IDENTIFICATION OF DISEASE PATTERNS TCM diagnoses diseases by using ‘identification of dis-ease patterns’. Identification of disease patterns is not made from a list of symptoms and signs, but from a reflection on the pathogenesis of the disease. Over centuries of accumulated clinical experience, TCM has developed a comprehensive and extremely effective diagnostic system and symptomatology to identify dis-ease patterns. There are several methods in identifying disease patterns. These methods are based on the following. Eight principles are based on the categories of exte-rior/interior, cold/hot, full/empty, and Yin/Yang, which are the foundation for all the other methods of disease pattern identification to identify the location and nature of the disease. Qi, Xie/Blood, and JinYe, also known as vital sub-stances in TCM, indicate the basic disharmonies such as deficiency, stagnation, and rebellion. Zang-Fu is based on pathologic changes occurring in the internal organs. Pathogenic factors are based on the pathologic changes occurring when the body is invaded by factors such as wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, and fire. The five elements are based on the interpretation of clinical manifestations according to generating, over-controlling, and insulting sequences. The channels and collaterals, based on the courses of different channels, is the oldest method that describes the symptoms and signs related to each channel or collateral rather than the organs. The reflections on six channels is utilized mainly for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases caused by exterior-cold, which was formulated by Zhang, ZhongJing. It has been the bible for Chinese doctors, especially in north-ern China, for about 16 centuries. Reflections on: (1) Tai-Yang channel: aversion to chills, headache, neck stiffness, superficial pulse, and fever; (2) Yang-Min channel: aversion to heat, perspiring, thirst, restlessness, abdominal pain aggravated by pressure and constipation; (3) Shao-Yang channel: alternate chills and fever, full sensation in the chest, bitter taste and thirst; (4) Tai-Yin channel: full abdomen, vomiting, diarrhea, poor appetite, and weak and slow pulse; (5) Shao-Yin channel: sleepiness, aversion to chills, cold limbs, diarrhea, and very weak pulse; (6) Ju-Yin channel: delirium, loss of consciousness, extremely cold limbs, thirst, and poor appetite. The four stages are the most important and most widely used method, devised by Ye, TianShi (1667–1746), for the treatment of febrile infectious diseases that start with invasion of the exterior wind-heat: (1) Stage I: Wei/protective level; (2) Fever, slight aversion to cold, headache, slight per-spiring, slight thirst, superficial and fast pulse; (3) Stage II: Qi/defensive level; (4) Severe fever, aversion to heat, profuse perspiring, thirst, wheezing, scanty urine, constipation, and strong pulse; (5) Stage III: Yin level;