypochondrial pain, fullness and
distension, nausea, vomiting, inability to digest fats, yellow complexion, scanty and dark
yellow urine, fever, thirst w/o desire to drink, bitter taste, dizziness, tinnitus, irritab ility,
feeling of heaviness, numbness of limbs, swelling of feet, burning on urination, difficulty
urinating, vaginal discharge, loose stools or constipation, alternation of hot and cold
feeling, feeling of heat, genital rashes/itching, swelling of nuts, thick sticky yellow tongue
coat with bilateral in 2 strips or unilateral, slippery wiry rapid pulse
✔✔Bladder function - ✔✔removes water by transforming Qi
, ✔✔Damp Heat in the Bladder - ✔✔frequent and urgent urination, burning on urination,
difficult urination,dark yellow/turbid urine, blood in urine, fever, thirst with no desire to
drink, hypogastric fullness and pain, feeling of heat, thick sticky yellow tongue coating
on the root with red spots, pulse slippery-rapid slightly wiry on the left rear position
✔✔damp cold in the bladder - ✔✔frequent and urgent urination, difficult urination,
feeling of heaviness in hyposgatrium and urethra, pale and turbid urine, white sticky
tongue coating on root, pulse slippery slow and slightly wiry in left rear position
✔✔bladder deficient and cold - ✔✔frequent pale and abundant urination, incontinence,
enuresis, LB ache, dizziness, nocturia, white urethral discharge, feeling cold, pale wet
tongue, deep weak pulse
✔✔Liver Yang Rising - ✔✔Generates wind.
✔✔Liver and heart blood deficiency - ✔✔Palpitations dizziness insomnia, poor memory
anxiety, dull pale complexion, pale lips, blurred vision, decrease in night vision, floaters
in eyes, brittle nails, tingling/numbness of limbs, dry hair and skin, muscle weakness,
tongue pale/thin/dry, pulse choppy or fire, scanty periods
✔✔Liver fire insulting the lungs - ✔✔breathlessness, asthma, fullness/distension of
chest, cough with yellow bloody sputum, headache, dizziness, red face thirst bitter
taste, bloodshot eyes, scanty dark urine, constipation, pulse - wiry, tongue - red
w/redder & dry yellow coat
✔✔Rebellious liver Qi invading stomach - ✔✔Irritability, epigastric/hypochondrial
distension w/ pain, oppession of epigastrium, sour regurgitation, hiccups, belching,
nausea, vomiting, sighing, tongue - normal to slight red sides, pulse - wiry (L) weak (RT)
✔✔Rebellious liver - Qi invading the spleen - ✔✔Irritability, abdominal distension and
pain, alternating constipation/diarrhea, alternating stool consistency, flatulence,
tiredness, tongue - normal color to slightly red sides, pulse - wiry on (L) weak on (RT)
✔✔Liver Yin Deficiency - ✔✔Dizziness, numbness/tingling of limbs, insomnia, blurred
vision, decrease night vision, floaters in eyes, muscular weakness, cramps, brittle nails,
very dry hair/skin, feeling of aimlessness, tongue - normal w/o coating, pulse -
floating/empty.
✔✔Liver - Blood deficiency - ✔✔dizziness, numbness or tingling of limbs, insomnia,
blurred vision, decrease in night vision, floaters in eyes, brittle nails, dry hair/skin,
repression, feeling of aimlessness, pale tongue that is thin/dry, choppy or five pulse.
