Floating Pulse
Today, I would like to learn with everyone about the Binhu Pulse Method. The enlightenment of pulse diagnosis begins with the Binhu pulse method, and through long-term practice, I feel that revisiting the Binhu pulse method is a very important matter.
Although there are many types of pulses, they can be categorized based on four aspects: position, number, shape, and quality. ①Floating Pulse Category The floating pulse category includes six pulses: floating (fu), surging (hong), soft (ru), scattered (san), hollow (kao), and leather (ge). These pulses are located superficially and can be easily felt.②Deep Pulse Category The deep pulse category includes four pulses: deep (chen), hidden (fu), weak (ruo), and firm (lao). These pulses are located deeper and require more pressure to be felt.③Slow Pulse Category The slow pulse category includes four pulses: slow (chi), relaxed (huan), rough (se), and knotted (jie). These pulses beat slowly, with less than four to five beats per breath.④Rapid Pulse Category The rapid pulse category includes four pulses: rapid (shuo), hurried (ji), urgent (cu), and moving (dong). These pulses beat quickly, with more than five beats per breath.⑤Weak Pulse Category The weak pulse category includes five pulses: weak (xu), fine (xi), faint (wei), intermittent (dai), and short (duan). These pulses are weak and lack strength.⑥Full Pulse Category The full pulse category includes five pulses: full (shi), slippery (hua), wiry (xian), tight (jin), and long (chang). These pulses are strong and vigorous.
Floating
The floating pulse is only felt on the surface of the flesh, like following the lightness of the elm pods. In the autumn, when the pulse is strong, it indicates no illness; however, in chronic illness, it can be alarming. The floating pulse is like wood floating in water, and a large hollow pulse indicates a hollow (kao) condition. A strong pulse that comes and goes is a surging (hong) pulse, which is vigorous at first but fades away slowly. The floating pulse feels light and flat, like twisting scallions, and when it is weak, it feels empty.
A floating pulse that is soft and fine is termed soft (ru), while a scattered (san) pulse is like willow fluff with no fixed trace. The floating pulse indicates a surface condition, but it can also be influenced by internal factors, such as wind, heat, tightness, or cold. A strong floating pulse suggests wind-heat, while a weak floating pulse indicates blood deficiency. A floating pulse at the inch position may indicate headaches or dizziness, and it should not be forgotten that it could also be due to wind-phlegm accumulation in the chest. A floating pulse at the guan position indicates spleen deficiency and liver qi excess, while a floating pulse at the chi position suggests urinary issues.
The floating pulse indicates that the disease is at the surface, but one must not overlook that a significant portion of the disease may be internal. The soft (ru), scattered (san), hollow (kao), and leather (ge) pulses are all examples of this. A weak floating pulse indicates blood deficiency, and this is an important point to remember. Therefore, postpartum women often have floating pulses, which may present as soft, scattered, hollow, or leather pulses; however, with improved conditions, soft pulses are more common. A floating pulse at the inch position is often found in the upper jiao, which may indicate a cold or headache, but it should also be considered that it could be due to wind-phlegm accumulation in the chest.These are mostly strong floating pulses. A floating pulse at the guan position indicates liver qi excess, while a floating pulse at the right guan indicates spleen deficiency. Why are there two different manifestations of deficiency and excess? In fact, liver qi excess suggests liver blood deficiency, but since the liver is a solid organ, it still presents as a strong floating pulse. A floating pulse at the right guan indicates spleen yin and blood deficiency, which may often accompany spleen qi deficiency, leading to a soft pulse.Urinary issues may arise when a floating pulse is present at the chi position. It is rare for a floating pulse to appear in the chi position; if it is a full condition, it is more likely to present as full, slippery, wiry, tight, or long pulses. If it is a deficiency condition, it is often due to yin deficiency or blood deficiency leading to constipation.
In summary, a strong floating pulse indicates that the pathogen is at the surface, while a weak pulse indicates that the deficiency is internal.