Can Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis Be Parameterized and Standardized? A Narrative Review

Abstract

The integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Western health systems and research requires a rational communicable theory, scientific proof of efficacy and safety, and quality control measures. The existence of clear definitions and the diagnosis standardization are critical factors to establish the patient's vegetative functional status accurately and, therefore, systematically apply TCM therapeutics such as the stimulation of reflex skin areas known as acupoints. This science-based conceptualization entails using validated methods, or even developing new systems able to parameterize the diagnosis and assess TCM related effects by objective measurements. Traditionally, tongue and pulse diagnosis and the functional evaluation of action points by pressure sensitivity and physical examination may be regarded as essential diagnostic tools. Parameterizing these techniques is a future key point in the objectification of TCM diagnosis, such as by electronic digital image analysis, mechanical pulse diagnostic systems, or the systematic evaluation of acupoints' electrophysiology. This review aims to demonstrate and critically analyze some achievements and limitations in the clinical application of device-assisted TCM diagnosis systems to evaluate functional physiological patterns. Despite some limitations, tongue, pulse, and electrophysiological diagnosis devices have been reported as a useful tool while establishing a person's functional status.

Keywords: TCM diagnosis; acupoints; acupuncture; electrophysiology; pulse diagnosis; tongue diagnosis; traditional Chinese medicine.

Figure 1

Tongue somatotopy in Chinese medicine diagnosis.

Figure 2

Illustration of tongue image capturing with the Automatic Tongue Diagnosis System (ATDS). Reprinted from ref. [39].

Figure 3

Pulse diagnosis gauge sites over the radial artery. Reprinted with permission from ref. [60], Copyright 2017 Cao Xuan cu.

Figure 4

Bi-Sensing Pulse Diagnosis Instrument (BSPDI) equipped with a Pressure-Displacement Bi-Sensing System (PDBSS). Reprinted with permission from ref. [77]. Copyright 2012 Elsevier and Copyright Clearance Center.

Figure 5

Acupoint detector device (a) [83] and three successive conductance scans along the Large Intestine Meridian–numbers in the upper limb correspond to acupoints (b) Reprinted with permission from ref. [62] Copyright 2002 Elsevier and Copyright Clearance Center.