1、Fú (Floating)
Fú mài, jǔ zhī yǒu yú, àn zhī bù zú (《脉经》).Like a gentle breeze blowing on a bird’s feathers, it is light and floating (qīng fàn mào), like following the elm pods (《素问》), like wood floating on water (Cuī shì), like twisting scallion leaves (Lí shì). (The floating pulse has a light and clear appearance, representing the heavens; in the hexagram, it is Qián, in the season, it is autumn, in humans, it corresponds to the lungs, also called máo. If excessive, it feels firm and hollow on the sides, like following chicken feathers, indicating an external disease. If insufficient, the qi comes weakly, indicating an internal disease. The pulse classic states that if it feels like excessive, it is a combination of floating and hóng jǐn, not a floating pulse.)『Body Condition Poem』The floating pulse travels only on the flesh, like following elm pods, light and airy.In the autumn, knowing there is no harm, encountering it in a long illness can be alarming.『Similar Condition Poem』Floating like wood in water, large and hollow is Kē.It floats lightly when tapped, though it comes strong, it goes slowly.The floating pulse is light and flat like twisting scallions. If weak, it comes late and is large and hollow.Floating and soft is Rú, scattered like willow fluff with no fixed trace.(Floating and strong is hóng, floating and slow and large is xū, extremely weak is sàn, floating and weak is Kē, floating and soft is Rú.)『Main Disease Poem』The floating pulse indicates a Yang exterior disease, slow wind, numerous heat, tight cold restraint.Strong and floating indicates much wind heat, weak and floating indicates blood deficiency.Floating at the inch indicates headache and dizziness from wind, or there may be wind phlegm gathering in the chest.At the guān, the earth is weak and the wood is strong, at the chǐ, urination is not smooth.(Floating pulse indicates exterior; strong indicates excess, weak indicates deficiency; floating and slow indicates wind, floating and rapid indicates wind heat, floating and tight indicates wind cold, floating and slow indicates wind damp, floating and weak indicates heat injury, floating and Kē indicates blood loss, floating and hóng indicates deficiency heat, floating and sàn indicates exhaustion.)
2、Chén (Deep)
Chén mài, zhòng shǒu àn zhì jīn gǔ nǎi dé (《脉经》).Like cotton wrapped around sand, firm inside and soft outside (Yáng shì). Like a stone thrown into water, it must reach the bottom. The deep pulse has the appearance of a spring at the bottom, in the hexagram it is Kǎn, in the season it is winter, in humans, it corresponds to the kidneys. Also called shí, also called yíng. If excessive, it feels like a bouncing stone, pressing it feels firmer, indicating an external disease. If insufficient, the qi comes weakly, leaving like a number, indicating an internal disease.The pulse classic states that if it feels soft and rotten, it is not deep. There are slow, rapid, and various depths of deep pulses; rotten and soft is a weak pulse, not deep.『Body Condition Poem』Water flows moistly, the pulse comes deep, smooth and even between the muscles and bones.For women at the inch, for men at the chǐ, this is the norm for all seasons.『Similar Condition Poem』Deep helps the muscles and bones adjust evenly, pressing it pushes the muscles to touch the bones.Deep and fine like cotton is a true weak pulse, while a strong and large string is a solid form.(Deep travels between muscles, pressing on bones above; solid and large is strong, weak and fine is weak.)『Main Disease Poem』Deep and hidden water stores Yin diseases, rapid heat, slow cold, slippery with phlegm.Weak and deep indicates deficiency of qi, deep and with qi indicates accumulation and cold.Floating at the inch indicates phlegm stagnation and water retention in the chest, at the guān indicates internal cold pain and obstruction.At the chǐ, turbid leakage and diarrhea, kidney deficiency, waist and lower source are heavy.(Deep pulse indicates interior; strong indicates excess, weak indicates deficiency. Deep indicates qi, also indicates water retention, deep and slow indicates chronic cold, deep and rapid indicates internal heat, deep and slippery indicates phlegm food, deep and rough indicates qi stagnation, deep and weak indicates cold heat, deep and slow indicates cold damp, deep and tight indicates cold pain, deep and solid indicates cold accumulation.)
