The principles and practice of diagnostics are key to administering effective treatment in traditional Chinese medicine. The ability to recognise and diagnose symptoms and complaints correctly is fundamental to deciding on appropriate remedies, and this book provides a comprehensive introduction to all the principles that students and practitioners need to know.

The authors outline the key methods used in diagnosis, and describe the eight basic categories of ailment and disease: yin and yang, exterior and interior, cold and heat, and deficiency and excess. They provide detailed instructions on how to identify and rebalance the relative strengths of pathogens and Qi in the body, and how to differentiate between syndromes that might look the same, using traditional Chinese medicine methods. The book concludes with useful forms for completion in taking a diagnosis.

Combining practical instruction with detailed theory, this authoritative textbook, compiled by the China Beijing International Acupuncture Training Center (CBIATC), under the editorial direction of leading Chinese clinicians Zhu Bing and Wang Hongcai, is an excellent reference for students and practitioners at all levels.