Observation Auscultation and Olfaction,Inquiry,Pulse Feeling and Palpation
望闻问切
The four methods of diagnosis are a general term used by the doctors of the traditional Chinese medicine for the basic methods of diagnosing ill-ness, including diagnosis through observation, diagnosis through auscultation and olfaction, diagnosis through inquiry and diagnosis through pulse feeling and palpa-tion, namely "obseNation, auscultation and olfadion, inquiry, and pulse feeling and palpation". The first method of diagnosis means that the doctors observe the physical conditions of the patients, the complexion and tongue coating included.Auscultation and olfaction refers to the situation, in which the doctors listen to the words, coughing and breathing of a patient, and sniff whether his mouth or body smells. The third method of diagnosis involves the inquiry into a patients symp-toms, medical history and so on. When it comes to the last method of diagnosis, it means that the doctors diagnose whether there is something wrong with a patient by feeling his pulse or palpating his abdomen. Through the four methods of diag-nosis , the symptoms and physical signs of the illnesses manifested in various facets are diagnosed with a view to understanding the causes or nature of the illnesses as well as their connections with the internal organs, which provides a solid basis for the treatment of the illnesses. The four methods of diagnosis, each being of special significance, are interconnected and complementary; they cannot replace one an-other. In the clinical medicine, only with a combined application of the four diag-nostic methods can a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the physical condition of a patient be gained; this is called "the combined use of the four meth-ods of iagnosis"
四诊是中医诊察疾病基本方法的合称，包括望诊、闻诊、问诊、切诊，即“望闻问切”。望是观察病人的身体状况，包括面色、舌苔等；闻是听病人的说话、咳嗽、呼息，并嗅其口中或身上是否有异味；问是询问病人症状，以及患病史等；切是用手把脉或按腹部诊察是否有异常。通过四诊，诊察疾病显现在各方面的症状和体征，以了解疾病的病因、性质及其与内脏的联系，为治疗疾病提供充分的依据。望、闻、问、切各有独特的作用，他们之间互相联系，互相补充，不能相互取代。临床必须结合运用，互相参证，才能全面系统的了解病情，称为四诊合参。