3、Chí (Slow)
Chí mài, yī xī sān zhì, qù lái jí màn (《脉经》).Chí indicates Yang cannot overcome Yin, hence the pulse comes too slowly. The pulse classic states that heavy pressure is needed to feel it, indicating there is deep without floating. One breath three beats is very easy to see. If it is hidden, it is difficult to discern, indicating a rough pulse, which is a mistake.『Body Condition Poem』Chí comes with one breath reaching only three, Yang cannot overcome Yin, qi and blood are cold.Just separate floating and deep to distinguish exterior and interior, to dispel Yin must enhance the fire source.『Similar Condition Poem』The pulse comes three beats is called slow, slightly faster than slow is called relaxed.Slow and fine and difficult to discern is rough, floating and slow and large indicates deficiency.(Three beats is slow, strong is relaxed, weak is rough, stopping is string-like, extremely slow is failure, floating and large and soft is deficiency.)『Main Disease Poem』Slow indicates organ disease or much phlegm, deep chronic symptoms need careful observation.Strong and slow indicates cold pain, slow and weak indicates deficiency cold.At the inch, slow must be upper jiao cold, at the guān indicates middle cold pain and obstruction.At the chǐ indicates kidney deficiency, waist and feet are heavy, urination is not smooth, hernia pulls the testicles.Slow pulse indicates organ, strong indicates cold pain, weak indicates deficiency cold. Floating slow indicates exterior cold, deep slow indicates interior cold.
4、Shuò (Rapid)
Shuò mài, yī xī liù zhì (《脉经》).
The pulse flows thin and rapid (《素问》). Rapid indicates Yin cannot overcome Yang, hence the pulse comes too strong. Floating, deep, slow, and rapid are the guidelines of the pulse. Both the classic texts state that these are the standard pulses. The pulse classic establishes seven exterior, eight interior, and neglects rapid pulse, only singing of the heart, which is a great mistake.
『Body Condition Poem』Rapid pulse between breaths is always six beats, Yin is weak and Yang is strong, must be restless.Floating and deep separate exterior and interior, only children show auspicious signs.『Similar Condition Poem』Rapid compared to normal is one beat more, tight like a string, like a bowstring.Rapid and sometimes stopping is called hurried, rapid seen at the guān indicates moving pulse.Rapid and string-like indicates tight, flowing is slippery, rapid and stopping is hurried, extremely rapid is extreme, rapid seen at the guān indicates movement.『Main Disease Poem』Rapid pulse indicates Yang heat, only use the fire of the monarch to treat.It is appropriate to cool and drain, deficient to warm and tonify, lung disease in autumn is to be feared.At the inch, rapid indicates throat and tongue sores, spitting red cough indicates lung ulcers.At the guān indicates stomach fire and liver fire, at the chǐ indicates nourishing Yin and lowering fire decoction.Rapid pulse indicates bowels, strong indicates real fire, weak indicates false fire. Floating rapid indicates exterior heat, deep rapid indicates interior heat, qi mouth rapid indicates real lung abscess, rapid weak indicates lung atrophy.
5、Huá (Slippery)
Huá mài, wǎng lái qián què, liú lì zhǎn zhuǎn, tì tì rán rú zhū zhī yìng zhǐ (《脉经》).Like flowing water. Slippery indicates excess Yin, hence the pulse comes flowing like water. The pulse is the residence 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 immediately sinks, three guān like pearls, not advancing or retreating, this does not distinguish floating slippery, deep slippery, inch and chǐ slippery, now corrected.『Body Condition Similarity Poem』Slippery pulse like pearls, flowing back and forth, flowing smoothly yet returning.Do not confuse slippery and rapid as the same, rapid pulse only looks at the number of beats.(Slippery is like pearls, rapid is six beats.)『Main Disease Poem』Slippery pulse indicates Yang source qi is weak, phlegm causes numerous diseases, food causes disasters.Above indicates vomiting and reversal, below stores blood, women’s pulse regulates time and determines pregnancy.At the inch, slippery indicates phlegm causing vomiting, swallowing sour indicates strong tongue or cough.At the guān indicates retained food, liver and spleen heat, thirst, diarrhea, and urination see the chǐ.Slippery indicates phlegm and drink, floating slippery indicates wind phlegm, deep slippery indicates food phlegm, slippery rapid indicates phlegm fire, slippery short indicates retained food. The pulse classic states: guān slippery indicates stomach cold, red slippery indicates heat. The pulse classic states guān slippery indicates stomach heat, chǐ slippery indicates blood accumulation, women’s menstrual diseases are contrary to this, such errors exist.
