TCM Tests Daily Questions 2025 –
Foundations Board Exam Prep real
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Which needle direction will puncture the lung when needling HE-1 (jiquan)?
A. lateral insertion
B. medial insertion
C. superior insertion
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Daily practice questions for the tcm (traditional chinese medicine) foundations board exam. It covers various topics, including acupuncture points, five element theory, zang-fu patterns, and diagnostic methods. Each question includes a correct answer and a source reference for further study. This resource is designed to help students prepare for their board exams by testing their knowledge and understanding of key tcm concepts. The questions are structured to mimic the format of the actual exam, providing valuable practice and insight into the types of questions that may be encountered. The document also includes detailed explanations and references to authoritative texts, enhancing the learning experience and promoting a deeper understanding of tcm principles.
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TCM Tests Daily Questions 2025 –
Foundations Board Exam Prep real
exam!!
Which needle direction will puncture the lung when needling HE-1 (jiquan)? A. lateral insertion B. medial insertion C. superior insertion
D. inferior insertion - ANSWER ✔--- In Five Element pulse diagnosis, what is the Yang organ Inch position on the left side?' A. Stomach B. Large Intestine C. Small Intestine D. Gallbladder' - ANSWER ✔---B. Large Intestine A patient has breast distention prior to menstruation, odorless vaginal discharge, depressed essence- spirit, and normal or light red menses. What would you expect the menstruation to be? A. shortened B. indeterminate C. dripping for several days D. prolonged - ANSWER ✔---B. indeterminate Source: This is Liver Depression, Qi Stagnation - Practical Diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Deng, 1999, page 362 Which of the following has an INCORRECT correspondence between the part of the eye and associated organ?
Source: It is the Blood Wheel that refers to both canthi. The Wind Wheel refers to the iris. These five wheels are used to determine the physiology and pathology of the eye and help in diagnosing. It is important to combine the the Five Wheels with the other types of diagnosis and patterns of differentiation in order to arrive at a determination of energetic configuration. In index finger diagnosis in children, the first joint is the A. Qi bar B. Blood bar C. Wind bar D. Life bar - ANSWER ✔---C. Wind bar Source: There are only three bars. The first index finger joint (closest to the knuckle) is the Wind Bar, the middle joint is the Qi Bar, and the last joint is the Life Bar. In children it is important to look at the veins of the index finger. The veins are a result of the protrusion of the yin Lung channel. The veins are relatively clear on children three years and under. - Practical Diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Deng, 1999, page 26 A patient has no appetite, hot sensations in the afternoon, dry stools, epigastric pain, desire to drink small sips, full feeling after eating, tongue without root, and floating-empty pulse on the right middle position. What is the Stomach zang-fu pattern? A. Stomach Yin Deficiency B. Blood Stasis in the Stomach C. Stomach Fire
D. Stomach Phlegm-Fire - ANSWER ✔---A. Stomach Yin Deficiency Source: this is Stomach Yin Xu (dry mouth/throat/stool, burning epigastric pain, fullness after eating) with Empty Heat (night sweating, afternoon fever); the floating-empty pulse and rootless coating can manifest in either (just Stomach Yin Xu or Stomach Yin Xu with Empty Heat); there are symptoms of dryness because the fluids (yin) originate in the Stomach; when the Stomach is deficient there can be symptoms of dryness; what is unique and typical about Stomach Yin Deficiency is the dry mouth with a desire to drink in small amounts; if the only sign is an absence of coating at the center of the tongue, is enough to make the diagnosis of Stomach Yin Deficiency; the treatment principle is Nourish Stomach Yin and Nourish Fluids - The Foundations of Chinese Medicine, Maciocia, 2015, page 658; 2005 Edition, page 622; 1989 Edition, page 268 Five Element theory A. Was never used in astrology, music, or politics B. Has not always been the most popular theory of Chinese medicine C. as never systematically applied to diagnosis D. Has always been the dominant theory in Chinese medicine - ANSWER ✔---B. Has not always been the most popular theory of Chinese medicine Source: as Chinese medicine developed, the theory of the Five elements (5E) was not always applied and was not always the most popular theory; 5E theory was very popular during the period of the Warring States (475-221 BC) and was applied to medicine, astrology, music, and politics; however, during the 1st century 5E theory was seen as too rigid to correctly interpret natural phenomenon where one philosopher said "If the rooster belongs to Metal and the hare belongs to Wood, why is it that roosters do not devour hares?"; with the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) the 5E theory began to wane and from the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 AD) onward 5E theory decreased in influence and medicine was dominated with identification of patterns according to the Cold Diseases, Four Levels and Three Burners