✔✔Stagnation of cold in liver channel - ✔✔fullness/distension of hypogastrium, with
reffered pain to nuts, pain alleviated by warmth, straining of testes or contraction of
scrotum, vertical headache, feeling of cold, cold hands/feet, dry vomiting or vomit clear
ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔Cold invading the stomach - ✔✔sudden severe pain in the epigatrum, feeling of
cold, cold limbs, preference for warmth, vomiting of clear fluid, nausea, feel worse after
swallowing cold fluids causing vomit, thick white tongue coat, pulse deep tight slow
✔✔stomach Qi rebelling upwards - ✔✔nausea, difficulty swallowing, belching, vomiting,
hiccups, no changes on tongue, pulse tight/wiry on right middle position
✔✔Damp-Heat in Stomach - ✔✔feeling of fullness and pain in epigastrium, feelin g of
heaviness, facial pain, blocked nose or thick sticky boogers, thirst w/o desire to drink,
nausea, feeling of heat, dull yellow complexion, sticky taste, red tongue with sticky
yellow coat, slippery/rapid pulse
✔✔Retention of food in the stomach - ✔✔fullness, pain and distension in epigastrium
relieved by vomiting, nausea, vomiting of sour fluids, foul breath, belching, insomnia,
loose stools or constipation, poor appetite
✔✔Stasis of blood in the stomach - ✔✔severe, stabbing epigastric pain worse at night,
dislike pressure, nausea, vomiting, vomiting blood or food that looks like coffee grounds,
purple tongue, wiry pulse
✔✔stomach and spleen qi deficiency - ✔✔poor appetite, slight abdominal distension
after eating, tiredness, lassitude, pale complexion, weakness in limbs, loose stools,
uncomfortable feeling in the epigastrium, lack of taste, pale tongue, empty pulse
especially on right middle position
✔✔stomach and spleen yin deficiency - ✔✔poor appetite, dry mouth, thirst with desire
for small sips, dry stools, dry lips, slight nausea, tiredness, uncomfortable feeling in
epigastrium, lack of taste, no coating on tongue, floating empty pulse especially on right
middle position
✔✔bowel problems are always associated with - ✔✔small intestine or large intestine
✔✔Full Heat in Small Intestine - ✔✔mental restlessness, insomnia, tongue/mouth
ulcers, pain in throat, deafness, uncomfortable feeling and heat feel in chest, abdominal
pain, thirst with desire to drink cold liquids, scanty/dark urine, burning pain on urination,
blood in urine, red tongue with redder and swollen tip yellow coat, overflowing rapid
pulse especially in front position
✔✔Small intestine Qi Pain - ✔✔Lower abdominal twisting pain which may extend to
back, abdominal distension, dislike pressure on abdomen, borborgymi, flatulence,
abdominal pain relieved by farting, pain in nuts, white tongue coating, deep-wiry pulse
especially in rear position
,✔✔small intestine Qi tied - ✔✔severe abdominal pain, dislike pressure, abdominal
distension, constipation, vomiting, borborgymi, flatulence, thick white coat, deep-wiry
pulse
✔✔infestation of worms in small intestine - ✔✔abdominal pain and distension, bad taste
in mouth, sallow complexion
roundworms - vomiting roundworms
hookworms - desire to eat strange objects like wax or soil
pinworms - itchy anus especially in evening
tapeworms - constant hunger
✔✔small intestine deficient and cold - ✔✔dull abdominal paion alleviated by pressure,
desire for hot drink, borborgymi, diarrhoea, pale and abundant urination, cold limbs,
pale tongue with white coating, deep weak slow pulse
✔✔function of large intestine - ✔✔controls passage and conduction, transforms stools
and reabsorbs fluid
✔✔Ulcerative Colitis and Crohns disease are frequently present with this type of patten
- ✔✔Damp-Heat in Large Intestine
✔✔Damp-Heat in Large Intestine - ✔✔abdominal pain that is not relieved by bowel
movement, abdominal fullness, diahrrhea, mucus and blood in stool, offensive smelling
poop, burning in anus, scanty dark urine, fever, sweating that does not decrease fever,
feeling of heat, thirst w/o desire to drink, feeling of heaviness, red tongue with sticky
yellow coat, slippery rapid pulse
✔✔Heat in the Large intestine - ✔✔constipation with dry stools, burning sensation in the
mouth, dry tongue, burning and swelling in anus, scanty dark urine, thick yellow dry
tongue coat, full rapid pulse
✔✔heat obstructing the large intestine - ✔✔constipation, burning in anus, abdominal
distension and pain that is worse with pressure, high or tidal fever, sweaty lims,
vomiting, thirst, delirium, thick dry yellow tongue coat with red body, deep-full pulse
✔✔cold invading the large intestine - ✔✔sudden cramping abdominal pain, diahrhea
with pain, feeling of cold, cold sensation in abdomen, thick white tongue coating, deep-
tight pulse
✔✔Qi stagnation of the large intestine - ✔✔abdominal distension and pain, constipation
and bitty stools, irritability, aggravation with mood, tongue normal to slightly red on
sides, pulse wiry on both rear positions
,✔✔large intestine dry - ✔✔dry stools that are difficult to poop, dry mouth and throat, thin
body, foul breath, dizziness, dry tongue that is pale or red without rootless coating, fine
pulse
