Below is a structured question tree that reflects how a TCM practitioner would reason from macro to micro — starting with Yin–Yang differentiation, then branching into the Eight Principles and organ patterns.

⚖️ TCM Yin–Yang Diagnostic Question Tree (App Framework)

LEVEL 1: Core Yin–Yang Differentiation

(Foundation — helps the system determine global polarity)

  1. Do you generally feel cold or warm most of the time?

  2. Do you prefer warm or cool environments/foods?

  3. Are your hands and feet usually warm or cold?

  4. Do you sweat easily or rarely sweat?

  5. Is your energy level more sluggish (tired, still) or restless (wired, agitated)?

  6. Do you sleep more than average or find it hard to rest/sleep?

  7. Is your appetite low or excessive?

  8. Do you often experience dryness or dampness (mucus, heaviness)?

➡️ Branch:

  • Mostly Cold, still, fatigued, pale, low appetite → Yin / Cold / Deficiency tendency.

  • Mostly Hot, restless, flushed, dry, irritable → Yang / Heat / Excess tendency.

LEVEL 2: The Eight Diagnostic Principles

Axis Branch Questions Interpretation
Internal vs. External “Do your symptoms seem to start from external changes (weather, infection, surface) or deeper internal weakness?” External → surface imbalance (cold/heat attack). Internal → organ-level pattern.
Cold vs. Heat “Do you feel better with warmth or coolness?” “Do you have thirst, red face, irritability?” Cold → Yang deficiency / Cold excess. Heat → Yin deficiency / Heat excess.
Deficiency vs. Excess “Are your symptoms chronic and mild or acute and strong?” “Do you feel weak or tense?” Weakness → Deficiency; Tension → Excess.
Yin vs. Yang Synthesized from above Yin = cold, interior, deficiency, quiet. Yang = hot, exterior, excess, active.

At this point, the app can assign a primary quadrant (e.g., Interior Cold Deficiency (Yin) or Exterior Heat Excess (Yang)).

LEVEL 3: Organ & System Differentiation

Once global polarity is determined, drill down by organ pair — each with Yin/Yang tendencies.

System Example Branch Questions Yin/Yang Distinction
Kidney “Do you have low back pain, cold limbs, frequent urination, or tinnitus?” Yang deficiency (cold, weak) vs. Yin deficiency (dryness, night sweats).
Spleen / Stomach “Do you bloat easily? Loose or dry stools? Crave sweets?” Spleen Yang Deficiency (cold digestion) vs. Stomach Yin Deficiency (dry heat).
Liver / Gallbladder “Do you feel tense, frustrated, or have PMS or headaches?” Liver Qi Stagnation (mild Yin) vs. Liver Fire Rising (excess Yang).
Heart / Small Intestine “Do you have palpitations, anxiety, dream-disturbed sleep?” Heart Yin Deficiency (restless heat) vs. Heart Fire Excess (intense agitation).
Lung / Large Intestine “Do you get cough, dryness, or phlegm?” Yin deficiency (dry cough) vs. Damp-phlegm (cold, heavy cough).

LEVEL 4: Refinement Layer — Substance & Pathogen

Add follow-up questions to refine pattern by substance (Qi, Blood, Fluids) and pathogen (Damp, Heat, Cold, Wind).

Aspect Key Questions
Qi “Do you tire easily? Is your breathing weak?”
Blood “Do you feel dizzy or have pale complexion?”
Fluids “Do you feel dry, or do you have swelling and mucus?”
Wind “Are your symptoms sudden or shifting?”
Damp “Do you feel heavy or foggy-headed?”
Heat “Do you feel feverish, flushed, or thirsty?”
Cold “Do you feel chilled, and are your limbs cold?”

LEVEL 5: Output Layer (App Logic)

After 15–25 questions, the app can triangulate:

  • Primary polarity (Yin vs. Yang)

  • Nature (Hot vs. Cold, Deficient vs. Excess)

  • Core affected organ system

  • Leading pathogen/substance imbalance

Example output:

Pattern: Kidney Yang Deficiency (Yin-Cold-Deficient-Internal)
Symptoms: Cold limbs, frequent urination, low back pain, fatigue
Recommendations: Warming foods, moderate activity, Yang tonic support.

LEVEL 6 (Optional Depth Layer):

Add sliders or intensity scales (1–5) for symptom severity to weight results more dynamically (useful for AI inference).

Would you like me to convert this structure into a JSON decision-tree format next (suitable for use in an app or database), or keep it as a human-readable flowchart first?

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