1. Floating Pulse (Fu Mai)
The floating pulse is strong when lifted and weak when pressed down (from “Pulse Classic”). It resembles the feathers on a bird’s back blown by a gentle breeze, light and floating (lightly floating appearance), like following the elm pods (from “Suwen”), like wood floating on water (Cui’s description), like twisting the leaves of scallions (Li’s description).
The floating pulse indicates a light and clear presence above, symbolized by the Qian hexagram, associated with autumn, and corresponds to the lungs, also known as “Mao”. If excessive, it feels firm in the center and empty on the sides, like following chicken feathers, indicating an external illness. If insufficient, the qi feels weak and the illness is internal. The “Pulse Classic” states that if it feels like excessive, it is a combination of floating and surging tightness, not merely a floating pulse.
Body Condition Poem:
The floating pulse travels only on the flesh, like following elm pods, light as feathers;
In the third autumn, knowing one is well, encountering it in a long illness can be alarming.
Similar Condition Poem:
Floating like wood in water, large and hollow is the Kuo pulse;
It floats lightly when pressed, is the Hong pulse, though it may seem strong, it departs slowly.
The floating pulse is light and flat like twisting scallions, weak and late, large and empty;
Floating and soft is the Ru pulse, scattered like willow fluff with no fixed trace.
Main Illness Poem:
The floating pulse indicates exterior yang diseases, slow wind, multiple heat, tight cold confinement;
Strong and floating indicates much wind heat, weak and floating indicates blood deficiency.
Floating at the inch indicates headaches and dizziness from wind, or phlegm wind gathering in the chest;
At the guan, earth is weak and wood is strong, at the chi, urination is obstructed.
The floating pulse indicates exterior conditions, strong indicates real, weak indicates empty, floating slow indicates wind, floating rapid indicates wind heat, floating tight indicates wind cold, floating slow indicates wind damp, floating weak indicates heat injury, floating Kuo indicates blood loss, floating Hong indicates empty heat, floating scattered indicates exhaustion.
2. Deep Pulse (Chen Mai)
The deep pulse is felt only by pressing down to the tendons and bones (from “Pulse Classic”). It is like sand wrapped in cotton, firm inside and soft outside (Yang’s description). Like a stone thrown into water, it must reach the bottom. The deep pulse indicates a presence of deep springs below, symbolized by the Kan hexagram, associated with winter, and corresponds to the kidneys, also known as “Shi” or “Ying”.
If excessive, it feels like a bouncing stone, pressing down makes it firmer, indicating an external illness. If insufficient, the qi feels weak and the pulse is thin, indicating an internal illness. The “Pulse Classic” states that if it feels like soft cotton, it is not deep. There are slow, rapid, and various types of deep pulses; soft cotton indicates a weak pulse, not a deep one.
Body Condition Poem:
Water flows and moistens, the pulse comes deep, smooth and even between the tendons and bones;
For women at the inch and men at the chi, this is the norm throughout the four seasons.
Similar Condition Poem:
Deep helps the tendons and bones adjust evenly, pressing down feels like pushing tendons against bones;
Deep and fine like cotton is a true weak pulse, while a long and firm pulse is a solid form.
Main Illness Poem:
The deep pulse indicates internal diseases, rapid heat, slow cold, and slippery phlegm.
Weak and deep indicates deficiency of qi, deep and strong indicates accumulation of cold.
Floating at the inch indicates phlegm stagnation and water retention in the chest, at the guan indicates internal cold pain and obstruction.
At the chi, turbid loss and diarrhea, kidney deficiency, waist, and lower abdomen pain.
The deep pulse indicates internal conditions, strong indicates real, weak indicates empty. Deep indicates qi, also indicates water retention, deep slow indicates chronic cold, deep rapid indicates internal heat, deep slippery indicates phlegm food, deep rough indicates qi stagnation, deep weak indicates cold heat, deep slow indicates cold damp, deep tight indicates cold pain, deep solid indicates cold accumulation.
3. Slow Pulse (Chi Mai)
The slow pulse has three beats per breath, coming and going extremely slowly (from “Pulse Classic”).
Slow indicates yang cannot overcome yin, hence the pulse comes slowly. The “Pulse Classic” states that heavy pressure is needed to feel it, indicating it is deep without floating. Three beats per breath are very easy to observe. However, if it feels hidden or difficult to describe, it is a rough pulse, which is evident.
