Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Quizzes

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Welcome to your Clinical Case-Study Mock Exam.

This full-length practice test is designed to simulate the format and timing of the official exam to help you prepare with confidence.

Exam Details:

Total Questions: 40
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Ms. Anderhill, 37, seeks help for painful menstruation that starts with cramping a day before the period and continues through day two. Patient summary: lower abdominal cramping and back pain, menstrual flow is dark red with small clots, pain eases slightly after clots pass. Tongue is slightly Purple with red sides. Pulse is wiry and slightly choppy.

Which treatment strategy is most appropriate?

Nourish Yin and Blood

Warm the Uterus and dispel Cold

Invigorate Blood, eliminate stasis, regulate Qi

Strengthen Spleen Qi and raise the clear Yang

None

Ms. Ayala, 41, visits your clinic due to irregular and painful periods that have lasted over 6 months. Patient Summary: Menstrual cycle ranges from 24 to 38 days. Flow is sometimes scanty, sometimes heavy, with some clots. She has mood swings and irritability leading up to menstruation. She experiences breast distension premenstrually. She has cramping in the lower abdomen that eases after clots pass.

Based on the given information, what is the most likely diagnosis?

Kidney Yang Deficiency

Liver Qi Stagnation

Blood Heat

Liver Blood Deficiency

None

Mr. Chan, a 62-year-old man, presents with a pale rash that has come and gone over the past 8 years. Patient Information: Generalized body itch, rash more pronounced on arms and upper torso that worsens in winter or when exposed to cold. Tongue is pale with tooth marks. Pulse is moderate (Huan), and slightly slippery (Hua).

Which acupuncture point prescription is most appropriate?

ST 36, SP 10, LI 11, GB 31

CV 6 (with moxa), LU 7, LI 4, KI 7 (with moxa)

LI 4, LI 11, GV 14, SP 6 (with moxa)

BL 17, SP 6 (with moxa), SP 10, LV 3

None

Mrs. Barrett, 37, reports extremely heavy menstrual bleeding over the last year. Patient Summary: Her periods begin suddenly with flooding, then continue trickling for days. The blood is bright red. She suffers from headaches. She has occasional mouth ulcers. Her tongue is red with yellow coating. Her pulse is rapid and slightly overflowing.

SP1, KD3, LV3

SP10, LI11, SP1, LIV1, SP8

KD3, LV5, BL23, LV3

SP1, LV3, DU20, KD3

None

Your patient wishes to bring in her son. He is 11 years old and is hyperactive all day. His symptoms include: restlessness, poor concentration, dream disturbed sleep, pale tongue with red sides and tip, pulse is wiry, thin and fast.

What is the best treatment?

HT9, KD3, ST40, DU24

HT7, HT6, KD3, DU24, PC6

DU20, PC6, LV3, LV8, HT7

HT9, HT8, SP6, KD6

None

A 29 year old female comes in to your clinic. She reports the following symptoms: prolapse of uterus, lassitude, shortness of breath, pale tongue with a thin coating, deficient pulse. How do you diagnose this patient?

Qi deficiency

Kidney Yang deficiency

Kidney Yin deficiency

Kidney Essence deficiency

None

What is the best treatment principle?

Subdue Liver Yang

Clear Heat, Smooth Liver Qi, Calm Shen

Calm Shen, Tonify Heart Qi

Calm Shen, Nourish Kidney Yang, Tonify Heart Qi

None

Which acupuncture point combination would best treat her pattern?

ST36, SP6, CV12

SP10, BL17, LV8

LIV3, LIV14, CV6, P6, SP4

KI3, BL23, CV4, LIV14

None

Your patient, Mrs. Tomlin, 38 years old, has been suffering from infertility for 3 years. She has the following symptoms: menstrual bleeding that lasts up to 16 days, scanty blood, dark blood, pain in lower abdomen which improves with a heat pack, tongue is thin, pulse is deep and slow.

What additional modality to add to this person's treatment?

Moxa at mingmen

Moxa at CV4

Cupping on CV8

All of the above

None

10.

What is the most suitable acupuncture treatment principle?

Clear Heat, cool Blood, and stop bleeding

Nourish Liver and Kidney Yin

Nourish Kidney Yin and Subdue Liver Yang

Nourish Liver Blood and Subdue Liver Yang

None

11.

Which is the most accurate TCM pattern diagnosis?

Cold in the Uterus

Liver Qi Stagnation with Blood Stasis

Qi and Blood Deficiency

Heat in the Blood with Blood Stasis

None

12.

