1
CALE QUESTION BANK-PRACTICE EXAM 2026
California Acupuncture Licensing Exam (CALE) 200
Questions and Verified Correct ANSWER s with
Rationales Updated for 2026 | Based on California
Acupuncture Board Standards"
FOUNDATIONS & DIAGNOSIS
Q: What are the Five Elements (Wu Xing)?
A) Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Air
B) Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water
C) Wood, Fire, Earth, Air, Water
D) Wind, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water
☑ CORRECT ANSWER : B. Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water
Rationale: The five phases represent fundamental transformations in nature and
the body. Air is not one of the elements.
Q: Which organ system is associated with anger?
A) Heart
B) Spleen
C) Kidney
D) Liver
☑ CORRECT ANSWER : D. Liver
Rationale: When Liver Qi is stagnant or hyperactive, the patient may exhibit
irritability and anger. This is the emotion of the Liver.
,2
Q: What is the cause of phlegm according to TCM?
A) Spleen not doing transportation and transformation
B) Lung not doing dispersion and descent
C) Kidney failing to transform fluids
D) Liver failing to regulate Qi
☑ CORRECT ANSWER : A. Spleen not doing transportation and transformation
Rationale: The Spleen is responsible for transforming and transporting fluids.
When the Spleen fails, fluids accumulate and form phlegm.
Q: Cracks on the tongue like ice floes indicate?
A) Yin Deficiency due to illness
B) Severe Body Fluids deficiency with Yin Xu
C) Stomach Yin Deficiency
D) Fluid consumption from febrile disease
☑ CORRECT ANSWER : A. Yin Deficiency due to illness
Rationale: This pattern suggests chronic fluid consumption from prolonged
illness.
BIOMEDICAL & CLINICAL
Q: Eosinophils are present under which condition?
A) Viral infection
B) Bacterial infection
C) Allergic reaction
D) Parasitic Infection
☑ CORRECT ANSWER : D. Parasitic Infection
,3
Rationale: Eosinophils are characteristically elevated in parasitic infections and
allergic reactions, with parasitic infection being a classic cause.
Q: Tachycardia is considered any heart rate of:
A) Under 60 bpm
B) Over 100 bpm
C) 99 bpm
D) Under 80 bpm
☑ CORRECT ANSWER : B. Over 100 bpm
Rationale: Tachycardia is defined as a heart rate exceeding 100 beats per
minute in adults. Bradycardia is under 60 bpm.
POINTS & CHANNELS
Q: Which divergent channels connect to the heart organ?
A) Three Arm Yang
B) Three Leg Yang
C) Three Arm Yin
D) Three Leg Yin
☑ CORRECT ANSWER : B. Three Leg Yang
Rationale: The three Leg Yang divergent channels (Bladder, Gallbladder,
Stomach) all connect to the Heart organ via their divergent pathways. The Leg
Yin channels do not have this connection.
Q: Mirror image of SJ10 (Tianjing)?
A) UB (Bladder)
B) GB (Gallbladder)
C) ST (Stomach)
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D) LV8 (Ququan)
☑ CORRECT ANSWER : B. GB (Gallbladder)
*Rationale: This refers to point location mirroring on the body. Tianjing (SJ10) is
on the elbow, and its opposite-side counterpart for treatment purposes is the
Gallbladder channel point.*
Q: Which points treat digestion issues and mental issues?
A) SP (Spleen points)
B) ST (Stomach points)
C) HT (Heart points)
D) PC (Pericardium points)
☑ CORRECT ANSWER : B. ST (Stomach points)
*Rationale: The Stomach channel contains points that address both
gastrointestinal functions and mental-emotional conditions. Many ST points on
the abdomen and lower leg are used for "digestion issues," and ST40 (Fenglong)
is a classic point for phlegm misting the heart/mind, causing mental issues.*
HERBS & FORMULAS
Q: Which herb has the same action as Lasix (a diuretic)?
A) Bai Guo (Ginkgo)
B) Ma Huang (Ephedra)
C) Fu Ling (Poria)
D) Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis)
☑ CORRECT ANSWER : C. Fu Ling
Rationale: Fu Ling promotes urination and drains dampness, similar to the
diuretic action of Lasix.
