1. Fu Mai (Floating Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
The floating pulse travels only on the surface, like the light touch of a willow catkin;
In autumn, it indicates no illness, but in chronic cases, it can cause alarm.
Similar Pulse Poem:
Floating like wood floating in water, floating large and hollow is the Kuao pulse;
It floats lightly like a wave, though it may seem abundant, it departs slowly.
The floating pulse is light and even like twisting scallions, weak and late, it feels vast and empty;
Floating and soft, it is called Ru (Moist), scattered like willow fluff with no fixed trace.
Main Disease Poem:
The floating pulse indicates a Yang exterior disease, slow wind, heat, and tight cold confinement;
Strong and floating indicates much wind-heat, weak and floating indicates blood deficiency.
Floating at the cun (distal) indicates headache and dizziness from wind, or phlegm wind gathering in the chest;
At the guan (middle), earth is weak and wood is strong, at the chi (proximal), urination is obstructed.
2. Chen Mai (Deep Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
Water flows down, the pulse comes deep, soft and smooth between muscles and bones;
For women, it is at the cun, for men, it is at the chi, this is the norm through the seasons.
Similar Pulse Poem:
The deep pulse adjusts the muscles and bones, if pressed, it pushes against the bones;
Deep and fine like cotton is a true weak pulse, while a long and solid pulse is a strong form.
Main Disease Poem:
The deep pulse indicates water retention in the Yin channels, with heat and cold symptoms;
Weak and deep indicates deficiency of Qi, deep and strong indicates accumulation and cold.
Deep at the cun indicates phlegm stagnation and water retention in the chest,
At the guan, it indicates cold pain and obstruction, at the chi, it indicates turbid discharge and diarrhea.
3. Chi Mai (Slow Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
A slow pulse comes with three beats, Yang cannot overcome Yin, Qi and blood are cold.
Only by distinguishing floating and deep can one know the condition, to dispel Yin, one must nourish the source of fire.
Similar Pulse Poem:
A pulse with three beats is called slow, slightly faster than slow is called moderate;
Slow and fine, difficult to discern is called Se (Soggy), floating and slow, large and weak indicates deficiency.
Main Disease Poem:
The slow pulse governs organ diseases or phlegm, deep and chronic conditions require careful observation.
Strong and slow indicates cold pain, slow and weak indicates definite deficiency and cold.
At the cun, a slow pulse indicates upper jiao cold, at the guan, it indicates middle jiao cold and unbearable pain.
At the chi, it indicates kidney deficiency, lower back pain, and urinary issues.
4. Shuo Mai (Rapid Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
The rapid pulse beats six times in between, with weak Yin and strong Yang, it must be restless.
Floating and deep distinguish between deficiency and excess, only children show auspicious signs.
Similar Pulse Poem:
Rapid beats more than a normal person, tight like a string, it seems to bounce;
When rapid and then stops, it is called Cuo (Interrupted), rapid in the guan indicates arterial shape.
Main Disease Poem:
The rapid pulse indicates Yang heat, one must treat with the fire of the monarch;
Excess should be cooled and drained, deficiency should be warmed and tonified,
At the cun, it indicates throat and tongue sores, with red vomiting and coughing indicating lung ulcers.
At the guan, it indicates stomach fire and liver fire, at the chi, it indicates nourishing Yin and lowering fire decoction.
5. Hua Mai (Slippery Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
The slippery pulse is like beads rolling, flowing smoothly yet returning forward;
Do not confuse slippery with rapid, rapid pulse is only seen in intervals.
Main Disease Poem:
The slippery pulse indicates declining Yang Qi, phlegm causes numerous diseases, food causes disasters;
Above it causes nausea and vomiting, below it accumulates blood, for women, the pulse regulates during pregnancy.
At the cun, it indicates phlegm causing vomiting, sour swallowing, or coughing;
At the guan, it indicates retained food, liver and spleen heat, thirst, diarrhea, and dysuria.
6. Se Mai (Choppy Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
Fine, slow, and choppy, it is difficult to come and go, scattered and stopping vaguely should be noted.
Like rain touching sand, it easily scatters, sick silkworms eat leaves slowly and laboriously.
Similar Pulse Poem:
Imbalance in the combination of herbs is called choppy, lightly scraping bamboo is short and difficult.