Body Condition Poem:
Slow comes with one breath to three, yang cannot overcome yin, qi and blood are cold.
Just separate floating and deep to distinguish exterior and interior, to dispel yin one must nourish the source of fire.
Similar Condition Poem:
The pulse comes three times, called slow, slightly faster than slow is called moderate.
Slow and fine yet difficult to discern is rough, floating and slow indicates great emptiness.
Main Illness Poem:
Slow indicates organ diseases or much phlegm, deep chronic conditions require careful observation.
Strong and slow indicates cold pain, slow and weak indicates deficiency cold.
At the inch, slow indicates upper jiao cold, at the guan indicates middle jiao cold pain unbearable.
At the chi, indicates kidney deficiency, waist and feet feel heavy, urination is obstructed, hernia pulls the testicles.
4. Rapid Pulse (Shu Mai)
The rapid pulse has six beats per breath (from “Pulse Classic”). The pulse flows thin and fast (from “Suwen”). Rapid indicates yin cannot overcome yang, hence the pulse comes too fast.
Floating, deep, slow, rapid are the main categories of pulses. Both “Suwen” and “Pulse Classic” describe them as standard pulses. The “Pulse Classic” establishes seven exterior and eight interior, yet neglects the rapid pulse, only singing its praises in the heart, which is a great error.
Body Condition Poem:
Rapid pulse has six beats per breath, yin is weak and yang is strong, causing agitation.
Floating and deep separate exterior and interior, only children show auspicious signs.
Similar Condition Poem:
Rapid is one more than the normal person, tight comes like a string being plucked.
Rapid and stopping at times is called hurried, rapid in the guan indicates arterial shape.
Main Illness Poem:
Rapid pulse indicates yang heat, one must use the fire of the lord to treat it.
Real should cool and drain, while empty should warm and tonify, lung diseases in autumn are to be feared.
At the inch, rapid indicates throat and tongue sores, coughing up blood, lung ulcers.
At the guan, indicates stomach fire and liver fire, at the chi, indicates nourishing yin and lowering fire decoction.
5. Slippery Pulse (Hua Mai)
The slippery pulse comes and goes smoothly, flowing and turning, like pearls responding to the fingers (from “Pulse Classic”). It is slippery like wanting to escape.
Slippery indicates excess yin qi, hence the pulse flows smoothly like water. The pulse is the vessel of blood. When blood is abundant, the pulse is slippery, hence the kidney pulse is suitable; when qi is abundant, the pulse is rough, hence the lung pulse is suitable.
The “Pulse Classic” states: pressing it down makes it sink, three guan like pearls, neither advancing nor retreating, this does not distinguish between floating slippery, deep slippery, and inch and chi slippery, which is now corrected.
Body Condition Poem:
Slippery pulse like pearls comes and goes, flowing smoothly yet returning.
Do not confuse slippery and rapid as the same, rapid pulse is only seen in the intervals.
Main Illness Poem:
Slippery pulse indicates declining yang qi, phlegm causes numerous diseases, food causes disasters.
Above indicates vomiting and nausea, below indicates blood retention, women’s pulse regulates time and determines pregnancy.
At the inch, slippery indicates phlegm causing vomiting, sour swallowing, or coughing.
At the guan, indicates retained food, liver and spleen heat, thirst, diarrhea, and dysuria at the chi.
6. Rough Pulse (Se Mai)
The rough pulse is fine and slow, difficult to come and go, short and scattered, or stops and returns (from “Pulse Classic”). It is unbalanced (from “Suwen”). Like a light knife scraping bamboo (from “Pulse Classic”). Like rain touching sand (from “Tongzhenzi”). Like a sick silkworm eating leaves.
Rough indicates excess yang qi, when qi is abundant, blood is scarce, hence the pulse comes sluggishly, suitable for the lungs. The “Pulse Classic” states: seeking it beneath the fingers seems present, lifting it shows it is entirely absent. This is unrelated to what is stated in the “Pulse Classic”.
Body Condition Poem:
Fine, slow, and rough pulse comes and goes with difficulty, scattered and stopping faintly beneath the fingers.
Like rain touching sand easily scatters, sick silkworms eat leaves slowly and laboriously.
Similar Condition Poem:
Unbalanced indicates rough, light knife scraping bamboo is short and difficult.