A 26-year-old woman presents with chronic digestive discomfort. She complains of bloating and mild abdominal pain that worsens when she has stress, and also before her menstrual cycle. Her bowel movements alternate between loose stools and constipation. She reports low energy, poor concentration, and occasional mild headaches. Her appetite is poor. Her abdomen feels soft and slightly distended on palpation. Her tongue is pale with thin white fur. Her pulse is wiry and slightly soggy.

What two TCM patterns best explain this patient's symptoms? (Select 2)

Liver Qi Stagnation

Spleen Qi Deficiency

Damp Heat in the Large Intestine

Kidney Yang Deficiency

Food Stagnation

13.

Ms. Young, a 40-year-old office worker, complains of her fingers turning white and numb in cold weather. This started three winters ago and has progressively worsened. Patient Information: Fingers turn pale and cold, then bluish with numbness and occasional pain. Symptoms relieved with warm compresses. She also has fatigue, cold feet, and low back soreness. Her tongue is pale with thin white coat. Her pulse is deep (Chen), thin (Xi), and slow (Chi).

What is the most accurate TCM diagnosis?

Qi and Blood Stasis

Cold Congealing in the Channels

Yin Deficiency with Empty Heat

Yang Deficiency with Cold Stagnation

None

14.

What does her slow pulse indicate?

Qi deficiency

Blood deficiency

Yang deficiency

Cold

None

15.

Your patient presents with epigastrium tightness, hypochondriac distention and tongue that shows a sticky and yellow coating.

What is the treatment principle?

Resolve dampness and clear heat

Smoothe Liver Qi and clear heat

Tonify Spleen Qi and clear heat

Tonify Spleen Qi, resolve dampness, smooth Liver Qi and clear heat

Correct Answer: C: Tonify Spleen Qi and clear heat

Explanation: Tonifying Spleen Qi will help to resolve dampness. There are clear signs of Liver Qi stagnation and heat.

None

16.

Which lifestyle advice aligns with the TCM understanding of this condition?

Eat spicy foods to purge the bowels

Avoid stress and maintain regular eating times

Exercise vigorously every morning

Drink coffee after meals to promote bowel movement

None

17.

What extra point would you add to this formula?

Tai Yang

Si Shen Cong

Yao Qi

Ding Chuan

None

18.

What is the most appropriate treatment principle for this patient?

Warm the Kidney and fortify Yang

Clear damp heat from the intestines

Move Liver Qi and tonify Spleen Qi

Transform phlegm and dry dampness

None

19.

A 43-year-old woman presents with widespread muscle pain, fatigue, and disturbed sleep. She says she feels like her “body is on fire” some mornings and wakes unrefreshed. She also experiences anxiety, occasional palpitations, tinnitus, and dry mouth. Her limbs are cold at times, and she is sensitive to weather changes and emotional stress. Her pulse is thin and slightly rapid. Her tongue is red with a scanty coat and cracks.

Which point selection best suits the goal of nourishing Yin and calming the mind?

KD3, HT7, SP6, CV4

ST36, LI 4, KD3

Du20, CV4, LI11

DU24, SP6, LI11, CV4

None

20.

According to Eight Principles and Zang Fu theory, what tongue and pulse findings support your diagnosis?

Red tongue with yellow coat; rapid pulse

Pale tongue with thin white coat; wiry and soggy pulse

Purple tongue with thick greasy coat; slippery pulse

Normal tongue; deep and weak pulse

None

21.

How do you diagnose this patient?

Spleen Yang deficiency

Damp Cold invasion

Cold Uterus

Liver Qi stagnation

None

22.

What other symptoms might support this diagnosis? (select one)

Cold sensation in lower abdomen

Night sweating

Frequent sighing

Poor appetite with loose stools

None

23.

What is the most accurate TCM diagnosis?

Wind-Heat with Qi Deficiency

Yang Deficiency with Wind Invasion

Lung Qi Deficiency with Damp

Blood Heat

None

24.

A 51-year-old man presents with a recent diagnosis of high blood pressure. He denies chest pain but reports occasional dizziness, red eyes, and a sensation of heat in the head. He is quick to anger, has difficulty sleeping, and experiences a bitter taste in the mouth. His face is red, and he often feels hot at night. He smokes and drinks on weekends. His tongue is red with a yellow coat. His pulse is wiry and forceful.

What treatment principle best applies here?

