Foundations Deck

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Foundations Deck

400+ Cards | Study, Review, and Master TCM Fundamentals
📘 Physical Deck + Lifetime Digital Access

💛 Build a Strong Foundation in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Every TCM practitioner’s journey begins with the Foundations — Yin-Yang, the Five Elements, Qi, Blood, Body Fluids, and Organ Patterns.
The Boncho Friends Foundations Deck was designed to make learning (and remembering!) these core principles simple, visual, and fun.

Created for both students preparing for board exams (NCCAOM, CALE, Pan-Canadian) and practitioners refreshing their knowledge, this deck transforms complex TCM theory into visual, easy-to-understand cards — helping you truly get the medicine behind the terminology.

Developed using trusted academic references:
📖 The Foundations of Chinese Medicine (3rd Edition) by Giovanni Maciocia
📖 Practical Diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine by Deng Tietao

Both are recommended primary resources for the NCCAOM Foundations section of Oriental Medicine exams.

🧠 What’s Inside

• 200+ Pattern Cards: Covering TCM theory, organ functions, and disease differentiation
• Tongue & Pulse Icons: Quick visual guides to match clinical findings
• Governing Formulas: Key herbal formulas associated with each pattern
• Boncho Icons: Simplify complex theory into intuitive, visual symbols
• Memory Anchor Comics: Cute, hand-drawn characters by Isaac that help reinforce memory and shorten study time
• Multilingual Terminology: Each card includes Pinyin, Chinese Characters, Korean, and English names for cross-language understanding

✨ Front Side Includes

Each card distills key diagnostic information for easy recall and application:

1. Pattern Name (e.g., Heart Qi Deficiency)
2. Boncho Icons – visual symbols summarizing key pathologies and organ systems
3. Tongue & Pulse Signs
4. Main Symptoms
5. Governing Formulas
6. Memory Anchor Comic – an expressive illustration that visualizes how the pattern feels and behaves

📖 Back Side Includes

1. Pattern Name
2. Memory Anchor Comic
3. Pinyin, Chinese, and Korean Names — perfect for multilingual students and practitioners

🌟 Why You’ll Love It

1️⃣ Comprehensive Content:
Dive deep into the foundational concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine — from Zang-Fu theory to diagnostic principles. Perfect for both beginners and those seeking a thorough review.

2️⃣ Visual Learning Aid:
Engaging, color-coded cards designed to help you learn faster and retain longer. Each illustration transforms complex TCM theory into easy-to-understand visuals.

3️⃣ Multilingual Support:
Includes Pinyin, Chinese Characters, Korean, and English terminology so you can connect meaning across languages.

4️⃣ Compact & Convenient:
Take your deck anywhere — ideal for study groups, clinic reference, or on-the-go learning.

🌼 Build a Strong Base

Establish a solid understanding of TCM fundamentals — Yin-Yang theory, Five Elements, Zang-Fu organs, Qi-Blood-Fluids, and more.
Strengthen your knowledge to excel in exams or clinical practice.

🩸 We’ve included direct translations of Chinese characters for TCM terms so you can better understand the essence of each concept — something we wished we had when studying!

🌿 Enhance Clinical Practice

Refine your diagnostic and treatment skills with over 200 TCM pattern cards that illustrate common imbalances, symptoms, and treatment principles.
Develop the ability to read patterns holistically — from pulse and tongue to emotional and lifestyle causes.

📲 Lifetime Digital Access Included

Every deck comes with lifetime digital access via the Boncho Friends platform.
Study anywhere, anytime — from your phone, tablet, or computer through your web browser or the Mighty Networks app.

💬 Why TCM Students & Practitioners Love It

• Simplifies complex theory into clear, visual explanations
• Supports memorization and quick recall for exams and clinic work
• Provides the missing bridge between Chinese characters and applied TCM meaning
• Makes learning TCM enjoyable and approachable

📚 Primary Resources

Developed using:

• The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive 3rd Edition by Giovanni Maciocia
• Practical Diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine by Deng Tietao

Both recognized as primary sources for the NCCAOM Foundations section of Oriental Medicine exams.

💡 Perfect For

• TCM students preparing for NCCAOM, CALE, or Pan-Canadian exams
• Practitioners wanting a deeper grasp of diagnostic patterns
• Educators & Study Groups seeking visual learning tools for teaching and review

🩷 From the Boncho Friends Team

We built this deck to make understanding the roots of TCM — Qi, Blood, Yin-Yang, and Patterns — feel intuitive and memorable.
It’s more than just a study tool — it’s your visual guide to seeing TCM through the eyes of the classics, one card at a time. 🥰