Similar to a second of softness, floating and deep are indistinguishable.
Main Illness Poem:
Rough indicates blood deficiency or injury to essence, reverse stomach, loss of yang, sweat and rain.
Cold damp enters the camp causing blood stasis, women not pregnant or without menstruation.
At the inch, rough indicates heart deficiency pain in the chest, at the guan indicates stomach deficiency and fullness in the middle.
At the chi indicates both essence and blood are injured, intestinal obstruction, dysuria, or blood in the stool.
7. Weak Pulse (Xu Mai)
The weak pulse is slow, large, and soft, pressing down shows no strength, hidden fingers feel empty (from “Pulse Classic”). Cui Zixu states: large shape, thin strength, its weakness is evident.
The “Pulse Classic” states: seeking it shows insufficiency, lifting it shows excess. It only mentions floating pulse, not seeing the weak state. Yang Renzhai states: it resembles willow fluff, scattered and slow. Hua’s description states: scattered, large, and soft, all are scattered pulses, not weak.
Body Condition Poem:
Lifting it shows slow and large, pressing down feels loose, the pulse shape is boundless like an empty valley.
Do not confuse Kuo and Xu as one, Kuo comes floating large like scallions.
Main Illness Poem:
The weak pulse indicates body heat from heat injury, spontaneous sweating, palpitations, and anxiety.
Fever and yin deficiency must be treated early, nourishing the camp and benefiting qi should not be delayed.
Blood does not nourish the heart, the inch pulse is weak, at the guan indicates abdominal distension and difficulty in digestion.
Bone steaming, weakness, injury to essence and blood, yet resides in the spirit gate of both sections.
8. Solid Pulse (Shi Mai)
The solid pulse can be felt both floating and deep, large and long, slightly taut, responding strongly (from “Pulse Classic”). The “Pulse Classic” states that it is firm and solid. The “Pulse Classic” states: like a rope responding to the fingers, it is a tight pulse, not a solid pulse.
Body Condition Poem:
Both floating and deep can be felt, large and long, responding strongly without emptiness.
Heat accumulates in the three jiaos forming strong fire, passing through the intestines and sweating begins to restore health.
Similar Condition Poem:
Solid pulse can be felt both floating and deep, tight like a plucked string, turning irregularly.
One must know that solid pulse helps the tendons and bones, solid and large with slight tautness is longer.
Main Illness Poem:
Solid pulse indicates yang fire accumulation, causing madness, delirium, and frequent vomiting.
It may be due to yang toxicity or food injury. Constipation or abdominal pain may occur.
At the inch, solid indicates heat in the face, sore throat, strong tongue, and qi filling the chest.
At the guan, indicates stomach heat and fullness in the middle palace, at the chi indicates waist and intestinal pain with obstruction.
9. Long Pulse (Chang Mai)
The long pulse is neither small nor large, extending far (Zhu’s description). It resembles following the end of a long pole, indicating normal; like pulling a rope, like following a long pole, indicating illness (from “Suwen”).
Long has three types: one type is long, associated with spring, corresponding to the liver; the heart pulse is long, spirit strong, qi robust; the kidney pulse is long, firmly rooted and deep. The “Classic” states: long indicates qi treatment. All refer to normal pulses.
Body Condition Poem:
Exceeding the normal position, the pulse is called long, taut is not so, but fully extended.
Long pulse and taut pulse are far apart, a good craftsman can measure accurately.
Main Illness Poem:
Long pulse extends far, size is even, abnormal indicates illness like pulling a rope.
If not yang toxicity or epilepsy, it indicates deep yangming heat.
10. Short Pulse (Duan Mai)
The short pulse does not reach the normal position (from “Pulse Classic”). It responds and returns, unable to fill the entire section (from “Pulse Classic”).
Dai Tongfu states: short pulse is only seen at the inch, if seen at the guan, it is short, not reaching the inch, not reaching the chi, it is the pulse of yin and yang separation, must be fatal. Therefore, the guan does not diagnose short pulses.
Li Jushi states: length and shortness have no fixed form, all pulses lifted and pressed, exceeding the normal position is long, not reaching the normal position is short. Long pulse belongs to the liver, suitable for spring. Short pulse belongs to the lungs, suitable for autumn. However, when diagnosing liver and lung, length and shortness are self-evident. Short pulse has no ends, only in the middle, not reaching the normal position, indicating insufficient qi leading to blood.
