Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Quizzes

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Welcome to your Clinical Case-Study Mock Exam.

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Total Questions: 40
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Mrs. Calico is a 36-year-old woman. She has been experiencing palpitations, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, anxiety, pale complexion, dizziness. Her tongue is pale and thing and her pulse is choppy.

What is the most likely diagnosis?

Heart Qi deficiency

Heart Blood deficiency

Liver Yin deficiency

Heart Yin deficiency

None

Patient: Arianna L., age 36, has been experiencing periodic episodes of emotional agitation and fatigue that she describes as “burnout spells” for the past 18 months. She has a history of emotional overwork and caretaking responsiblities, fatigue will sensation of fullness in chest, easily started, occastional palpitations, poor sleep with waking around 3am, dry eyes, night sweats, bitter taste in mouth in morning, mild dizziness with low appetite, normal bowel movements, pale and clear urine. Tongue is pale red with scant coating with slight side indentation. Pulse is fine and slightly wiry.

Which acupuncture point combination best addresses the root and branch of this pattern?

PC 6 (Neiguan), HT 7 (Shenmen), SP 6 (Sanyinjiao), BL 15 (Xinshu), BL 20 (Pishu)

LV 3 (Taichong), KD 6 (Zhaohai), BL 18 (Ganshu), PC 7 (Daling), BL 14 (Jueyinshu)

PC 6 (Neiguan), LR 3 (Taichong), KD 6 (Zhaohai), BL 14 (Jueyinshu), HT 7 (Shenmen)

ST 36 (Zusanli), SP 9 (Yinlingquan), BL 20 (Pishu), BL 23 (Shenshu), PC 6 (Neiguan)

None

Emma L., age 8, is brought in by her parent for recurrent nighttime urinary accidents. She has involuntary urniation during sleep that occurs twice weekly since age 3. She is easily fatigued and quiet, has pale skin and low energy, has reduced appetite and lost weight gradually over time, sweats during light activity, frequently catches cold in cold weather,. Tongue is pale with thin white coat. Pulse is weak and fine.

Which treatment principle best matches the therapeutic focus for this child?

Strengthen Spleen and Kidney Qi, consolidate Bladder function

Tonify Lung and Spleen Qi, support Qi transformation in the Bladder

Warm the Spleen and Kidney Yang, drain residual Dampness

Tonify Qi, clear residual Heat from the Lower Jiao

None

Marcus Lee, a 44-year-old man, has struggled with intermittent blood in his urine for the past two years. He attributes his condition to “burning the candle at both ends” in his twenties, including prolonged substance use. Diagnosed with acute nephritis two years ago, treated with medication. Symptoms recurred more recently with increased blood volume in urine. Urine is dark red, occasionally turbid. Dry mouth, thirst but drinks only in sips. Reports night sweats, insomnia with frequent waking, palpitations and restlessness, especially at night. He has flushed cheeks in the late afternoon, back discomfort with heaviness, slight swelling in ankles and feet. Tongue: Red, dry, with yellow greasy coating. Pulse: Rapid, thin, and slippery.

Which combination of points would best support treatment of this case?

BL23, DU4, KD3, SP6

SP1, BL28, SP6, HT8

CV6, LV3, LI11, ST28

BL18, GB34, SJ6, PC6

None

Ms. Emily Starm, 38, is a veteran who experienced a bombing during deployment in Afghanistan and now suffers from PTSD. She is easily startled, anxious, and avoids crowds. She has frequent sleep disturbances with racing thoughts, muscle tension in neck and upper back, and occasional dizziness and dry mouth. Pulse: Wiry and slightly rapid. Tongue: Red sides with slight dryness.

Which point combination is best for this presentation?

KI6, LIV2, HT7, SP6, Anmian

ST36, BL23, DU4, CV6

LU7, HT8, KD1, LI11

LI11, DU14, SJ5, SP6

None

A 32-year-old woman presents with a short menstrual cycle and heavy bleeding. The flow is dark-red and thick. She reports feeling restless, has dark urine, and her tongue is red with a yellow coat. Her pulse is rapid and forceful.

Which acupuncture point combination is most appropriate for this case?