CALE QUESTION BANK-PRACTICE EXAM 2026
California Acupuncture Licensing Exam (CALE) 200
Questions and Verified Correct ANSWER s with
Rationales Updated for 2026 | Based on California
Acupuncture Board Standards"
FOUNDATIONS & DIAGNOSIS
Q: What are the Five Elements (Wu Xing)?
A) Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Air
B) Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water
C) Wood, Fire, Earth, Air, Water
D) Wind, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water
☑ CORRECT ANSWER : B. Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water
Rationale: The five phases represent fundamental transformations in nature and
the body. Air is not one of the elements.
Q: Which organ system is associated with anger?
A) Heart
B) Spleen
C) Kidney
D) Liver
☑ CORRECT ANSWER : D. Liver
Rationale: When Liver Qi is stagnant or hyperactive, the patient may exhibit
irritability and anger. This is the emotion of the Liver.
,2
Q: What is the cause of phlegm according to TCM?
A) Spleen not doing transportation and transformation
B) Lung not doing dispersion and descent
C) Kidney failing to transform fluids
D) Liver failing to regulate Qi
☑ CORRECT ANSWER : A. Spleen not doing transportation and transformation
Rationale: The Spleen is responsible for transforming and transporting fluids.
When the Spleen fails, fluids accumulate and form phlegm.
Q: Cracks on the tongue like ice floes indicate?
A) Yin Deficiency due to illness
B) Severe Body Fluids deficiency with Yin Xu
C) Stomach Yin Deficiency
D) Fluid consumption from febrile disease
☑ CORRECT ANSWER : A. Yin Deficiency due to illness
Rationale: This pattern suggests chronic fluid consumption from prolonged
illness.
BIOMEDICAL & CLINICAL
Q: Eosinophils are present under which condition?
A) Viral infection
B) Bacterial infection
C) Allergic reaction
D) Parasitic Infection
☑ CORRECT ANSWER : D. Parasitic Infection
,3
Rationale: Eosinophils are characteristically elevated in parasitic infections and
allergic reactions, with parasitic infection being a classic cause.
Q: Tachycardia is considered any heart rate of:
A) Under 60 bpm
B) Over 100 bpm
C) 99 bpm
D) Under 80 bpm
☑ CORRECT ANSWER : B. Over 100 bpm
Rationale: Tachycardia is defined as a heart rate exceeding 100 beats per
minute in adults. Bradycardia is under 60 bpm.
POINTS & CHANNELS
Q: Which divergent channels connect to the heart organ?
A) Three Arm Yang
B) Three Leg Yang
C) Three Arm Yin
D) Three Leg Yin
☑ CORRECT ANSWER : B. Three Leg Yang
Rationale: The three Leg Yang divergent channels (Bladder, Gallbladder,
Stomach) all connect to the Heart organ via their divergent pathways. The Leg
Yin channels do not have this connection.
Q: Mirror image of SJ10 (Tianjing)?
A) UB (Bladder)
B) GB (Gallbladder)
C) ST (Stomach)
, 4
D) LV8 (Ququan)
☑ CORRECT ANSWER : B. GB (Gallbladder)
*Rationale: This refers to point location mirroring on the body. Tianjing (SJ10) is
on the elbow, and its opposite-side counterpart for treatment purposes is the
Gallbladder channel point.*
Q: Which points treat digestion issues and mental issues?
A) SP (Spleen points)
B) ST (Stomach points)
C) HT (Heart points)
D) PC (Pericardium points)
☑ CORRECT ANSWER : B. ST (Stomach points)
*Rationale: The Stomach channel contains points that address both
gastrointestinal functions and mental-emotional conditions. Many ST points on
the abdomen and lower leg are used for "digestion issues," and ST40 (Fenglong)
is a classic point for phlegm misting the heart/mind, causing mental issues.*
HERBS & FORMULAS
Q: Which herb has the same action as Lasix (a diuretic)?
A) Bai Guo (Ginkgo)
B) Ma Huang (Ephedra)
C) Fu Ling (Poria)
D) Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis)
☑ CORRECT ANSWER : C. Fu Ling
Rationale: Fu Ling promotes urination and drains dampness, similar to the
diuretic action of Lasix.
