California Acupuncture Licensing Examination
(CALE) | 2025/2026 Questions and answers | Latest
Update | Instant Download!!
1. A 42-year-old patient presents with chronic migraines accompanied by
irritability, bitter taste in the mouth, and a wiry pulse. The MOST appropriate
TCM pattern is:
A. Liver Blood Deficiency
B. Liver Yang Rising (Correct Answer)
C. Kidney Yin Deficiency
D. Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder
Rationale:
Migraines with irritability, bitter taste, and a wiry pulse strongly indicate Liver Yang Rising.
2. Which acupuncture point is MOST effective for calming Liver Yang and
relieving headaches?
A. ST36
B. SP6
C. LV3 (Correct Answer)
D. BL23
Rationale:
LV3 (Taichong) is a primary point for regulating Liver Qi and subduing Liver Yang.
3. A patient experiences diarrhea with abdominal pain relieved by warmth and
pressure. The tongue is pale with a white coating. The MOST likely pattern is:
A. Damp-Heat in the Intestines
B. Food Stagnation
C. Cold-Damp encumbering the Spleen (Correct Answer)
D. Liver overacting on Spleen
,Rationale:
Cold-Damp diarrhea improves with warmth and pressure and presents with a pale tongue.
4. Which point combination BEST tonifies Spleen Qi in chronic digestive
weakness?
A. LI4 and LV3
B. ST36 and SP3 (Correct Answer)
C. GB34 and SJ5
D. BL17 and LV8
Rationale:
ST36 and SP3 strongly tonify Spleen Qi and improve digestion.
5. A 30-year-old woman reports irregular menses, breast distention, and
emotional stress. The MOST appropriate treatment principle is to:
A. Nourish Blood
B. Clear Heat
C. Soothe Liver Qi (Correct Answer)
D. Warm the Kidneys
Rationale:
Breast distention and stress-related menstrual irregularities indicate Liver Qi stagnation.
6. Which acupuncture point is MOST indicated for regulating menstruation and
moving Liver Qi?
A. BL20
B. ST29
C. LV14 (Correct Answer)
D. KI7
Rationale:
LV14 is the Front-Mu point of the Liver and is key for Liver Qi regulation.
,7. A patient presents with insomnia, palpitations, poor memory, and a thin pulse.
The MOST likely pattern is:
A. Heart Fire
B. Heart Blood Deficiency (Correct Answer)
C. Phlegm-Heat disturbing the Shen
D. Kidney Yang Deficiency
Rationale:
Heart Blood Deficiency commonly causes insomnia, palpitations, and poor memory.
8. Which point is MOST effective for nourishing Heart Blood and calming the
Shen?
A. DU20
B. HT7 (Correct Answer)
C. SJ6
D. GB20
Rationale:
HT7 is the Yuan-Source point of the Heart and calms the Shen.
9. A patient has lower back pain, cold limbs, frequent urination, and a deep weak
pulse. This presentation MOST strongly indicates:
A. Kidney Yin Deficiency
B. Kidney Yang Deficiency (Correct Answer)
C. Damp-Cold invasion
D. Blood Stasis
Rationale:
Cold symptoms and weakness indicate Kidney Yang Deficiency.
10. Which point combination BEST warms Kidney Yang?
A. KI3 and SP6
B. BL40 and ST36
C. DU4 and KI7 (Correct Answer)
D. LV3 and GB34
, Rationale:
DU4 and KI7 are key points for warming and strengthening Kidney Yang.
11. A patient presents with cough, thick yellow sputum, fever, and a slippery
rapid pulse. The MOST appropriate diagnosis is:
A. Wind-Cold invasion
B. Phlegm-Cold in the Lungs
C. Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs (Correct Answer)
D. Lung Qi Deficiency
Rationale:
Yellow sputum, fever, and rapid pulse indicate Heat.
12. Which point is MOST effective for clearing Lung Heat?
A. LU9
B. BL13
C. LU5 (Correct Answer)
D. KI27
Rationale:
LU5 is the He-Sea point of the Lung and clears Lung Heat.
13. A patient complains of vertigo, numbness of the limbs, and pale lips. The
MOST likely underlying condition is:
A. Wind-Heat
B. Blood Deficiency (Correct Answer)
C. Phlegm-Damp
D. Qi Stagnation
Rationale:
Vertigo with numbness and pale lips suggests Blood Deficiency.