Source: Because the dai mai encircles the leg channels, it regulates the qi circulation in the legs. When the dai mai is too tight, the qi and blood circulation in the legs is impaired. This can result in purplish tinged feet due to poor circulation of qi (warming function) and Blood (nourishing function). A keynote symptom of the dai mai is the sensation of sitting in COLD water. When tight, the dai mai is associated with tight-tense outer leg muscles due to the Liver-Blood failing moisten the sinews. The dai mai is associated with pain that radiates from the lower abdomen to the lower back or pain that radiates from the lower back to the lower abdomen. The dai mai affects the Stomach channel qi in the legs. The tension in the dai mai can weaken the qi in the Stomach channel resulting in weak legs or leg atrophy. To treat the weak legs or atrophy treat both the opening (GB-41) and coupled (TB-5) points. As the dai mai encircles the waist and influences the hip, it can be used to treat hip pain especially when due to Liver Blood Deficiency with Liver Yang Excess. - The Foundations of Chinese Medicine, Maciocia, 2015, page 918, 919, 920 A 21 year-old female coughs up phlegm with difficulty breathing, has tiredness, and abdominal bloating. She complains of being unfocused and unable to concentrate for her final college exams. What is the Five Element diagnosis? A. Wood insulting Metal B. Fire not generating Earth C. Earth not generating Metal D. Wood overacting on Earth - ANSWER ✔---C. Earth not generating Metal Source: In TCM, the pattern of Earth not generating Metal describes a Spleen (Earth) Deficiency condition (bloating, tiredness, etc) leading to Phlegm formation in the Lungs (Metal), resulting in cough, difficulty breathing. It can also describe the relationship between Spleen Qi Deficiency and Lung Qi Deficiency. The spirit of the Spleen is the yi (Intellect) and is responsible for studying, memorizing, and concentration. When the Spleen (Earth) is weak, the yi will be dull (poor concentration, cloudy thinking, etc). The treatment principle is to Tonify the Mother (Earth) to nourish the Son (Metal). - Foundations of Chinse Medicine, Maciocia, 2015, page 149, 822
The Penetrating Vessel (chong mai) has' A. four branches B. five branches C. three branches D. two branches - ANSWER ✔---B. five branches Source: The chong mai complex vessel which has five branches. 1) INTERNAL BRANCH: starts in the abdomen between the Kidneys, goes to the Uterus, and descends to REN-1. Maciocia postulates that in men it flows through the prostate. 2) ABDOMINAL BRANCH: emerges at ST-30 and ascends through KI- 11 and KI-21 and then disperses in the chest and breast. 3) HEAD BRANCH: from the chest it ascends to the throat, curves around the lips, and terminates below the eye. 4) SPINAL BRANCH: from REN-1 it ascends inside the full length of the spinal column. 5) DESCENDING BRANCH: from ST-30 it descends to the inner part of the leg to the foot where it splits with one section connecting to the Kidney channel and the to other to big toe to connect with the Liver channel at LR-3. The points on the chong mai are KI- 11 to KI-21, REN-1, and ST-30. - The Foundations of Chinese Medicine, Maciocia, 2015, page 902; A Manual of Acupuncture, Deadman, 2nd Edition, page 19 Shortened menstrual cycle, light red blood, no clots, scanty blood quantity, dizziness, five center heat, insomnia, red tongue, scanty coating, thin and fast pulse indicate A. Excess Heat B. Qi Stagnation tr answer forming to Heat C. Deficiency Heat
A. Sedation of LI- 2 B. Sedation of SI- 3 C. Sedation of ST- 45 D. Sedation of TB- 6 - ANSWER ✔---C. Sedation of ST- 45 Source: when there is an excess in an organ, sedate the point on its channel associated with its Child Element; five-elements pulse diagnosis uses the pulse positions from the "Classic of Difficulties"; guan = bar = gate = middle = 2nd position - The Foundations of Chinese Medicine, Maciocia, 2005, page 38, 355 Which element is preoccupied with work, is compelled to win, dreads confinement, seeks the perfect cause, dislikes conflicting purposes/choices/impulses, is obsessed with solutions/change/independence, and has an aversion to powerlessness/bondage/dependency?' A. Wood B. Fire C. Metal D. Water E. Earth - ANSWER ✔---A. Wood A patient has abnormal uterine bleeding with a sudden onset of profuse and continuous blood flow which is deep red, insomnia and restlessness, red eyes, and chest distention. The tongue is red with yellow coating. The pulse is fast. What is the pattern?