REN6 (Qihai), PC5 (Jianshi), LR5 (Ligou), KI14 (Siman), LR14 (Qimen), REN17 (Shanzhong)

LI11 (Quchi), SP10 (Xuehai), REN3 (Zhongji), KI5 (Shuiquan)

REN4 (Guanyuan), SP6 (Sanyinjiao), REN6 (Qihai), HT7 (Shenmen)

REN6 (Qihai), SP6 (Sanyinjiao), ST36 (Zusanli), REN12 (Zhongwan)

None

What physical symptom supports Liver involvement over Heart-only pathology?

Dry mouth

Anxiety

Dizziness and upper back tension

Poor memory

None

Mr. Allendale, 44, presents with symptoms following a traumatic car accident 9 months ago. He has frequent nightmares and occasional flashbacks, difficulty sleeping and irritability. He feels emotionally numb and avoids driving. He has slight palpitations and is easy to startle. Tongue: Pale with thin white coating. Pulse: Weak and slightly wiry.

What is the most appropriate TCM pattern diagnosis?

Heart-Blood Deficiency with Liver-Qi Stagnation

Liver-Qi stagnation with Heart Blood Stagnation

Phlegm Misting the Mind

Heart-Blood Deficiency with Liver Yin deficiency

None

Mr. Derek Morrow, 51, experienced a violent assault 2 years ago. He now lives in isolation and avoids most social contact. He has panic attacks and disassociation episodes, night sweats, tinnitus and low back pain. He reports sudden surges of fear without obvious triggers. His memory is poor, and libido has declined. Tongue: Red and peeled in back. Pulse: Thin, rapid, and floating.

What secondary TCM organ is commonly involved in long-term trauma syndromes?

Lung

Pericardium

Stomach

Gallbladder

None

10.

A patient presents with full-body itching that is worse at night. The skin is dry, and the patient reports a burning sensation. There are no visible lesions. Tongue is red with little coat, and the pulse is thin and rapid.

How do you diagnose this patient?

Heat in the Blood

Blood deficiency with Empty Heat

Wind Heat

Wind Damp Heat

None

11.

According to the Eight Principles, how would this case be classified?

Interior, Deficient, Heat pattern

Interior, Deficient, Cold pattern

Interior, Mixed (Deficiency and Excess), Heat

Interior, Excess, Heat pattern

None

12.

What acupuncture principle is most appropriate?

Move Blood and break Stasis, calm Shen

Nourish Kidney Yin, clear Heart Fire, calm Shen

Resolve Phlegm, clear the mind’s orifices, calm Shen

Subdue Liver Wind, calm Shen

None

13.

Which symptom most strongly supports the Liver-Qi involvement?

Flashbacks

Emotional flatness

Irritability

Difficulty sleeping

None

14.

What is the most accurate TCM pattern?

Phlegm misting the mind

Kidney Yin Deficiency with Heart Fire

Blood Stasis obstructing the Mind

Liver Wind stirring internally

None

15.

A 42-year-old female reports a sense of emptiness in the chest. She has a dry throat at night, night sweats, trouble falling asleep and her pulse is thin and slightly rapid.

What treatment do you use on her?

Tonify Heart Blood to calm the Shen and resolve internal dryness

Nourish Heart Yin, eliminate Empty Heat, and anchor the Mind

Clear Lung Heat, moisten dryness, and promote fluid distribution

Replenish Liver Blood, cool the Blood, and extinguish internal Wind

None

16.

Mrs. Calico is a 36-year-old woman. She has been experiencing palpitations, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, anxiety, pale complexion, dizziness. Her tongue is pale and thing and her pulse is choppy.

What does a choppy pulse signify?

Heart Qi deficiency

Heart Blood deficiency

Heart Yin deficiency

Any of the above

None

17.

Mr. Allendale, 44, presents with symptoms following a traumatic car accident 9 months ago. He has frequent nightmares and occasional flashbacks, difficulty sleeping and irritability, feels emotionally numb and avoids driving, has slight palpitations and is easy to startle. Tongue: Pale with thin white coating. Pulse: Weak and slightly wiry.

Which of the following acupuncture prescriptions is most appropriate?