14. Which point BEST nourishes Blood?
(CALE) | 2025/2026 Questions and answers | Latest
Update | Instant Download!!
1. A 42-year-old patient presents with chronic migraines accompanied by
irritability, bitter taste in the mouth, and a wiry pulse. The MOST appropriate
TCM pattern is:
A. Liver Blood Deficiency
B. Liver Yang Rising (Correct Answer)
C. Kidney Yin Deficiency
D. Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder
Rationale:
Migraines with irritability, bitter taste, and a wiry pulse strongly indicate Liver Yang Rising.
2. Which acupuncture point is MOST effective for calming Liver Yang and
relieving headaches?
A. ST36
B. SP6
C. LV3 (Correct Answer)
D. BL23
Rationale:
LV3 (Taichong) is a primary point for regulating Liver Qi and subduing Liver Yang.
3. A patient experiences diarrhea with abdominal pain relieved by warmth and
pressure. The tongue is pale with a white coating. The MOST likely pattern is:
A. Damp-Heat in the Intestines
B. Food Stagnation
C. Cold-Damp encumbering the Spleen (Correct Answer)
D. Liver overacting on Spleen
,Rationale:
Cold-Damp diarrhea improves with warmth and pressure and presents with a pale tongue.
4. Which point combination BEST tonifies Spleen Qi in chronic digestive
weakness?
A. LI4 and LV3
B. ST36 and SP3 (Correct Answer)
C. GB34 and SJ5
D. BL17 and LV8
Rationale:
ST36 and SP3 strongly tonify Spleen Qi and improve digestion.
5. A 30-year-old woman reports irregular menses, breast distention, and
emotional stress. The MOST appropriate treatment principle is to:
A. Nourish Blood
B. Clear Heat
C. Soothe Liver Qi (Correct Answer)
D. Warm the Kidneys
Rationale:
Breast distention and stress-related menstrual irregularities indicate Liver Qi stagnation.
6. Which acupuncture point is MOST indicated for regulating menstruation and
moving Liver Qi?
A. BL20
B. ST29
C. LV14 (Correct Answer)
D. KI7
Rationale:
LV14 is the Front-Mu point of the Liver and is key for Liver Qi regulation.
,7. A patient presents with insomnia, palpitations, poor memory, and a thin pulse.
The MOST likely pattern is:
A. Heart Fire
B. Heart Blood Deficiency (Correct Answer)
C. Phlegm-Heat disturbing the Shen
D. Kidney Yang Deficiency
Rationale:
Heart Blood Deficiency commonly causes insomnia, palpitations, and poor memory.
8. Which point is MOST effective for nourishing Heart Blood and calming the
Shen?
A. DU20
B. HT7 (Correct Answer)
C. SJ6
D. GB20
Rationale:
HT7 is the Yuan-Source point of the Heart and calms the Shen.
9. A patient has lower back pain, cold limbs, frequent urination, and a deep weak
pulse. This presentation MOST strongly indicates:
A. Kidney Yin Deficiency
B. Kidney Yang Deficiency (Correct Answer)
C. Damp-Cold invasion
D. Blood Stasis
Rationale:
Cold symptoms and weakness indicate Kidney Yang Deficiency.
10. Which point combination BEST warms Kidney Yang?
A. KI3 and SP6
B. BL40 and ST36
C. DU4 and KI7 (Correct Answer)
D. LV3 and GB34
, Rationale:
DU4 and KI7 are key points for warming and strengthening Kidney Yang.
11. A patient presents with cough, thick yellow sputum, fever, and a slippery
rapid pulse. The MOST appropriate diagnosis is:
A. Wind-Cold invasion
B. Phlegm-Cold in the Lungs
C. Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs (Correct Answer)
D. Lung Qi Deficiency
Rationale:
Yellow sputum, fever, and rapid pulse indicate Heat.
12. Which point is MOST effective for clearing Lung Heat?
A. LU9
B. BL13
C. LU5 (Correct Answer)
D. KI27
Rationale:
LU5 is the He-Sea point of the Lung and clears Lung Heat.
13. A patient complains of vertigo, numbness of the limbs, and pale lips. The
MOST likely underlying condition is:
A. Wind-Heat
B. Blood Deficiency (Correct Answer)
C. Phlegm-Damp
D. Qi Stagnation
Rationale:
Vertigo with numbness and pale lips suggests Blood Deficiency.
14. Which point BEST nourishes Blood?