A. Excess Heat B. Phlegm-Heat C. Spleen Not Containing Blood D. Empty Heat Residing in Blood - ANSWER ✔---A. Excess Heat A patient has sudden abdominal pain, diarrhea, and cold feelings. What is the diagnosis? A. Cold Invading Large Intestine B. Large Intestine Collapse C. Cold Large Intestine D. Dry Large Intestine - ANSWER ✔---A. Cold Invading Large Intestine Source: this is an external, cold, full pattern; it is an acute pattern resulting from an exterior Cold pathogenic factor invading the Large Intestine; here the Cold pathogenic factor by-passes the skin and wei-qi layer and directly attacks the Large Intestine; other org answer that can be directly attacked by exterior Cold are the Uterus, Stomach, and Large Intestine; as Cold contracts and slows the movement of qi, it can cause a sudden qi stagnation in the lower burner resulting in sudden abdominal cramps and pain; the Cold can interfere with the absorption of Fluids in the Large Intestine resulting in loose stools or diarrhea; in this pattern you can see a thick tongue coating and a deep-tight pulse - The Foundations of Chinese Medicine, Maciocia, 2015, page 694; 2005 Edition, page 653; 1989 Edition, page 280 The yin jing-river points are effective for treating cough and dyspnea or chills and fever because A. They have an internal-external relationship with the Lungs
All of the following meridi answer does meet at REN-24 (cheng jiang) EXCEPT A. Stomach B. Kidney C. Du Mai D. Large Intestine - ANSWER ✔---B. Kidney Some he-sea points can treat diseases of the skin. Which of the following he-sea point particularly treats itching of the scrotum? A. LI-11 (qu chi) B. BL-40 (wei zhong) C. PC-3 (qu ze) D. KI-10 (yin gu) - ANSWER ✔---D. KI-10 (yin gu) Source: he-sea points can treat skin disorder patterns; KI-10 treats itching scrotum; LI-11 treats urticaria, wind rash, dry or scaly skin, shingles, and whole body itching; BL-40 treats eczema and urticaria; PC- 3 treats wind-rash; LR-8 treats genital itching; not all he-sea points have skin symptoms in their indications; those that do not include LU-5, ST-36, SP-9, HT-3, etc. - A Manual of Acupuncture, Deadman, 2001, page 37 A 38 year-old female had persistent vaginal candida infections. She had genital itching and a white vaginal discharge. She also reported that since the birth of her first child three years ago, she has had fatigue and low back pain. Her periods were a little delayed with a 35 days cycle. Her tongue wa a little red, peeled in patches, and had a thick, slightly yellow coating. The pulse was weak in the left-rear position. What is the diagnosis?
A. Deficient Cold with lower jiao Dampness B. Deficient Blood and yin with Dampness C. Kidney yin xu with lower jiao Dampness D. Dampness and Heat in the lower jiao - ANSWER ✔---C. Kidney yin xu with lower jiao Dampness Source: This is a case involving Kidney yin xu (back pain, weak Kidney pulse, and red-peeled tongue) and Dampness in the genital system (thick tongue coating, vaginal discharge). The treatment principle is to nourish Kidney yin and resolve Dampness in the lower burner. - Obstetrics & Gynecology in Chinese Medicine, Maciocia, 1st Edition, page 141 According to the Yuan-Luo/Host-Guest points which of the following treats Liver disorders? A. LR-3 (tai chong) GB-37 (guang ming) B. LR-5 (li gou) GB-40 (qiu xu) C. LR-3 (tai chong) GB-40 (qiu xu) D. LR-5 (li gou) GB-37 (guang ming) - ANSWER ✔---A. LR-3 (tai chong) GB-37 (guang ming) Which of the following points is NOT used for fever due to internal and hot conditions? A. DU-14 (da zhui) B. LI-11 (qu chi)
D. On the radial side of the tendon of m. flexor carpi ulnaris 0.5 cun superior to the tr answer verse crease of the wrist - ANSWER ✔---B. When the palm faces upward the point is on the radial side of the tendon of m. flexor carpi ulnaris 1 cun superior to the tr answer verse crease of the wrist Source: HT- 5 - A Manual of Acupuncture, Deadman, 2nd Edition, page 216 What are the indications for the point located on the radial side of the index finger, 0.1 cun from the corner of the nail? A. Pain of the eye, nasal obstruction, toothache, delayed labour B. igidity of the neck, tinnitus, acute lumbar sprain, night sweating C. Toothache, sore throat, loss of consciousness D. Sore throat, stiffness of the tongue, febrile disease - ANSWER ✔---C. Toothache, sore throat, loss of consciousness Source: LI-1 (shangyang) - Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion, 3rd Edition, 2010, page 140; 2nd Edition, 1999, page 139 Diagonal folds in the skin of the ear lobe has been correlated with A. heart disease B. eye pathology C. dental disease'
