Syndrome Differentiation made Easy

Introduction

Syndrome differentiation (Bian Zheng Lun Zhi), sometimes translated as pattern diagnosis, is the core of TCM practice. It bridges consultation and treatment by gathering clinical information from patients using four diagnostic techniques, then analysing the data within a TCM context to establish a diagnosis of syndrome pattern(s). Based on this diagnosis, the practitioner can determine the treatment principle(s) that guide the actual treatment—acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, or a combination of both.
Many of us, especially new practitioners, would agree that syndrome differentiation is one of the most difficult and complex aspects of TCM practice. Due to the lack of standardised criteria for diagnosing syndrome patterns, it often relies heavily on the clinical experience of practitioners.
In this seminar, Dr Shen, drawing on over 40 years of clinical and teaching experience, will explore the challenges of syndrome differentiation and work to simplify its complexity while clarifying common ambiguities.

Programme

The one-day (6 hours) seminar will cover, but not limited to: how many deficiency syndromes and how to differentiate them; how many heat syndromes and how to differentiate them; how many damp heat syndromes and how to differentiate them? What is in common and different between kidney Qi, kidney essence, kidney Yin and kidney Yang deficiencies; what is different between liver yang rising and liver fire; comparison of three body fluid retention syndromes- water, damp and phlegm; an easy way to understand six meridian differentiation (Liu Jing Differentiation) and four stage differentiation (Wei-Qi-Ying-Xue Differentiation), etc. Up to 8 case studies will be discussed in the seminar in order to deepen the audience’s understanding on the topics.