Listening
and Smelling
A significant
aspect of this part of diagnosis is the breathing of the
patient and the sound of the voice.
A loud
assertive voice suggests a yang pattern, while a weak or
timid voice suggests the opposite, a yin pattern. Restless
and heavy breathing occurs in an excess syndrome whereas
shallow breathing is indicative of a deficient condition.
Even the sound of a cough gives an indication of the level
of phlegm in the lungs, and can be loud and sudden or weak
and persistent.
The
odor of the body and its excretions are also important aids
in diagnosis, and require many years of experience to perfect.
As such, this method is more widely practiced in traditional
eastern diagnosis than it is in the western practices.
In general
terms, there are two distinct smells which are considered
to detect the presence of a hot, excess condition from a
cold, deficient one. Yang (hot, excess) conditions are associated
with a rancid or rotten smell and Yin (cold, deficient)
conditions possess a strong, fishy aroma.
As a
rule, any unusual or abnormal odors can indicate an illness,
those listed above are merely a guideline.
|