Similar to a fine thread, it is softer, floating and deep do not distinguish between presence and absence.
Main Disease Poem:
Choppy indicates blood deficiency or injury to essence, reverse stomach, loss of Yang, rain and sweat.
Cold dampness enters the blood causing blood stasis, for women, if not pregnant, it indicates no menstruation.
At the cun, it indicates heart deficiency and chest pain, at the guan, it indicates stomach deficiency and distension.
At the chi, it indicates both essence and blood are injured, constipation, dysuria, or blood in the stool.
7. Xu Mai (Weak Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
Weak and soft, it feels gentle when pressed, the pulse is fine and deep, not floating;
Yang sinks into Yin, essence and blood are weak, even the white-haired can still feel youthful sorrow.
Similar Pulse Poem:
Weak pulse is similar to Ru,
Main Disease Poem:
Weak pulse indicates Yin deficiency and Yang Qi decline, with chills, fever, and muscle atrophy.
Excessive fright and sweating reduce spirit, tonifying Qi and nourishing blood must be done early.
At the cun, weak Yang deficiency indicates disease, at the guan, it indicates stomach weakness and spleen decline.
To seek Yang sinking into Yin deficiency, one must push the two parts of the Shenmen (Spirit Gate).
8. Shi Mai (Full Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
Both floating and deep are large and long, pressing does not feel weak or soft;
Heat accumulates in the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) forming strong fire, clearing the intestines and inducing sweating begins health.
Similar Pulse Poem:
Full pulse is strong and powerful, tight like a spring, it turns without permanence;
One must know the strong pulse supports muscles and bones, full and slightly wiry is longer.
Main Disease Poem:
Full pulse indicates Yang fire accumulation, causing madness, delirium, and frequent vomiting;
It may be due to Yang toxicity or food injury. Constipation or Qi pain.
At the cun, it indicates heat in the face, sore throat, and strong Qi filling the chest.
At the guan, it indicates spleen heat in the middle palace, at the chi, it indicates waist and intestinal pain and obstruction.
9. Chang Mai (Long Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
Exceeding the normal position, the pulse is called long, if it is string-like, it is not so;
Long pulse is far from the string pulse, a good practitioner can measure it accurately.
Main Disease Poem:
Long pulse is long and even, abnormality indicates disease like a pulling rope;
If not Yang toxicity or epilepsy, it indicates deep Yangming heat.
10. Duan Mai (Short Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
Both ends are short, called short, choppy, short, and fine, difficult to discern;
Short and choppy and floating is seen in autumn, while in spring, it is a thief with evil interference.
Main Disease Poem:
Short pulse is only found at the cun and chi, short and slippery indicates drunkenness harming the spirit;
Floating indicates blood stasis, deep indicates fullness, at the cun indicates headache, at the chi indicates abdominal pain.
11. Hong Mai (Surging Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
The surging pulse is abundant and then declines, filling the fingers like a flood in summer;
If in spring, autumn, or winter, rising Yang disperses fire, do not hesitate.
Similar Pulse Poem:
The surging pulse comes with a wave, declining and rising like a tide;
To know the full pulse, measure the unevenness, pressing down reveals the long and firm.
Main Disease Poem:
The surging pulse indicates Yang is strong, blood is deficient, and heat is present;
Distension in the stomach must be treated early, Yin deficiency leads to diarrhea.
At the cun, it indicates heart fire in the upper jiao, at the guan, it indicates surging pulse in the lung.
At the chi, it indicates liver fire and kidney deficiency.
12. Wei Mai (Weak Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
The weak pulse is very light, pressing it seems to disappear, as if it is non-existent;
Weak indicates weak Yang and weak Yin, fine is slightly thicker than weak.
Main Disease Poem:
Qi and blood are weak, the pulse is also weak, with chills, fever, and profuse sweating.
For men, it indicates extreme fatigue and various deficiencies, for women, it indicates bleeding and discharge.
At the cun, it indicates shortness of breath or heart palpitations, at the guan, it indicates fullness and distension.
At the chi, it indicates weak essence and blood, with chills and pain.
13. Jin Mai (Tight Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
Like twisting a rope, cutting like a string, the pulse is tight due to this condition;
It is all due to cold evil invading, internally causing abdominal pain and externally causing body aches.
