Before you see the doctor
When we are feeling sick and want to visit a GP, off we go, no preparation necessary. We just explain our symptoms when we get there. Things are a little different when going to see a doctor of TCM. A Chinese medical diagnosis and treatment are based on observation, smell, explanation and questioning of symptoms, and a physical examination. For the doctor to get a true ”feel” of what treatment is necessary for the patient there are certain ”Dos and Don’ts” to follow on the day of the visit to prevent a misdiagnosis.
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Don’t drink milk or soy milk before your appointment. Milk will cause the tongue to be covered in a white and sticky coating leading to the wrong diagnosis of phlegm in the body. As observation of the tongue is key to a TCM treatment, it is advisable not to eat any food, such as dark berries, juice, or even candy that would turn the tongue black.
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Don’t drink coffee or eat orange or yellow colored foods, which would turn the tongue yellow. Similarly, stay away from peanuts, as these are rich in fats and can whiten the tongue.
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Don’t drink wine or eat very cold or hot spicy foods – these cause a quick pulse and a faster flow of qi and blood. They also make the tongue red.
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Leave at least an hour after a meal before an appointment. Not only do certain foods change tongue color, but also eating a meal causes the pulse to become stable and the tongue to become thin.
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Don’t do any heavy exercise. This could give a false impression of tiredness and excess heat. Give the body at least half an hour to calm down before the appointment.
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Women should not go to an appointment wearing make up or nail polish. Observation of eye and lip color, and facial pallor are needed to form a diagnosis. The condition and color of the nails are indicators of blood deficiency, cardiovascular disease and respiratory and circulatory problems.
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Don’t wear any perfume, cologne or after shave. This will mask the natural odor of the body. According to the Five Element Theory, the condition of each organ can be recognized by a particular smell unique to that organ.