Logical thinking in pattern differentiation of Traditional Chinese Medicine

ObjectiveTo discuss the application of logic to pattern differentiation for treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).MethodsComparing logic reasoning of syllogism with the logical thinking of TCM pattern differentiation for treatment.ResultsTCM logical thinking depends on symbolic and intuitive judgment with abstractive reasoning integrated into the process. Although it lacks quantitative measurement, it pays great attention to the comprehensive analysis of a disease's cause and its development patterns to get insight into the essence of illness.ConclusionTCM diagnosis reasoning method may lack rigorousness, continuity, systematic induction and deduction, but its logical thinking still can attain its goal following a process with rigorous, regulated and scientific formal logic.