Body Condition Poem:
Both ends shrink, called short, rough and slow, fine and difficult.
Short and rough yet floating is seen in autumn, in spring, it is a thief with evil interference.
Main Illness Poem:
Short pulse is only found at the inch, short and slippery indicates wine injury to the spirit.
Floating indicates blood roughness, deep indicates fullness, at the inch indicates headaches, at the chi indicates abdominal pain.
11. Hong Pulse (Hong Mai)
The Hong pulse is extremely large (from “Pulse Classic”). It comes strong and departs weak (from “Suwen”). It comes large and departs long (from “Tongzhenzi”). The Hong pulse is represented by the Li hexagram, associated with summer, and corresponds to the heart. The “Suwen” refers to it as large, also called “Gou”.
Hua states: it comes strong and departs weak, like a hook that curves up and then down. It symbolizes the blood pulse coming and going, resembling all things spreading and hanging down. Zhan Yan states: like a ring of pearls, not so. The “Pulse Classic” states: late summer is suitable, autumn and winter, sweating and promoting yang, are not suitable for the Hong pulse, which is a great error.
Body Condition Poem:
The pulse comes strong and departs weak, filling the fingers, surging like summer.
If in spring, autumn, or winter, rising yang and dispersing fire should not be doubted.
Similar Condition Poem:
The Hong pulse comes strong and departs weak, like waves rising and falling.
To know the solid pulse, observe the differences, lifting and pressing reveals the strong and firm.
Main Illness Poem:
The Hong pulse indicates strong yang blood, suggesting deficiency, the fire of the lord is burning.
Fullness in the stomach must be treated early, yin deficiency, diarrhea, and dysentery should not be delayed.
At the inch, the Hong pulse indicates heart fire in the upper jiao, at the guan indicates lung pulse is strong, at the chi indicates liver fire and stomach deficiency.
12. Wei Pulse (Wei Mai)
The Wei pulse is extremely fine and soft, pressing down feels like it is about to disappear, as if it is present and absent (from “Pulse Classic”). It is fine and slightly long (Dai’s description). The “Suwen” refers to it as small. When qi and blood are weak, the pulse is weak.
Body Condition Poem:
The Wei pulse is light and fine, pressing down feels like it is about to disappear, as if it is present and absent.
Weak indicates weak yang and weak yin, fine is slightly thicker than weak.
Main Illness Poem:
Qi and blood are weak, hence the pulse is weak, aversion to cold, fever, and profuse sweating.
For men, it indicates extreme exhaustion and various deficiencies, for women, it indicates bleeding and discharge.
At the inch, weak indicates shortness of breath or palpitations, at the guan, the pulse is weak, indicating fullness.
At the chi, it indicates weakness of essence and blood, aversion to cold, and pain with moaning.
13. Tight Pulse (Jin Mai)
The tight pulse comes and goes with strength, bouncing against the fingers (from “Suwen”). It is like a rope that is not constant (Zhongjing), rapid like cutting a string (from “Pulse Classic”), like a thread (Danxi’s description).
Tight indicates heat causing cold to bind the pulse, hence it is rapid. The “Suwen” refers to it as urgent. The “Pulse Classic” states: it is light and enters the chi. Cui states: it feels like a line, all are not tight. Or floating tight is like a string, deep tight is like solid, which is also similar.
Body Condition Poem:
When lifted, it feels like a rope, pressed like a string, the pulse is named tight.
All are caused by cold evil invading, internally causing abdominal pain and externally causing body pain.
Similar Condition Poem: See string and solid pulses.
Main Illness Poem:
Tight indicates various pains caused by cold, wheezing, coughing, wind, and vomiting cold phlegm;
Floating tight indicates exterior cold, tight deep indicates warmth and dispersing naturally brings peace.
At the inch, tight indicates the ren pulse, at the guan indicates abdominal pain, at the chi indicates tightness indicating cold.
14. Slow Pulse (Huan Mai)
The slow pulse comes and goes slightly faster than slow (from “Pulse Classic”). It has four beats per breath (Dai’s description). It is like silk in the channel, not rolling its axis, responding gently, coming and going very evenly (Zhang Taisu’s description). It resembles the willows dancing in the spring breeze (Yang Xuancao’s description). Like a gentle breeze lightly brushing the willow tips (Hua Boren’s description).