D. ear pathology - ANSWER ✔---A. heart disease Source: the "New England Journal of Medicine" reported that having a crease running from the intertragic notch to the bottom of the ear lobe was more predictive of a heart problem than was blood pressure levels or blood cholesterol levels - Auriculotherapy Manual: Chinese and Western Systems of Acupuncture, 3rd Edition, Terry Oleson, page 1 35 - 136 Select what applies to ST-25 (tian shu). A. Front-Mu Point for Large Intestine, Yang Qiao Mai (Yang Heel Vessel) Point B. Front-Mu Point for Large Intestine, Sea of Nourishment Point C. Front-Mu Point for Large Intestine, Command Point for Abdomen D. Front-Mu Point for Large Intestine - ANSWER ✔---D. Front-Mu Point for Large Intestine Source: Regulates the Intestines, Regulates the Spleen and Stomach, Resolves dampness and damp- heat, Regulates qi and blood and eliminates stagnation. - A Manual of Acupuncture, Deadman, 2nd Edition, page 148 Select what applies to GB-43 (xia xi) A. Ying-Spring Point, Water Point, Sedation Point B. Ying-Spring Point, Fire Point, Tonification Poin C. Ying-Spring Point, Water Point, Shu Stream Point D. Ying-Spring Point, Water Point, Tonification Point - ANSWER ✔---D. Ying-Spring Point, Water Point, Tonification Point
D. shu mai - ANSWER ✔---A. ge mai Source: at the superficial level, the ge mai (leather pulse) feels hard and tight like the skin of a stretched drum but feels completely empty at the deep level; it is a large and not a thin pulse; this pulse indicates severe kidney essence deficiency or severe kidney yin deficiency - Foundations of Chinese Medicine, Maciocia, 2015, page 387 Select what applies to both DU-14 (da zhui) and DU-15 (ya men). A. Sea of Qi Points B. Sea of Yang Points C. Window of Sky Points D. Ghost Points - ANSWER ✔---A. Sea of Qi Points All of the following CPT codes can be used to bill for auriculotherapy except A. 6415 B. 64550 C. 97032 D. 97781 - ANSWER ✔---A. 6415
Source: code 36415 is for blood draw; code 64550 can be used as auriculotherapy as TENS; code 97032 can be used for electrical stimulation with the therapist being present; code 97781 for acupuncture with electrical stimulation can also be used - Auriculotherapy Manual: Chinese and Western Systems of Acupuncture, 3rd Edition, Terry Oleson, page 153 All of the following pulses have a deep quality EXCEPT A. deep pulse (chen mai) B. hidden pulse (fu mai) C. soggy pulse (ru mai) D. firm pulse (lao mai) - ANSWER ✔---C. soggy pulse (ru mai) Source: The SOGGY PULSE, also called weak-floating, can only be palpated superficially. It feels like a wet bread and disappears with pressure. The soggy pulse indicates chronic qi xu with the retention of dampness. The DEEP PULSE can only be palpated at the middle and especially at the deep level. It feels sunk under the muscle or like a stone in the water. This pulse shows that the patient has an internal condition. A deep-full pulse indicates an internal pathogenic factor (cold, heat, qi/blood stasis, phlegm) when it is deep-weak indicates yang xu. The HIDDEN PULSE is a deep pulse to the extreme, deeper than the deep pulse, and can only be palpated with strong presure. It indicates that the patient has an interior pattern. When the pulse is hidden and full it also indicates that there is an internal block such as qi or blood staisis, blocked heat or cold, blocked phlegm, blocked food retention, or chronic pain. When the hidden pulse is empty it indicates yang xu. The FIRM PULSE combines the qualities of full, wiry, and long pulses. All three qualities together are palplated only at the deep level. But is really a wiry pulse only at the middle and deep level whereas the wiry pulse in itself is felt at all levels. Generally, the pulse indicates internal Cold that causes chronic pain but it can also indicate qi or Blood stasis. - Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine, Maciocia, 2004, page 496 A patient has abdominal pain, diarrhea with mucus and blood, foul smelling stools, burning anus, fever, sweating does not abate fever, and thirst without desire to drink. What pulse is expected? A. Full-Rapid pulse