Library

(There are four items in total.)
The format requires stating: A certain person in a certain place, on a certain year, month, and day. Fill out one medical case record.

Observation of complexion and form (Wang):
[Image 1]
[Image 2]

Listening to sounds and odors (Wen):
[Image 3]

Inquiry into symptoms and conditions (Wen):
Where is the discomfort? What caused it?
When did it start? Which is worse, day or night?
Is chills or fever more predominant? What does the patient like or dislike?
What medicines have been taken before? Where has the patient traveled or lived?

Pulse diagnosis principles (Qie):
Left hand pulse
Cun (Inch) position: Floating is the standard position; Middle; Deep
Guan (Bar) position: Floating; Middle; Deep is the standard position
Chi (Cubit) position: Floating; Middle; Deep is the standard position

Right hand pulse
Cun (Inch) position: Floating is the standard position; Middle; Deep
Guan (Bar) position: Floating; Middle is the standard position; Deep
Chi (Cubit) position: Floating corresponds to the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner); Middle corresponds to the Right Guan; Deep corresponds to the Liver and Kidney

Discussion of etiology and pathogenesis (Lun):
Which aspect of the person's innate constitution is strong? In which category does the current disease fall?
Which is primary (Ben) and which is secondary (Biao)? What is the ultimate situation? (Note: This sentence discusses auspiciousness/inauspiciousness, favorable/unfavorable progression, and ease/difficulty of treatment.)
How should medication be administered and what lifestyle adjustments (Jiangxi) are appropriate? The disease is deep-seated and chronic; what is its current stage?

Formulation of treatment methods (Zhi):
What method is used for the main treatment? What formulas are used sequentially?

The "Six Methods" refer to Observation (Wang), Listening/Smelling (Wen), Inquiry (Wen), Pulse-taking (Qie), Discussion/Diagnosis (Lun), and Treatment (Zhi). Whenever treating a disease, use this single sheet as a case record. First, fill in the location and time to examine the local climate and seasonal regulations; second, observe and listen with keen insight, asking in detail without sparing effort, to inspect external manifestations; then, take the pulse, discuss and diagnose, and prescribe medicine to grasp the truth. Each item should be filled in and annotated, so that the patient can hold this record for continuity, avoiding the mistake of changing generals during battle, and allowing the physician's mind to be fully exerted, achieving success in every attempt.

After I established the combined Six Methods format, a legal expert passed by and commented: "Observation and listening are like when both parties in a lawsuit are present, observing speech and demeanor; inquiry and recording constitute obtaining confessions; pulse-taking is like thorough interrogation to ascertain facts; and discussion and treatment are like issuing a verdict and execution." Although his words were somewhat jesting, they are sufficient to clarify doubts.

Someone asked: "Using all six methods together, is it not too trivial?" I replied: "Medicine and pharmacy determine human life and death. If one does not plan with loyalty and diligence, it is not a benevolent art. There are cases where diseases cannot be cured, and there may be thoughts of laziness among physicians. If one truly adopts such an attitude and fails to rescue, even if the patient entrusts their life to you, I still consider this to be imprecise skills that harm others. As for minor illnesses and slight ailments, although filling out a case record might be omitted, abandoning this practice entirely out of fear of triviality is not my intention."