Similar Pulse Poem:
Main Disease Poem:
Tight indicates various pains due to cold, wheezing, coughing, wind, and vomiting cold phlegm;
Floating and tight indicates exterior cold, while tight and deep indicates natural peace.
At the cun, it indicates Qi at the throat, at the guan, it indicates abdominal pain and heaviness;
At the chi, it indicates tightness due to cold, indicating running piglet and hernia pain.
14. Huan Mai (Slow Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
The slow pulse is gentle and flowing, like willow branches swaying in the light breeze;
To seek the spirit from the pulse, it lies in the calm and gentle.
Similar Pulse Poem:
Main Disease Poem:
The slow pulse indicates weak Ying and excess Wei, either wind, dampness, or spleen deficiency.
Above it indicates neck stiffness, below it indicates weakness and numbness,
At the cun, it indicates wind evil in the neck and back, at the guan, it indicates dizziness and stomach weakness.
Shenmen (Spirit Gate) may leak or wind may be secretive, or it may be a staggering foot with weak strength.
15. Kuao Mai (Wiry Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
The wiry pulse is large and light like scallions, the edges are solid, indicating emptiness within;
Fire invades the Yang channels, blood overflows, heat invades the Yin collaterals causing red flow.
Similar Pulse Poem:
Middle empty and sides solid is called Kuao, floating large and slow indicates a weak pulse;
Kuao with a wiry pulse is called Ge (Leather), Kuao indicates blood loss and blood deficiency.
Main Disease Poem:
At the cun, Kuao indicates blood accumulation in the chest, at the guan, it indicates intestinal abscess;
At the chi, it indicates much blood loss, red dysuria, and bloody diarrhea.
16. Xian Mai (String-like Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
The string-like pulse is long and straight, the liver channel is strong and the earth is injured;
Anger fills the chest, often wanting to shout, tears flow like rain.
Similar Pulse Poem:
The string-like pulse is straight like a silk string, tight like a rope, bouncing left and right;
Tight indicates its strength, string-like indicates its shape, full pulse is long and deep.
Main Disease Poem:
The string-like pulse corresponds to the liver and gallbladder channels, phlegm, cold, heat, and malaria afflict the body;
Floating, deep, slow, and rapid must be distinguished, large and small have weight and lightness.
At the cun, string-like indicates headache and phlegm, at the guan, it indicates cold and heat, and at the chi, it indicates heart and abdominal pain.
17. Ge Mai (Leather Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
The leather pulse feels like pressing on a drum skin, Kuao and string-like combine, the pulse is cold and weak;
For women, it indicates postpartum bleeding, for men, it indicates deficiency of nourishment or nocturnal emissions.
Similar Pulse Poem:
See Kuao and strong pulse.
18. Lao Mai (Firm Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
The firm pulse is long and solid, the pulse is firm and often resides in the deep;
Ge and Kuao rise from the surface, Ge is weak and Lao is strong, must be observed carefully.
Main Disease Poem:
Cold leads to firm and strong, abdominal and heart cold pain, wood overcomes spleen;
Hernia and abdominal masses are not to be worried about, blood loss and Yin deficiency must be avoided.
19. Ru Mai (Soft Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
The soft pulse is light and delicate, pressing lightly, it feels like water floating on the surface;
After illness or childbirth, there are still remedies, for normal people, it is rootless.
Similar Pulse Poem:
Floating and soft indicates Ru, deep and soft indicates weakness;
Fine indicates floating, fine indicates near to weak.
Main Disease Poem:
Ru indicates blood loss and Yin deficiency, marrow and essence are darkly depleted;
Profuse sweating at night steams into the bones, blood mountain collapses, dampness invades the spleen.
At the cun, Ru indicates weak Yang and excessive sweating, at the guan, it indicates Qi deficiency.
At the chi, it indicates injury to essence and blood, with cold and severe deficiency, warming and tonifying true Yin can alleviate the illness.
20. Ruo Mai (Weak Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
Weak comes without strength, pressing it feels soft, fine and deep, not floating;
Yang sinks into Yin, essence and blood are weak, even the white-haired can still feel youthful sorrow.
