1. Characteristics of the Pulse
According to the “Pulse Classic”: “When lifted, it is insufficient; when pressed, it is excessive.”
In “Seeking the Truth of Pulse Theory”: “A deep pulse does not respond to light touch, but is felt with firm pressure.”
As stated in “The Three Essentials of Diagnosis”: “A deep pulse does not respond to light touch, but is felt with firm pressure; when lifted slightly, it diminishes, and with more pressure, it is still not immediately responsive.”
The characteristics of a deep pulse at the cun (寸) position are:
From the perspective of pulse position, it exhibits the characteristics of being deep, meaning that when lightly palpated, it cannot be felt under the fingers, and only with firm pressure down to the bone can its presence be felt. This is the manifestation of a deep pulse.
From the perspective of the five organs and their associated diseases, the “Nanjing” states: “Both the liver and kidneys exhibit a deep pulse.” Therefore, the pulses of the liver and kidneys both have the characteristic of being deep, and a deep pulse often reflects issues with the liver and kidneys.
From the perspective of the three positions of the cun, guan (关), and chi (尺) pulses, the chi pulse also exhibits the characteristic of being deep.
2. Main Symptoms
A deep pulse is a common pulse pattern in clinical practice. Individuals with a lean physique often exhibit a floating pulse at the cun position, while those who are overweight tend to show a deep pulse. Thus, it can be said that a deep pulse is typically found in overweight individuals. If an overweight person presents with a deep and soft pulse, it often indicates that he or she is healthy.
Of course, we obtain the deep pulse pattern through separate palpation of the cun, guan, and chi positions or by pressing all three positions together. Even so, the degree of depth in the chi pulse and cun pulse theoretically differs, as the cun pulse is relatively floating while the chi pulse is relatively deep. In summary, when considering the cun pulse overall, all three positions exhibit the characteristic of being deep, but in comparison, the cun and chi pulses still have relative floating and deep characteristics. This theoretical consideration also aligns with the TCM principle of further dividing yin and yang.
(1) Main Interior Patterns
Relatively speaking, if a floating pulse indicates an exterior condition, then a deep pulse indicates an interior condition. “A deep pulse that is strong indicates a solid condition; a deep pulse that is weak indicates a vacuous condition. When the pulse is deep, it indicates qi.” This theory of deep pulse indicating interior patterns also often involves a distinction between solid and vacuous conditions. A strong deep pulse often indicates a solid interior condition, while a weak deep pulse often indicates a vacuous interior condition. The saying “When the pulse is deep, it indicates qi” means that when we diagnose a deep pulse, it indicates that the disease is in the qi level.
However, there are differing views among ancient practitioners regarding the interpretation of a weak deep pulse indicating a vacuous condition. It is generally agreed that a strong deep pulse indicates a solid condition, but there is debate regarding whether a weak deep pulse indicates a vacuous condition. In fact, when the cun pulse presents as deep and weak, there are two different clinical scenarios: one is that a weak deep pulse indicates a vacuous condition, which is easy to understand; the other is that a weak deep pulse indicates qi stagnation, which is also commonly seen in clinical practice. When a patient presents with a deep and weak pulse along with symptoms of fatigue and weakness, it indicates a vacuous condition; if the patient has a deep and weak pulse without obvious symptoms of qi deficiency, but instead presents with other discomforts, such as irritability or menstrual irregularities in women, it often indicates qi stagnation. This also highlights the importance of the four diagnostic methods in TCM diagnosis.
(2) Main Cold Patterns
A floating pulse represents yang, while a deep pulse represents yin. Relatively speaking, if yang indicates heat, then yin indicates cold. Therefore, a deep pulse can sometimes indicate a cold condition, as pointed out in “Pulse Theory Explained”: “A deep pulse indicates yin cold; a deep pulse is a sign of profound cold, and anything deep is invariably cold. Entering a stone cave where the cold is oppressive is precisely because it is deep.”
This article is selected from Liu Jianli’s “Essentials of Pulse Diagnosis”. All rights belong to the relevant rights holders. This public account is used solely for academic exchange. If there is any infringement, please contact the editor for deletion.
