Traditional medicine is an integral part of health services in many countries around the world and has an increasing importance in the close and long-term response to many health conditions. The WHO, by including a chapter on TCM in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, not only draws attention to its impacts on the health of the population, but also seeks a better integration of its diagnosis, research and regulations in national health systems. Syndrome
differentiation is a critical component in TCM diagnosis and treatment. It also has impacts on clinical practice, research and the appropriate use of the ICD-11’s codes. This article aims to present: 1. The ICD-11 and its purpose; 2. Syndrome’s concept
and characteristics in TCM, its mutation and transformation dynamics; 3. The clinical practice of TCM and the methodology of syndrome differentiation; 4. The 25-year experience of the Traditional Chinese Medicine School of Lisbon in TCM diagnosis with syndrome differentiation and the implications of the ICD-11. In the conclusion of their analysis, the authors point out the need for a standardised system with unified criteria for the nomenclature of the general status syndromes and the
zang fu ( 臟腑) syndromes with the indication of their symptoms and signs, so as to improve the practice of diagnosis, the research and use of the ICD-11 by TCM practitioners.