The Wisdom of Not Knowing: Embracing Diagnostic Discomfort in Traditional East Asian Medicine

Uncertainty in clinical practice is often viewed as a weakness to be resolved. This article reframes uncertainty - particularly the emotional and cognitive discomfort it creates - as a vital source of clinical insight and diagnostic agility. Drawing on a challenging case of erythromelalgia, the author illustrates how embracing not-knowing can foster diagnostic creativity and responsiveness. Integrating reflections from philosophy, cognitive science and East Asian medical theory, the article argues for a deliberate engagement with clinical ambiguity. Uncertainty, rather than an obstacle, is presented as a necessary condition for deepened perception and therapeutic discovery.