The slow pulse is represented by the Kun hexagram, associated with the four seasons, and corresponds to the spleen. The yang inch and yin chi are equal, floating large and soft, with no one dominating, indicating a normal pulse. If not at the right time, it indicates illness.
The slow and even pulse, neither floating nor deep, neither rapid nor slow, neither fine nor weak indicates stomach qi. Therefore, Du Guangting states: to know the time of death, how to take it? Ancient sages determined five types of earth. Yang earth must not encounter yin, yin earth encountering yin must be counted carefully. Refer to the “Yuhanjing”.
Body Condition Poem:
The slow pulse is gentle and even, the willow tips sway lightly in the breeze;
To seek the spirit from the pulse, it lies in the calm and gentle.
Similar Condition Poem: See slow pulse.
Main Illness Poem:
The slow pulse indicates weak camp and excess defense, either wind, damp, or spleen deficiency.
Above indicates neck stiffness, below indicates weakness and numbness, distinguishing floating and deep, large and small.
At the inch, wind evil causes neck and back stiffness, at the guan indicates dizziness and stomach deficiency.
Shenmen indicates leakage or wind secret, or is it staggering and weak.
15. Kuo Pulse (Kuo Mai)
The Kuo pulse is floating large and soft, pressing down shows emptiness in the center, both sides are solid (from “Pulse Classic”). It is empty in the middle and solid on the outside, resembling scallions.
Kuo refers to scallions. The “Suwen” does not mention Kuo. Liu San points out: what does Kuo pulse resemble? It is similar to scallions, indicating a hollow center with solid edges. Dai Tongfu states: the pulse flows in the camp, the pulse takes blood as its shape, Kuo pulse is hollow in the middle, indicating blood loss.
The “Pulse Classic” states: the three sections of the Kuo pulse indicate long illness leads to life, sudden illness leads to death. The “Pulse Classic” states: both ends are solid, the middle is empty, indicating the pulse is cut off. It also indicates dripping, qi entering the small intestine. It is contrary to the signs of blood loss, which misleads the world.
Body Condition Poem:
The Kuo shape is floating large, light as scallions, solid on the edges, knowing the inside is empty.
Fire invades the yang channels, blood overflows, heat invades the yin channels, flowing red.
Similar Condition Poem:
Middle empty and sides solid indicate Kuo, floating large and slow indicates weak pulse.
Kuo also carries a taut pulse called Ge, Kuo indicates blood loss and Ge indicates blood deficiency.
Main Illness Poem:
At the inch, Kuo indicates blood accumulation in the chest, at the guan indicates Kuo in the intestines and stomach.
At the chi, it indicates much blood loss, red dripping, and dysentery.
16. Xian Pulse (Xian Mai)
The Xian pulse is straight and long (from “Suwen”), like a taut bowstring (from “Pulse Classic”), pressing down does not move, it feels like pressing a zither string (Cao’s description). It resembles a zither string (from “Pulse Classic”). It passes straight through the middle, firmly under the fingers (from “Kanyi”).
The Xian pulse is represented by the Zhen hexagram, associated with spring, and corresponds to the liver. Light and weak indicates normal, solid and slippery like following a long pole indicates illness, tight and urgent like a newly drawn bowstring indicates death.
Chi states: tight and rapid indicates excess, tight and fine indicates deficiency. Dai Tongfu states: tight and soft indicates light illness; tight and hard indicates serious illness. The “Pulse Classic” states: it is often accompanied by rapid. It also states: the pulse tight resembles a rope being pulled. All are not Xian, now corrected.
Body Condition Poem:
The Xian pulse extends far, straight and long, the liver channel is strong, wood is abundant, earth is injured.
Anger fills the chest, often wanting to shout, obscured vision causes tears to flow.
Similar Condition Poem:
The Xian pulse comes straight and long, tight like a rope being pulled.
Tight indicates its strength, Xian indicates its shape, solid pulse is long and hidden.
Main Illness Poem:
The Xian pulse corresponds to the eastern liver and gallbladder channels, phlegm, cold, heat, and malaria afflict the body.
Floating, deep, slow, and rapid must be distinguished, large and small have heavy and light.
At the inch, Xian indicates headaches and much phlegm, cold and heat, and abdominal pain at the left guan.