CV6, BL23, KI7, DU4

DU20, GB34, ST36, SP9

LI4, ST44, DU14, BL13

SP6, HT7, LV3, PC6, CV14

None

18.

What is the most accurate TCM diagnosis based on this presentation?

Liver Blood deficiency with Heart Yin Deficiency

Heart Qi and Spleen Qi Deficiency

Liver Yin Deficiency with Empty Heat

Liver Qi Stagnation with Heart Yin Deficiency

None

19.

Based on this presentation, which diagnosis most accurately explains her enuresis?

Lung and Kidney Yang Deficiency

Spleen Qi and Kidney Qi Deficiency

Lung and Spleen Qi Deficiency

Spleen Yang Deficiency with Damp Accumulation

None

20.

What is causing her shortened menstrual cycle?

Yin deficiency with empty heat

Damp Heat

Hot Blood

Blood deficiency

None

21.

A 47-year-old woman comes into your treatment centre. She has a dry, ticly cough that worsens in the evening, hoarseness, dry throat, fatigue and night sweats. Her tongue is slightly red with a peeled coating at the front.

What is the most likely pattern diagnosis?

Lung Qi deficiency with Phlegm-Damp

Lung Yin deficiency with Empty Heat

Lung Yin deficiency without Heat

Heart Yin deficiency with Lung Qi deficiency

None

22.

Which pathway best explains the pathogenesis in TCM?

Bladder heat causes bleeding in the urine.

Liver Heat transmits heat to the Small Intestine channel and then the Bladder.

Kidney Qi Deficiency causes cold accumulation and Bladder Qi deficiency

Heart Fire transmits down via the Small Intestine and damages Bladder and Yin.

None

23.

Which acupuncture point combination is most appropriate?

LI11 (Quchi), SP10 (Xuehai), BL17 (Geshu), KI6 (Zhaohai), SP6 (Sanyinjiao)

GB20 (Fengchi), LI4 (Hegu), ST44 (Neiting), SJ5 (Waiguan)

LU7 (Lieque), LI20 (Yingxiang), DU14 (Dazhui), KI7 (Fuliu)

HT7 (Shenmen), ST36 (Zusanli), BL23 (Shenshu), SP3 (Taibai)

None

24.

A 29-year-old man presents with chronic sinus congestion, a thick yellow nasal discharge, poor sense of smell, and pressure over the forehead. His tongue has a greasy yellow coating, and his pulse is slippery.

What’s the most likely diagnosis?

Lung Qi deficiency

Wind-Cold invading the Lung

Damp-Heat in the Stomach channel

Blood stasis in the nose

None

25.

A 42-year-old female reports a sense of emptiness in the chest. She has a dry throat at night, night sweats, trouble falling asleep and her pulse is thin and slightly rapid.

What points do you use on her?

HT7 (Shenmen), SP6 (Sanyinjiao), KI6 (Zhaohai), PC6 (Neiguan), REN14 (Juque)

HT5 (Tongli), ST36 (Zusanli), BL15 (Xinshu), DU20 (Baihui), LI4 (Hegu)

LU9 (Taiyuan), KI3 (Taixi), BL17 (Geshu), SP10 (Xuehai), REN12 (Zhongwan)

HT7 (Shenmen), LV3 (Taichong), BL20 (Pishu), ST25 (Tianshu), PC7 (Daling)

None

26.

What is your treatment principle?

Clear Heat from the Blood, supply Body Fluids, Relieve itching

Clear Heat, nourish Blood and Yin, Relieve itching

Disperse WInd Heat, Relieve itching

Disperse Wind Heat, Resolve Dampness, Relieve itching

None

27.

What is the most appropriate pattern diagnosis for this presentation?

Kidney Yin Deficiency with Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner

Heart Yin Deficiency with Heat Toxins in the Bladder

Liver Fire disturbing the Heart and Bladder

Bladder Damp-Heat with Qi Deficiency

None

28.

Which combination of points would best support treatment of this case?

BL23, DU4, KD3, SP6

BL18, GB34, SJ6, PC6

CV6, LV3, LI11, ST28

SP1, BL28, SP6, HT8

None

29.

