TCM Foundations Board Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Prep

The combination of redness in the eye, headache, and needle-like sensations is indicative of Toxic-Heat in the Heart in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This diagnosis arises from the manifestation of excess heat that can affect the Heart and the eyes, which are considered to be influenced by Heart function in TCM theory. Toxic-Heat is typically associated with inflammation and can present as eye redness, swelling, and discomfort, along with associated symptoms like headache.

In this context, needle-like sensations could suggest an irritation or stimulation of the nerves in relation to the Heart’s excess heat. Moreover, a headache accompanied by these symptoms reinforces the idea of an excess condition rather than a deficiency or stagnation.

Other conditions do not align with the specific combination of symptoms presented. Kidney Yang Deficiency typically produces different systemic effects, such as fatigue and cold sensations, and does not manifest in this way. Wind-Cold generally signifies conditions with chills and a clear nasal discharge rather than eye redness and an intense headache. Wind-Heat is often related to symptoms such as fever and a dry sensation in the throat but again lacks the direct association with the heart and needle-like sensations found in this case.

Thus, the symptoms described point clearly to a pattern of Toxic-Heat in