At the right guan, indicates stomach cold and heart abdominal pain, at the chi indicates yin hernia and leg cramps.
17. Ge Pulse (Ge Mai)
The Ge pulse is Xian and Kuo (Zhongjing), like pressing a drum skin (Danxi). Zhongjing states: Xian indicates cold, Kuo indicates deficiency, deficiency and cold clash, this is called Ge. Men lose blood and essence, women have postpartum bleeding. The “Pulse Classic” states: the three sections of the Ge pulse indicate long illness leads to death, sudden illness leads to life.
Shen Zhen states: this is the combination of Kuo and Xian pulses, hence both indicate blood loss. Various pulse books consider it a solid pulse, hence there may be Ge without solid, solid without Ge, confused and indistinguishable. Not knowing Ge is floating and solid is deep, Ge is deficient and solid is real, the forms and signs are different.
Furthermore, the “Jia Yi Classic” states: muddled Ge, like a spring, illness progresses and becomes dangerous; unclear and loose, its departure is like a broken string, indicating death. This means the pulse comes muddled and changes rapidly, departing without returning. Wang Kuang considers it a pulse of overflow, which is different.
Body Condition Poem:
The Ge pulse resembles pressing a drum skin, Kuo and Xian combine, indicating cold and deficiency.
Women postpartum bleeding and men with essence deficiency may experience this.
Similar Condition Poem: See Kuo and solid pulses.
18. Lao Pulse (Lao Mai)
The Lao pulse feels like deep and floating, solid and large, slightly taut (from “Pulse Classic”). Bian Que states: solid and long indicates the liver. Zhongjing states: cold indicates solid and firm, indicating a solid appearance. Shen states: it feels like deep and floating, solid and large, indicating the body of the Lao pulse.
The “Pulse Classic” does not mention the shape, but states that seeking it shows absence, pressing it shows presence. It states: the pulse enters the skin, distinguishing the breath is difficult. It also states that Lao is a dead pulse, which is a great error.
Body Condition Poem:
The Xian pulse is long and solid, the Lao pulse often resides in the deep and floating.
Ge and Kuo pulses rise from floating, Ge is deficient and Lao is solid, requiring careful observation.
Main Illness Poem:
Cold indicates solid and firm, with excess in the interior, abdominal and heart cold pain, wood overcomes the spleen.
Hernia and stagnation are not to be worried about, blood loss and yin deficiency should be avoided.
Bian Que states: soft indicates deficiency, solid indicates real. Blood loss indicates the pulse should be deep and fine, while floating and large indicates death, indicating a deficiency disease. The “Pulse Classic” states: bone pain, qi resides in the exterior. Chi states that the kidney transmits to the spleen, which is also erroneous.
19. Ru Pulse (Ru Mai)
The Ru pulse is extremely soft and floating, like silk in water, lightly pressing shows no strength (from “Pulse Classic”), like floating foam on water. When silk floats in water, pressing down with heavy hands, it sinks, indicating the pulse is weak. The “Pulse Classic” states: pressing it seems present, lifting it shows it is absent, indicating it is a weak pulse, not Ru.
Body Condition Poem:
The Ru pulse is soft and fine, pressing down feels like it is about to disappear, as if it is present and absent.
Ru indicates blood loss and yin deficiency, the marrow and essence are already depleted.
Main Illness Poem:
Ru indicates blood loss and yin deficiency, marrow and essence are already depleted.
Profuse sweating at night steams into the bones, blood mountain collapses, dampness invades the spleen.
At the inch, Ru indicates weak yang and spontaneous sweating, at the guan indicates qi deficiency.
At the chi, it indicates injury to essence and blood, cold and dampness, pain and moaning.
20. Weak Pulse (Ruo Mai)
The weak pulse is extremely soft and deep, pressing down shows presence, lifting shows absence (from “Pulse Classic”). Weak indicates Ru that is deep. The “Pulse Classic” states: light hands show presence. Li states it resembles floating foam. All are Ru pulses, not weak.
The “Suwen” states: weak pulse with slippery indicates stomach qi. Weak pulse with rough indicates long illness. After illness, the elderly and weak show this pulse, while healthy young people show the opposite.
Body Condition Poem:
Weak comes with no strength, pressing down feels soft, fine and deep, not floating.
