CMBA Herbal Medicine MCQ flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Ma Huang contraindication

Ephedra is contraindicated in hypertension, insomnia, and palpitations because its ephedrine content is sympathomimetic and raises blood pressure and heart rate.

Gui Zhi Tang composition

Gui Zhi Tang contains Gui Zhi, Bai Shao, Sheng Jiang, Da Zao, and Zhi Gan Cao. It releases the exterior and harmonises ying and wei in wind-cold with sweating.

Shi Gao function

Gypsum clears qi-level heat and drains Stomach fire. It is the chief herb of Bai Hu Tang and is used for high fever, thirst, and a surging pulse.

Fu Zi safety

Aconite restores devastated yang and warms the channels, but it is toxic. It requires prolonged decoction to reduce aconitine, and the raw form is never used internally.

Ban Xia processing

Pinellia transforms phlegm and dries dampness. The raw form is toxic and irritant, so it is processed with ginger as Jiang Ban Xia before internal use.

Eighteen Incompatibilities

The Shi Ba Fan lists herbs that must not be combined. Gan Cao opposes Gan Sui, Da Ji, and Yuan Hua; Wu Tou opposes Ban Xia, Gua Lou, Bei Mu, and Bai Lian.

Si Wu Tang composition

Si Wu Tang contains Shu Di Huang, Dang Gui, Bai Shao, and Chuan Xiong. It nourishes and invigorates blood and is the base formula for blood deficiency.

Huang Lian versus Huang Qin

Huang Lian clears heat and dries dampness in the Heart and Stomach. Huang Qin targets the Lung and upper jiao. Both are bitter and cold, drying dampness.

ST36 location

Zusanli is 3 cun below ST35, one finger-breadth lateral to the anterior tibial crest. It harmonises the Stomach and tonifies qi and blood.

LI4 pregnancy caution

Hegu lies between the first and second metacarpals on the hand dorsum. It is contraindicated in pregnancy because strong stimulation may induce labour.

PC6 location

Neiguan is 2 cun proximal to the wrist crease, between the tendons of palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis. It treats nausea and palpitations.

Deqi sensation

Deqi is the arrival of qi at the needle, felt as soreness, numbness, distension, or heaviness. It is considered necessary for clinical effect.

SP6 location

Sanyinjiao is 3 cun above the medial malleolus, posterior to the medial tibial border. It is contraindicated in pregnancy because it may stimulate the uterus.

GB20 needling direction

Fengchi lies between the upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid. The needle is directed toward the opposite eye, never upward, to avoid the foramen magnum.

Moxibustion contraindications

Moxibustion is avoided over the abdomen and lumbosacral region in pregnancy, over areas of deficient sensation, and over heat patterns or inflamed skin.

LU9 influential point

Taiyuan is at the radial end of the wrist crease. It is the influential point of the vessels and treats cough, asthma, and vessel disorders.

Eight Principles

The Eight Principles are yin and yang, interior and exterior, cold and heat, and deficiency and excess. They frame pattern identification in Chinese medicine diagnosis.

Yin deficiency signs

Yin deficiency shows a red tongue with scanty coating, a rapid thin pulse, night sweats, five-palm heat, and dry mouth, reflecting false heat from deficiency.

Damp-heat signs

Damp-heat presents with a greasy yellow tongue coat, a slippery rapid pulse, heaviness, bitter taste, and often sticky stools or urinary burning.

Wiry pulse meaning

A wiry pulse feels like a taut, straight string. It indicates Liver qi stagnation, pain, or phlegm, and is common in Liver-Spleen disharmony.

Zang and fu organs

The five zang are Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung, and Kidney. The six fu are Gallbladder, Stomach, Small Intestine, Large Intestine, Bladder, and San Jiao.

Floating versus deep pulse

A floating pulse is felt with light pressure and indicates an exterior pattern. A deep pulse requires heavy pressure and indicates an interior pattern.

Spleen qi deficiency

Spleen qi deficiency shows fatigue, poor appetite, loose stools, a pale tongue, and a weak pulse. It is treated with tonifying formulas such as Li Zhong Wan.

Kidney functions

The Kidney stores jing, governs water metabolism, controls reception of qi, and anchors the will. Kidney yang deficiency shows cold limbs and a pale swollen tongue.

Informed consent elements

Valid consent requires patient capacity, disclosure of benefits, risks, and alternatives, and a voluntary decision. The consent should be documented before treatment begins.

Needle-stick first aid

After a needle-stick injury, wash the site with soap and water, allow bleeding, report the incident, and seek post-exposure assessment per local protocol.

Sharps disposal rule

Used needles are single-use and must go directly into a puncture-resistant sharps container. Recapping by hand is avoided to prevent needle-stick injury.

Clinical record duty

Practitioners must keep accurate, contemporaneous records of assessment, treatment, and consent, and retain them for the period required by local law.

Scope of practice

Practice is limited to conditions within the practitioner's training and competence. Conditions outside that scope require referral to an appropriate professional.

Confidentiality duty

Patient information must remain confidential. Disclosure is permitted only with patient consent or where law mandates reporting, such as certain infectious diseases.

Indemnity insurance

Professional indemnity insurance protects practitioners against claims arising from clinical practice and is typically a condition of registration or employment.

Herbal prescribing checks

Before prescribing herbs, check pregnancy status, allergies, and drug interactions. Toxic herbs such as Fu Zi and raw Ban Xia require documented caution and correct processing.