Which points do you use to cool the blood?

LV5, SP10

LI11, SP10

CV4, LV2

CV6, LI11

None

30.

Mrs. Calico is a 36-year-old woman. She has been experiencing palpitations, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, anxiety, pale complexion, dizziness. Her tongue is pale and thing and her pulse is choppy.

What is the best point prescription for treating this patient?

HT7 (Shenmen), SP6 (Sanyinjiao), BL20 (Pishu), REN14 (Juque), ST36 (Zusanli)

HT5 (Tongli), BL23 (Shenshu), DU14 (Dazhui), KI6 (Zhaohai), ST25 (Tianshu)

PC6 (Neiguan), BL18 (Ganshu), REN4 (Guanyuan), LI11 (Quchi), GB34 (Yanglingquan)

HT7 (Shenmen), LI4 (Hegu), SP10 (Xuehai), ST44 (Neiting), KI3 (Taixi)

None

31.

If this pattern were left untreated for several years, what secondary deficiency pattern is most likely to develop?

Kidney Yang deficiency with Cold in the Lower Jiao

Heart Blood deficiency with Liver Qi stagnation

Spleen Yang deficiency leading to Damp accumulation

Kidney Qi not firm with developmental delay

None

32.

Which signs point most clearly to Heart Yin Deficiency?

Back heaviness and cloudy urine

Bitter taste, flushed cheeks, dry mouth

Insomnia with frequent waking and night sweats

Swollen ankles and dull low back pain

None

33.

What’s the most appropriate treatment approach?

Tonify Wei Qi and open the nose

Release exterior and descend Lung Qi

Invigorate Blood and eliminate stasis

Clear Heat and drain Damp

None

34.

What TCM diagnosis is most accurate?

Heart Fire Blazing

Liver Yin Deficiency with Liver Qi Stagnation

Kidney Yin Deficiency

Heart Qi deficiency with Kidney Yin deficiency

None

35.

Which treatment strategy is most appropriate for this patient?

Tonify Qi and secure the Lower Burner

Clear Heat, nourish Heart Yin, and cool the Blood

Smoothe Liver Qi, Clear Liver Heat and stop bleeding.

Tonify Kidney Qi, warm lower burner, clear water passages and tonify Bladder Qi.

None

36.

Which point combination would address both root and branch?

DU24, SP10, BL17, Yintang

ST36, SP9, CV6, ST40

KD3, HT7, PC7, CV15, BL52

LV13, GB24, SJ5

None

37.

A 50-year-old male complains of insomnia, hot flashes at night, and occasional palpitations. He has dry skin, a dry throat, and reports waking up drenched in sweat around 2–3 a.m. His tongue is red and dry, and his pulse is thin and slightly rapid.

Which point prescription would most directly address the root pattern?

PC6, SP9, ST40, LI11

BL13, KD3, KI7, HT7

LU7, KI6, HT6, SP6

ST36, LI4, BL17, KI3

None

38.

Which acupuncture point combination is most appropriate for addressing this condition?

DU20 (Baihui), BL13 (Feishu), BL20 (Pishu), ST36 (Zusanli), SP6 (Sanyinjiao)

DU20 (Baihui), BL20 (Pishu), BL23 (Shenshu), KI3 (Taixi), CV4 (Guanyuan)

ST36 (Zusanli), BL15 (Xinshu), SP6 (Sanyinjiao), HT7 (Shenmen), BL23 (Shenshu)

DU20 (Baihui), BL13 (Feishu), BL23 (Shenshu), CV6 (Qihai), SP6 (Sanyinjiao)

None

39.

Which of the following symptoms would most strongly confirm the involvement of the Lung in this pattern?

Lassitude and poor appetite

Nighttime urination and pale tongue

Frequent catching of colds and spontaneous sweating

Loose stools and weight loss

None

40.

A 42-year-old female reports a sense of emptiness in the chest. She has a dry throat at night, night sweats, trouble falling asleep and her pulse is thin and slightly rapid.

Which pattern does this describe?

Heart Blood deficiency

Heart Yin deficiency

Lung Yin deficiency

Liver Blood deficiency

None

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