Question

A 34 year-old woman has irritability, shortness of breath, distention in the hypogastrium, nausea, weak voice, cough, painful menstruation which improves with blood flow, and fatigue with sweating after little exertion. The tongue is pale. The pulse is wiry. What is the diagnosis?

1) Wood overacting Earth
2) Fire overcontrolling Metal
3) Metal not controlling Wood
4) Water not nourishing Wood

Answer 1

Given the symptoms and the context of traditional Chinese medicine, the diagnosis that fits is Wood overacting Earth which aligns with the symptoms described, particularly concerning the liver and digestive system.

Step-by-step explanation:

The symptoms described by the 34 year-old woman, including irritability, shortness of breath, distention in the hypogastrium, nausea, weak voice, cough, painful menstruation which improves with blood flow, and fatigue with sweating after little exertion, alongside a pale tongue and wiry pulse, suggest a certain pattern in traditional Chinese medicine. In this diagnostic system, the interactions between the elements Wood, Fire, Metal, Water, and Earth are considered to explain physiological and pathological processes. Based on the presented symptoms, the most fitting diagnosis from the given options is Wood overacting Earth. Wood overacting on Earth could explain the irritability, hypogastrium distention and menstrual pain, which relate to the liver (Wood element) overacting on the digestive system (Earth element).