Yang falls into yin, essence and blood are weak, white-haired yet still youthful.
Similar Condition Poem: See Ru pulse.
Main Illness Poem:
The weak pulse indicates yin deficiency and yang qi decline, aversion to cold, fever, and weakness of bones and muscles.
Much anxiety and sweating reduce spirit, tonifying qi and adjusting the camp must be treated early.
At the inch, weak indicates yang deficiency, at the guan indicates stomach weakness and spleen decline.
To seek yang falling into yin deficiency, one must push the spirit gate of both sections.
21. Scattered Pulse (San Mai)
The scattered pulse is large and dispersed. It has an exterior without an interior (from “Pulse Classic”). It is loose and not collected (Cui’s description). There is no regulation, no restraint, with irregular beats, sometimes coming more and going less, or going more and coming less. It is scattered and not collected, resembling willow fluff scattered in the wind (Liu’s description).
Dai Tongfu states: the heart pulse is floating large and scattered, the lung pulse is short and rough and scattered, indicating a normal pulse. The heart pulse is soft and scattered, indicating anxiety; the lung pulse is soft and scattered, indicating profuse sweating; the liver pulse is soft and scattered, indicating excess drinking; the spleen pulse is soft and scattered, indicating swelling. This is a disease pulse. The kidney pulse is soft and scattered, indicating various diseases, and the pulse is scattered, indicating death.
The “Nanjing” states: scattered pulse alone indicates danger. Liu states: scattered indicates both qi and blood are deficient, the root is detached from the pulse. Women in labor experience this, while pregnant women experience miscarriage.
Body Condition Poem:
Scattered like willow fluff flying in the wind, coming and going is irregular, difficult to gather.
Labor indicates birth, pregnancy indicates miscarriage, encountering this in long illness does not require treatment.
Similar Condition Poem:
Scattered pulse is unrestrained and loose, Ru comes floating and fine like water.
Floating and slow indicates a weak pulse, Kuo pulse is hollow with solid edges.
Main Illness Poem:
Left inch indicates anxiety, right inch indicates sweating, excess drinking at the left guan indicates soft and scattered.
Right guan soft and scattered indicates swelling, scattered at both chi indicates the soul is broken.
22. Fine Pulse (Xi Mai)
The fine pulse is smaller than the weak and always present, fine, straight, and soft, like a thread responding (from “Pulse Classic”). The “Suwen” refers to it as small. Wang Qixuan states: like a weed, indicating its softness and fineness. The “Pulse Classic” states: coming and going is extremely fine, which is fine and larger than weak, contradicting the classics.
Body Condition Poem:
Fine comes in a continuous stream, fine as a thread, responding deeply and without end.
Spring and summer are not beneficial for the young, while autumn and winter are suitable for the elderly and weak.
Similar Condition Poem: See weak and Ru pulses.
Main Illness Poem:
The fine pulse indicates blood and qi are weak, various deficiencies and emotional disturbances.
If not dampness invading the waist and kidneys, it indicates injury to essence and profuse sweating.
At the inch, fine indicates frequent vomiting, at the guan indicates abdominal distension and stomach weakness.
At the chi, it indicates cold in the dantian, diarrhea, blood loss, and loss of yin.
23. Hidden Pulse (Fu Mai)
The hidden pulse is felt by pressing down on the bones, the fingers move beneath (from “Pulse Classic”). The pulse travels beneath the tendons (from “Kanyi”). The “Pulse Classic” states: seeking it seems present, lifting it shows it is entirely absent. This is a great error.
Body Condition Poem:
The hidden pulse pushes the tendons against the bones, the fingers move beneath, hidden and deep.
Injury from cold leads to sweating, yang will resolve, while reverse pain indicates yin.
Similar Condition Poem: See deep pulse.
Main Illness Poem:
Hidden indicates frequent vomiting, abdominal pain often due to retained food.
Fluid retention and old phlegm accumulate, dispersing cold and warming the interior should not be delayed.
Food stagnation in the chest indicates double inch hidden, wanting to vomit but unable to.
At the guan, abdominal pain indicates heaviness, at the chi indicates hernia pain and abdominal rupture.
24. Moving Pulse (Dong Mai)
Moving indicates rapid pulse, seen at the guan above and below, with no head or tail, like a bean, shaking and swaying. Zhongjing states: yin and yang clash, this is called moving. Yang movement causes sweating, yin movement causes fever, cold shape indicates these three jiaos are injured.