✔✔large intestine cold - ✔✔loose stools like duck droppings, dull abdominal pain,
borborgymi, pale urine, cold limbs, pale tongue, deep weak pulse
✔✔collapse of large intestine - ✔✔chronic diahrhea, prolapsed anus, hemmroids, tired
after pooping, cold limbs, no appetite, mental exhaustion,m desire to drink warm liquids,
desire to have the abdomen massaged, tongue pale, pulse deep fine weak
✔✔function of gallbladder - ✔✔stores and excretes bile, controls decisiveness, controls
sinews
✔✔Unilateral dark tongue coating seen in this type of patten - ✔✔Gallbladder
✔✔dampness of the gallbladder - ✔✔jaundice, dull yellow eyes/skin, hypochondrial
pain, fullness and distension, nausea, vomiting, inability to digest fats, dull yellow sclera,
turbid urine, no thirst,sticky taste, dull headache, feeling of heaviness, white sticky
tongue coating with bilateral in 2 strips or unilateral, slippery wiry pulse
✔✔Gall bladder stones are an extreme form of - ✔✔Dampness and Plegm
✔✔Damp Heat in Gall bladder - ✔✔hypochondrial pain, fulness and distension, nausea,
vomiting, inability to digest fats, yellow complexion, scanty and dark yellow urine, fever,
thirst w/o desire to drink, bitter taste, dizziness, tinnitus, irritability, feeling of heaviness,
numbness of limbs, swelling of feet, loose stools or constipation, alternating hot/cold
feeling, yellow sclera, heat feeling, thick sticky yellow tongue coating with bilateral in 2
strips or unilateral, slippery wiry rapid pulse
✔✔gall bladder deficient - ✔✔dizziness, blurred vision, floaters, nervousness, timidity,
startled easily, lack of courage/initiative, indecision, sighing, waking up early in the
morning, restless dreams, tongue normal or pale, weak pulse
✔✔Damp Heat in the Gall bladder and Liver - ✔✔hypochondrial pain, fullness and
distension, nausea, vomiting, inability to digest fats, yellow complexion, scanty and dark
yellow urine, fever, thirst w/o desire to drink, bitter taste, dizziness, tinnitus, irritab ility,
feeling of heaviness, numbness of limbs, swelling of feet, burning on urination, difficulty
urinating, vaginal discharge, loose stools or constipation, alternation of hot and cold
feeling, feeling of heat, genital rashes/itching, swelling of nuts, thick sticky yellow tongue
coat with bilateral in 2 strips or unilateral, slippery wiry rapid pulse
✔✔Bladder function - ✔✔removes water by transforming Qi
, ✔✔Damp Heat in the Bladder - ✔✔frequent and urgent urination, burning on urination,
difficult urination,dark yellow/turbid urine, blood in urine, fever, thirst with no desire to
drink, hypogastric fullness and pain, feeling of heat, thick sticky yellow tongue coating
on the root with red spots, pulse slippery-rapid slightly wiry on the left rear position
✔✔damp cold in the bladder - ✔✔frequent and urgent urination, difficult urination,
feeling of heaviness in hyposgatrium and urethra, pale and turbid urine, white sticky
tongue coating on root, pulse slippery slow and slightly wiry in left rear position
✔✔bladder deficient and cold - ✔✔frequent pale and abundant urination, incontinence,
enuresis, LB ache, dizziness, nocturia, white urethral discharge, feeling cold, pale wet
tongue, deep weak pulse
✔✔Liver Yang Rising - ✔✔Generates wind.
✔✔Liver and heart blood deficiency - ✔✔Palpitations dizziness insomnia, poor memory
anxiety, dull pale complexion, pale lips, blurred vision, decrease in night vision, floaters
in eyes, brittle nails, tingling/numbness of limbs, dry hair and skin, muscle weakness,
tongue pale/thin/dry, pulse choppy or fire, scanty periods
✔✔Liver fire insulting the lungs - ✔✔breathlessness, asthma, fullness/distension of
chest, cough with yellow bloody sputum, headache, dizziness, red face thirst bitter
taste, bloodshot eyes, scanty dark urine, constipation, pulse - wiry, tongue - red
w/redder & dry yellow coat
✔✔Rebellious liver Qi invading stomach - ✔✔Irritability, epigastric/hypochondrial
distension w/ pain, oppession of epigastrium, sour regurgitation, hiccups, belching,
nausea, vomiting, sighing, tongue - normal to slight red sides, pulse - wiry (L) weak (RT)
✔✔Rebellious liver - Qi invading the spleen - ✔✔Irritability, abdominal distension and
pain, alternating constipation/diarrhea, alternating stool consistency, flatulence,
tiredness, tongue - normal color to slightly red sides, pulse - wiry on (L) weak on (RT)
✔✔Liver Yin Deficiency - ✔✔Dizziness, numbness/tingling of limbs, insomnia, blurred
vision, decrease night vision, floaters in eyes, muscular weakness, cramps, brittle nails,
very dry hair/skin, feeling of aimlessness, tongue - normal w/o coating, pulse -
floating/empty.
✔✔Liver - Blood deficiency - ✔✔dizziness, numbness or tingling of limbs, insomnia,
blurred vision, decrease in night vision, floaters in eyes, brittle nails, dry hair/skin,
repression, feeling of aimlessness, pale tongue that is thin/dry, choppy or five pulse.
✔✔Stagnation of cold in liver channel - ✔✔fullness/distension of hypogastrium, with
reffered pain to nuts, pain alleviated by warmth, straining of testes or contraction of
scrotum, vertical headache, feeling of cold, cold hands/feet, dry vomiting or vomit clear
