What are the four diagnostic methods commonly used in TCM?

The four diagnostic methods commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) encompass Inspection, Auscultation and Olfaction, Inquiry, and Palpation. Each of these methods plays a critical role in obtaining a comprehensive understanding of a patient’s condition.

Inspection includes observing the patient's overall appearance as well as specific signs, such as skin condition, movement, and posture. Auscultation and Olfaction involve listening to sounds produced by the body (such as breathing or voice) and using smell to detect specific conditions. Inquiry, or questioning, is essential for understanding a patient’s symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle, allowing the practitioner to gather subjective data that may not be observable. Lastly, Palpation, which involves physical examination by feeling, is crucial for assessing areas such as pulses and specific body parts to deduce imbalances or blockages.

The other choices contain methods that are either not recognized as standard practices in TCM (such as lab tests or blood tests) or do not align with the established diagnostic methods defined in TCM theory. Thus, recognizing the accepted diagnostic methods helps practitioners effectively assess and address the health conditions of their patients using a holistic and comprehensive approach.