What does the four diagnostic methods of TCM refer to?

The four diagnostic methods of TCM are expectant, auscultation, inquiry and palpation. Inspection is a method for doctors to observe the patient's appearance, shape, five senses, tongue image and discharge with purpose through vision, so as to understand the health condition and detect the disease. The overall mental state of the patient can be judged by observing the expression. The shape can reflect the general condition of the body. The changes of the five senses can also indicate the problems of the corresponding zang-fu organs. The tongue image is an important basis for the diagnosis of traditional Chinese medicine, and the abnormality of the discharge such as urination and defecation can also reflect the pathological changes in the body. Listen to the patient's breathing, cough, language and other sounds, you can understand the strength of their breath, whether smooth, etc., so as to infer the pathological changes of related organs. Smell the patient's body, mouth, secretions and other smells, but also help to judge the condition, such as some special smells may indicate specific diseases. Consultation is a doctor who asks patients or accompanying doctors about the occurrence, development, treatment process, current symptoms and other disease-related conditions. Detailed consultation can obtain comprehensive information about the disease, including the cause of onset, symptoms, accompanying symptoms, past medical history, etc., which is essential for accurate diagnosis. Pulse feeling, mainly refers to pulse feeling, also known as pulse diagnosis, through the touch of the patient's pulse to judge the pulse. Pulse can reflect the internal operation of qi and blood and the functional state of viscera, different pulse indicates different pathological changes. In addition, pulse feeling also includes touching and pressing some parts of the patient's body surface to understand local conditions. It is a unique and important method of diagnosing diseases in TCM and embodies the essence of TCM holistic concept and syndrome differentiation.