HERB FORMULAS – NCCAOM EXAM PREP 2025/2026 – COMPLETE
TCM Q&A GUIDE WITH 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS
A 38 year old male has been suffering from Meniere's disease for three years. He
experiences paroxysmal dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and headache
that made his head feel heavy. All of these symptoms are made worse with
movements. When he has an attack of vertigo he also feels nausea and an
opppressive feeling in the chest. He has a greasy tongue coating and a wiry-
slippery pulse. -
Answer-Er Chen Tang
Which of the following is the proper modification for Er Chen Tang if the patient
presents with severe headache? -
Answer-add Man Jing Zi
Which of the following formulas shares ingredients and treatment principles with
Er Chen Tang? -
Answer-Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan
Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang
Wen Dan Tang
Which of the following formulas most likely present with white greasy coating
with wiry- slippery pulse? -
Answer-Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang
A 50-year-old male complains that his left shoulder has been hurting since last
month after returning from a skiing weekend in Big Bear. The pain comes and
goes, and is worse on cold, cloudy or rainy days. His left shoulder is stiff with
reduced range of motion. His tongue is moist and coated white. His pulse is
wiry, slippery, and tight. -
Answer-Xiao Huo Luo Dan
Which of the following is the proper modification for Xiao Huo Luo Dan if the
patient presents with disabling pain? -
Answer-increase dose of Ru Xiang & Mo Yao
Which of the following formulas indicates External Wind versus Internal Wind? -
Answer-Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San (Ligusticum Chuanxiong Powder to be Taken with
Green Tea)
Which of following is NOT a common biomedical indication of Xiao Huo Luo Dan
(Minor Invigorate the Collaterals Special Pill)? -
Answer-contact dermatitis
* OK: peripheral nervous system disorders; RA; Hemiplegia after CVA
A 41-year-old female complains of fever for about three days. She states that
three days ago she began getting headaches, some chills, a slight fever, body
aches, a runny nose and coughing with whitish phlegm. She took some
Tylenol◻, which didn't do anything. Now she complains that her temperature is
,higher, she still has some dislike of cold, body aches, headaches and pain
around her eye. Additionally, she complains of thirst. She has a thin yellow
tongue coating. Her pulse is floating and slightly surging. -
Answer-Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang
, Which of the following is the proper modification for Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang if the
patient presents without chills, headache, or pain? -
Answer-omit Qiang Huo & Bai Zhi
What types of fever can be addressed by Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang? -
Answer-*C. intermittent fever that worsens upon exertion
A. decreasing chills and increasing fever-Chai Ge Jia Jie Tang
B. night fever and morning coolness-Qing Hao Bei Jia Tang
D. tidal fever with constipation-Da Cheng Qi Tang
Which of the following characteristics belong to Chai Ge Jie Jie Tang versus Gui
Zhi Tang? -
Answer-Pungent-cool nature
A 49 year old has been suffering from insomnia for the past 6 months. She has
difficulty falling asleep and once she does, has many dreams. She also reveals
that she suffers from irritability, palpitations with anxiety, memory loss, difficult
concentration, fatigue, night sweats, hot flashes, irregular menses and
constipation. Her tongue has little coating and the tip is red, her pulse is thready
and rapid. -
Answer-Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
Which of the following is the proper modification for Tain Wan Bu Xin Dan if the
patient presents with bedwetting, enuresis, and premature ejaculation? -
Answer-add Sang Piao Xiao
What is the king herb in Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan (Emperor of Heaven's Special Pill
to Tonify the Heart)? -
Answer-Sheng Di Huang
Which of the following formulas indicates insomnia due to red tongue with wiry,
thin and rapid pulse? -
Answer-Suan Zao Ren Tang
A 14-year-old male's mother brings him in to your clinic. He complains that since
yesterday he had felt stiffness in the neck and upper back, body aches and chills.