Similar Pulse Poem:
Weak pulse is similar to Ru;
Main Disease Poem:
Weak pulse indicates Yin deficiency and Yang Qi decline, with chills, fever, and muscle atrophy.
Excessive fright and sweating reduce spirit, tonifying Qi and nourishing blood must be done early.
At the cun, weak Yang deficiency indicates disease, at the guan, it indicates stomach weakness and spleen decline.
To seek Yang sinking into Yin deficiency, one must push the two parts of the Shenmen (Spirit Gate).
21. San Mai (Scattered Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
Scattered like willow fluff, it drifts and flies, coming and going without fixed rhythm;
In childbirth, it indicates birth signs, in prolonged illness, it indicates no need for treatment.
Similar Pulse Poem:
Scattered pulse is unrestrained and free, soft and floating like fine water;
Floating and slow indicates a weak pulse, Kuao pulse is hollow with two sides.
Main Disease Poem:
Left cun indicates palpitations, right cun indicates sweating,
Overflowing drink at the left guan indicates soft and scattered,
Right guan indicates soft and scattered, swelling, scattered at both chi indicates spirit is broken.
22. Xi Mai (Fine Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
Fine and delicate, like silk, pressing it feels heavy and continuous.
Spring and summer are not favorable for the young, while autumn and winter are suitable for the old and weak.
Similar Pulse Poem:
Fine pulse is similar to Wei and Ru;
Main Disease Poem:
Fine pulse indicates weak blood and Qi, various deficiencies and emotional disturbances;
If not dampness invading the waist and kidneys, it indicates essence injury and profuse sweating.
At the cun, it indicates frequent vomiting, at the guan, it indicates abdominal distension and stomach deficiency.
At the chi, it indicates cold in the lower dantian, with diarrhea, blood in the stool, or essence leakage.
23. Fu Mai (Hidden Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
Hidden pulse pushes against the muscles and bones, pressing it feels deep and hidden;
In febrile diseases desiring sweating, it indicates Yin.
Similar Pulse Poem:
See Chen Mai.
Main Disease Poem:
Hidden pulse indicates frequent vomiting and abdominal pain,
Accumulated phlegm and old phlegm form masses, do not delay in warming.
Food stagnation in the chest at both cun indicates hidden, desiring to vomit but unable;
At the guan, abdominal pain is heavy and deep, at the chi, it indicates hernia pain and abdominal rupture.
24. Dong Mai (Moving Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
The moving pulse shakes and sways, without head or tail, like a bean-shaped lump;
Its origin is the clash of Yin and Yang, the weak shakes while the strong remains stable.
Main Disease Poem:
The moving pulse governs pain and fright, sweating due to Yang movement and heat due to Yin;
It may indicate diarrhea, cramping diseases, loss of essence in men, or bleeding in women.
25. Cu Mai (Interrupted Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
Interrupted pulse is rapid and then stops, this indicates extreme Yang desiring to lose Yin;
Three jiao (Triple Burner) stagnant fire is blazing, advancing leads to no life, retreating may bring life.
Similar Pulse Poem:
See Dai Mai.
Main Disease Poem:
Interrupted pulse must treat fire diseases, its cause has five details to explore;
Frequent wheezing and coughing indicate phlegm accumulation, or madness and sores.
26. Jie Mai (Knotted Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
Knotted pulse is slow and then stops, indicating that Yin predominates and desires to lose Yang;
Floating indicates Qi stagnation, deep indicates accumulation, sweating is clear in the main pulse.
Similar Pulse Poem:
See Dai Mai.
Main Disease Poem:
Knotted pulse is due to Qi and blood stagnation, old phlegm accumulates causing suffering;
Internal accumulation and external swelling, hernia and masses are calamities belonging to Yin.
27. Dai Mai (Regular Pulse)
Body Condition Poem:
Moving and then stopping, unable to return, resuming movement indicates a regular pulse;
Patients with this pulse can still be treated, but for normal people, it relates to longevity.
Similar Pulse Poem:
Rapid and then stopping is called Cu, slow stopping must be called Jie;
Stopping without returning is Dai, Jie leads to Dai and death is a different path.
Main Disease Poem:
Dai pulse is due to organ Qi decline, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and deficiency in the lower jiao.
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