In the interrogation we ask about whether there is loss or worsening of any of the five senses. The details give us information for a good diagnostic differentiation:
Hearing
Vision
Eye pain
- Due to wind from the head (migraine)
- During the day: external cause, invasion of Wind
- During the night: internal cause, injury of 7 passions
Related points: TE-5; LR-2 and LR-3; PC-7; GB-20; GV-20
Blurred vision
1. Due to Liver-Blood deficiency (or Qi deficiency): dry eyes, dry and poorly nourished nails, pallor, dizziness.
- Causes: Haemorrhage, SP not producing Blood, not sleeping at night (not storing Blood during Liver hour), Water not generating Wood
- BL-18; GB-42; GB-37; ST-36
2. Due to Spleen weakness: tired vision, reads a little and becomes fatigued, tiredness, yellowish complexion, abdominal distension, poor appetite.
- Causes: inadequate diet, nervousness, overworking and insufficient rest.
- BL-20; BL-18; BL-21; GV-20; ST-36 (with moxibustion on all the above); ST-8 ; SP-6
3. Due to Kidney-Essence deficiency: elderly people, with tinnitus, weak constitution... Tonify Kidney-Essence.
Taste, flavour
Sensation in the mouth
- Bland, tasteless mouth: Earth problem, Spleen-Qi deficiency.
- Sweet taste in the mouth: Sticky, pasty mouth. Dampness, Damp-Heat.
- Sour taste: stomach acidity, breath smells sour, acidic, as if putrid. Liver invading Stomach, Liver-Qi stagnation, excess of food in the Stomach or Liver disease.
- Bitter taste: Excess of Liver-Fire, Heat in the Gall Bladder, Excess of Heart-Fire
- Salty taste: Kidney-Yang deficiency. The excess of Yin rises and gives the sensation of having a handful of salt in the mouth.
- Pungent taste: Wind-Heat attacking the Lung, gum bleeding, throat inflammation
- Strong mouth odour: Stomach-Heat
Taste craved by the person
- Salty taste: stimulates the Kidney. Draws out the reserve.
- Sour taste: calms the Liver, contracts the expansion of Wood
- Bitter taste: descends Fire
- Sweet taste: Spleen, the sweetness of vegetables and grains nourishes it. Excess of sweet (sugars and refined foods) weakens it and produces Dampness.
- Pungent taste: Lung, Metal. Stimulates purification and elimination.
See more at: The nature of foods