Yesterday his temperature was 100.4°F, so his mother gave him some CONTAC◻
COLD+FLU. This morning his symptoms are still there, but now he also has
diarrhea, a frontal and orbital headache, and feels irritable. During the physical
exam you fine that his temperature is 100.8°F, and his face is red and his is not
sweating, His pulse is superficial and tight. -
Answer-Ge Gen Tang
In what circumstance would you add Chuan Xiong, Huang Qin, Xin Yi Hua, and
Jie Geng? -
Answer-severe nasal blockage
TCM Q&A GUIDE WITH 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS
A 38 year old male has been suffering from Meniere's disease for three years. He
experiences paroxysmal dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and headache
that made his head feel heavy. All of these symptoms are made worse with
movements. When he has an attack of vertigo he also feels nausea and an
opppressive feeling in the chest. He has a greasy tongue coating and a wiry-
slippery pulse. -
Answer-Er Chen Tang
Which of the following is the proper modification for Er Chen Tang if the patient
presents with severe headache? -
Answer-add Man Jing Zi
Which of the following formulas shares ingredients and treatment principles with
Er Chen Tang? -
Answer-Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan
Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang
Wen Dan Tang
Which of the following formulas most likely present with white greasy coating
with wiry- slippery pulse? -
Answer-Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang
A 50-year-old male complains that his left shoulder has been hurting since last
month after returning from a skiing weekend in Big Bear. The pain comes and
goes, and is worse on cold, cloudy or rainy days. His left shoulder is stiff with
reduced range of motion. His tongue is moist and coated white. His pulse is
wiry, slippery, and tight. -
Answer-Xiao Huo Luo Dan
Which of the following is the proper modification for Xiao Huo Luo Dan if the
patient presents with disabling pain? -
Answer-increase dose of Ru Xiang & Mo Yao
Which of the following formulas indicates External Wind versus Internal Wind? -
Answer-Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San (Ligusticum Chuanxiong Powder to be Taken with
Green Tea)
Which of following is NOT a common biomedical indication of Xiao Huo Luo Dan
(Minor Invigorate the Collaterals Special Pill)? -
Answer-contact dermatitis
* OK: peripheral nervous system disorders; RA; Hemiplegia after CVA
A 41-year-old female complains of fever for about three days. She states that
three days ago she began getting headaches, some chills, a slight fever, body
aches, a runny nose and coughing with whitish phlegm. She took some
Tylenol◻, which didn't do anything. Now she complains that her temperature is
,higher, she still has some dislike of cold, body aches, headaches and pain
around her eye. Additionally, she complains of thirst. She has a thin yellow
tongue coating. Her pulse is floating and slightly surging. -
Answer-Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang
, Which of the following is the proper modification for Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang if the
patient presents without chills, headache, or pain? -
Answer-omit Qiang Huo & Bai Zhi
What types of fever can be addressed by Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang? -
Answer-*C. intermittent fever that worsens upon exertion
A. decreasing chills and increasing fever-Chai Ge Jia Jie Tang
B. night fever and morning coolness-Qing Hao Bei Jia Tang
D. tidal fever with constipation-Da Cheng Qi Tang
Which of the following characteristics belong to Chai Ge Jie Jie Tang versus Gui
Zhi Tang? -
Answer-Pungent-cool nature
A 49 year old has been suffering from insomnia for the past 6 months. She has
difficulty falling asleep and once she does, has many dreams. She also reveals
that she suffers from irritability, palpitations with anxiety, memory loss, difficult
concentration, fatigue, night sweats, hot flashes, irregular menses and
constipation. Her tongue has little coating and the tip is red, her pulse is thready
and rapid. -
Answer-Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
Which of the following is the proper modification for Tain Wan Bu Xin Dan if the
patient presents with bedwetting, enuresis, and premature ejaculation? -
Answer-add Sang Piao Xiao
What is the king herb in Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan (Emperor of Heaven's Special Pill
to Tonify the Heart)? -
Answer-Sheng Di Huang
Which of the following formulas indicates insomnia due to red tongue with wiry,
thin and rapid pulse? -
Answer-Suan Zao Ren Tang
A 14-year-old male's mother brings him in to your clinic. He complains that since
yesterday he had felt stiffness in the neck and upper back, body aches and chills.
Yesterday his temperature was 100.4°F, so his mother gave him some CONTAC◻
COLD+FLU. This morning his symptoms are still there, but now he also has
diarrhea, a frontal and orbital headache, and feels irritable. During the physical
exam you fine that his temperature is 100.8°F, and his face is red and his is not
sweating, His pulse is superficial and tight. -
Answer-Ge Gen Tang
In what circumstance would you add Chuan Xiong, Huang Qin, Xin Yi Hua, and
Jie Geng? -
Answer-severe nasal blockage
