Model-based reasoning and diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Abstract

It is common knowledge that there is an essential methodological distinction in dealing with diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) and in Modern Medicine(MM). For a long time, understanding the diagnosis in TCM has been quite disregarded. The concept of model-based reasoning can help us to get a new and clearer understanding of the cognitive process involved with TCM. In the first part of this paper I will present the most common models coming from the theory of TCM. In the second I will describe how these models are applied. Finally, I will discuss from a methodological point of view the significance of model-based reasoning in the diagnosis of TCM. © 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.