Cheng Wujiy states: yin and yang clash, hence the weak pulse moves. Therefore, when yang is weak, yang moves, when yin is weak, yin moves. Pang Anchang states: the first three parts of the guan are yang, the last three parts are yin, the guan is half yin and half yang, hence movement is seen with deficiency.
The “Pulse Classic” states: seeking it seems present, lifting it shows it is entirely absent, not leaving its place, neither coming nor going, three guan are heavy. This is a great error, not a moving pulse. Zhan states: its shape beats like a hook, like hair, which is also erroneous.
Body Condition Poem:
The moving pulse shakes and sways, seen at the guan, with no head or tail, like a bean-shaped lump.
Its origin is the clash of yin and yang, the weak pulse moves while the strong pulse remains.
Main Illness Poem:
The moving pulse indicates pain and fright, sweating due to yang movement, heat due to yin movement.
It may indicate diarrhea, dysentery, or cramping diseases, men losing essence and women experiencing bleeding.
25. Urgent Pulse (Cu Mai)
The urgent pulse comes and goes rapidly, sometimes stopping and returning (from “Pulse Classic”). It resembles a sudden urge, slow and fast are not constant (Li’s description). The “Pulse Classic” states that it is rapid and stops, while the “Pulse Classic” states that it is not constant, which is erroneous. Rapid stopping is urgent, slow stopping is a knot, why only at the inch?
Body Condition Poem:
The urgent pulse comes rapidly and sometimes stops, this indicates extreme yang wanting to perish.
Three jiaos are filled with fire, burning fiercely, advancing leads to no life, retreating may lead to life.
Similar Condition Poem: See moving pulse.
Main Illness Poem:
The urgent pulse must be treated for fire diseases, which can be attributed to five types of heat.
Frequent wheezing and coughing indicate phlegm accumulation, or may indicate madness, spots, and toxic sores.
26. Knot Pulse (Jie Mai)
The knot pulse comes and goes slowly, sometimes stopping and returning (from “Pulse Classic”). The “Pulse Classic” states: sometimes coming and going, gathering and returning, which is unrelated to knots.
Zhongjing states: it resembles a series of beads like a long pole, called yin knot, or like a car cover, called yang knot. The “Pulse Classic” states: like a sesame seed shaking, rotating and gathering, scattering is not constant, this is called a knot, indicating death. These three pulses share the same name but differ in essence.
Body Condition Poem:
The knot pulse comes slowly and sometimes stops, indicating that yin is excessively strong, wanting to perish yang.
Floating indicates qi stagnation, deep indicates accumulation, sweating and lowering clearly indicates the main pulse.
Similar Condition Poem: See urgent pulse.
Main Illness Poem:
The knot pulse indicates qi and blood stagnation, chronic phlegm accumulation causes suffering.
Internal accumulation and external swelling, hernia and stagnation are the causes of illness.
27. Dai Pulse (Dai Mai)
The Dai pulse moves and then stops, unable to return, then moves again (Zhongjing). The pulse has five beats per breath, the qi of the lungs, heart, spleen, liver, and kidneys are all sufficient, fifty movements and one breath, combining the great number, called the normal pulse. Conversely, it stops and is seen.
If kidney qi cannot reach, then forty movements and one stop; if liver qi cannot reach, then thirty movements and one stop. This indicates that the qi of one organ is weak, while the qi of other organs compensates.
The “Classic” states: Dai indicates qi deficiency. Hua Boren states: if there is no illness, a thin pulse indicates danger; if there is illness and qi and blood are suddenly lost, it indicates a disease pulse. Cold damage, palpitations, and pulse indicate Dai, while pregnancy indicates Dai. Its life and death must not be overlooked.
Body Condition Poem:
Moving and stopping, unable to return, moving again indicates Dai pulse.
Patients with this pulse may still be treated, while healthy individuals relate to longevity.
Similar Condition Poem:
Rapid stopping is called urgent, slow stopping must be called knot pulse.
Stopping without returning is Dai, knots lead to death, while Dai leads to life.
Main Illness Poem:
The Dai pulse indicates organ qi deficiency, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and lower jiao deficiency.
It may indicate vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal diseases, while women in the first three months of pregnancy experience this.