Tonify Liver and Kidney Yin

Descend Heart Fire

Sedate Liver Fire and calm the spirit

Nourish Blood and harmonize the Spleen

None

25.

What treatment do you use?

CV4, Zigong, LV8, KD6

DU20, CV6, CV12, ST36, ST29

ST36, LV3, HT7

DU20, KD3, BL23, GB39, KD7

None

26.

What lifestyle factor is most exacerbating the condition?

Using the sauna

Using a heating pad at night

Smoking and drinking alcohol

Eating warming foods

None

27.

Which acupuncture point prescription best treats this pattern?

ST 36, BL 23, GV 4, KI 7 (with moxa)

LI 4, SP 6, LV 3, GB 34

LU 9, PC 6, ST 25, ST 36

LI 11, SP 10, BL 17, GV 14

None

28.

What symptom indicates empty heat?

Tongue with scanty coat

Feeling unrefreshed upon waking

Widespread muscle pain

Thin and slightly rapid pulse

None

29.

Which set of acupuncture points would best address this patient’s pattern?

LI4, GB21, ST44

LV3, GB20, LI11

KD3, KD2, CV6

LV3, KD3, SP6

None

30.

Which emotional or lifestyle factor likely contributed to this case?

Overwork and sexual exhaustion

Excessive straining of eyes

Repressed anger and frustration

Diet high in greasy food

None

31.

What is the correct treatment principle?

Nourish Yin, calm Shen

Nourish Yin, smooth Liver Qi

Nourish Kidney Yin, tonify Yang

Tonify Spleen Qi deficiency, eliminate dampness

None

32.

Your patient presents with epigastrium tightness, hypochondriac distention and tongue that shows a sticky and yellow coating.

What points do you select?

CV17, LV14, LV3, LI4

SP3, SP9, ST40, LV3, LI11

LI11, LV14, LI4, LV3

ST40, SP9, SP6, CV12

None

33.

What biomedical red flag should be ruled out?

Hypothyroidism

Ovarian cyst

Uterine fibroids or endometrial hyperplasia

Polycystic ovary syndrome

None

34.

Which acupuncture points would best address the main imbalances in this case?

Liver 3, Large Intestine 4, Spleen 10

Stomach 36, Spleen 6, Liver 3

Conception Vessel 4, Kidney 3, Du 4

Large Intestine 11, Gallbladder 20, Lung 7

None

35.

Ms. Anderhill, 37, seeks help for painful menstruation that starts with cramping a day before the period and continues through day two. Patient summary: lower abdominal cramping and back pain, menstrual flow is dark red with small clots, pain eases slightly after clots pass. Tongue is slightly purple with red sides. Pulse is wiry and slightly choppy.

What is the best treatment?

SP6, KI3, CV4

ST36, SP10, CV12

LV3, SP10, BL17, SP8, CV6

SP4, PC6, ST25, BL23

None

36.

What is the most appropriate TCM pattern for this case?

Kidney Yin Deficiency with Liver Qi stagnation

Liver-Kidney Yin Deficiency with Empty Heat

Spleen Qi Deficiency with Damp

Kidney Yin Deficiency with Yang Collapse

None

37.

What is the most appropriate pattern diagnosis?

Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency

Blood Heat from Liver Fire

Kidney Yin Deficiency with Liver Yang Rising

Liver Blood Deficiency with Liver Yang Rising

None

38.

What is the most likely TCM pattern for this presentation?

Liver Fire Blazing

Kidney Yin Deficiency

Wind-Heat Invasion

Heart Fire

None

39.

What tongue presentation might develop if this condition becomes chronic?

Pale and swollen

Red with yellow coating

Purple body with thick coating

Red with redder sides

None

40.

Ms. Zhou, a 34-year-old woman, has been diagnosed with SLE for five years. She reports joint pain, fatigue, and a red rash that flares after sun exposure. Patient Information: Red "butterfly" facial rash after sun exposure, joint pain and swelling, fatigue, low-grade fever, and occasional chest pain. Emotionally sensitive and easily stressed. Her tongue is red with thin coat Her pulse is wiry (Xian), and rapid (Shuo).

What is the most accurate TCM diagnosis?

Liver Qi Stagnation with Blood Deficiency

Yin Deficiency with Heat Toxins

Qi and Blood Stagnation with Cold

Spleen Qi Deficiency with Dampness

None

Answered (0)

Partially Answered (0)

Marked for Review (0)

Not Answered (0)

Marked & Answered (0)

Not Visited (0)

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Clinical Case-Study Mock Exam #1 (Unofficial)

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