6、Sè (Rough)
Sè mài, xì ér chí, wǎng lái nán, duǎn qiě sàn, huò yī zhǐ fù lái (《脉经》).Referring to the imbalance of herbs (《素问》). Like lightly scraping bamboo (《脉诀》). Like rain touching sand (《通真子》). Like sick silkworms eating leaves. Rough indicates excess Yang, qi is abundant but blood is scarce, hence the pulse comes sluggish, and the lung is suitable. The pulse classic states: searching beneath the fingers seems to have it, lifting it has none. This is unrelated to what the pulse classic states.『Body Condition Poem』Fine, slow, short, rough, coming and going is difficult, scattered and stopping vaguely should respond between fingers.Like rain touching sand easily scatters, sick silkworms eating leaves slowly and laboriously.『Similar Condition Poem』Imbalance of herbs is called rough, lightly scraping bamboo is short and difficult.Similar to a second-rate reed, soft and weak, floating and deep do not distinguish between presence and absence.Fine, slow, short, scattered, sometimes stopping is called rough. Extremely fine and soft, pressing hard as if absent is called wēi. Floating and soft is Rú, deep and soft is weak.『Main Disease Poem』Rough indicates blood deficiency or injury to essence, reverse stomach, loss of Yang, rain and sweat.Cold damp enters the yíng causing blood stasis, women are either pregnant or have no menstruation.At the inch, rough indicates heart deficiency pain in the chest, stomach deficiency, and fullness at the guān.At the chǐ indicates both essence and blood are injured, intestinal blockage, urination, or blood in the stool.Rough indicates blood deficiency and essence injury, women’s pregnancy indicates fetal disease, non-pregnancy indicates blood loss. Dù Guāngtíng states: rough pulse is only seen at the chǐ, resembling a dead pulse.
7、Xū (Weak)
Xū mài, chí dà ér ruǎn, àn zhī wú lì, yǐn zhǐ huò huò rán kōng (《脉经》).Cuī Zǐxū states: large in shape, thin in strength, its weakness is evident. The pulse classic states: searching is insufficient, lifting is excessive. The above states floating pulse, not seeing weakness. Yáng Rénzhāi states: looks like willow fluff, scattered and slow. Huá shì states: scattered, large, and soft, all are scattered pulses, not weak.『Body Condition Similarity Poem』Lifted slowly and large, pressing it is loose, the pulse shape is boundless like an empty valley.Do not confuse Kē and Xū as one, Kē comes floating large like a scallion.Weak pulse is floating large and slow, pressing it has no strength.Kē pulse is floating large, pressing it is empty, Kē indicates blood loss. Weak indicates blood deficiency, floating and scattered two pulses indicate floating pulse.『Main Disease Poem』The weak pulse indicates body heat from heat injury, spontaneous sweating, palpitations, and much anxiety.Fever and Yin deficiency must be treated early, nourishing yíng and benefiting qi must not be delayed.Blood does not nourish the heart, inch pulse is weak, at the guān indicates abdominal distension, food is difficult to relieve.Bone steaming, atrophy, injury to essence and blood, yet resides in the spirit gate of both parts.The classic states: blood deficiency leads to weak pulse. It states: qi comes weakly indicating insufficient, disease is internal. It states: long illness with weak pulse leads to death.
8、Shí (Full)
Shí mài, fú chén jiē dé, mài dà ér cháng wēi xián, yìng zhǐ yǒng yǒng rán (《脉经》).Firm appearance. The pulse classic states: like a rope responding to the finger, it is a tight pulse, not a full pulse.『Body Condition Poem』Floating and deep both are large and long, responding to the finger without emptiness, strong.Heat accumulates in the three jiaos forming strong fire, passing through the intestines and sweating begins to restore health.『Similar Condition Poem』Full pulse floating and deep has strength, tight like a spring, turning without permanence.Must know solid pulse helps muscles and bones, full and slightly string-like is longer.Floating and deep with strength is full, string tight indicates tension, deep and full is large, slightly string-like and long is solid.『Main Disease Poem』Full pulse indicates Yang fire accumulates, causing madness, delirium, and frequent vomiting.Or it indicates Yang toxicity or food injury, constipation or qi pain.At the inch, full indicates face heat and wind, throat pain, tongue strong, qi fills the chest.At the guān indicates spleen heat in the middle palace, at the chǐ indicates full waist and abdominal pain, not smooth.The classic states: blood is full pulse is full. It states: full pulse indicates water and grain diseases. It states: qi comes full and strong is called excessive. The pulse classic states: at the chǐ, full indicates urination is not smooth, with the pulse classic stating full indicates abdominal pain, constipation, and difficulty urination, which contradicts each other. Jié Gǔ did not know its error, the classic states for cold, the medicine uses ginger and fuzi, which is also a mistake.
9、Cháng (Long)
Cháng mài, bù xiǎo bù dà, tiáo tiáo zì ruò (Zhū shì). Like following a long pole, the tip is flat; like pulling a rope, like following a long pole, indicates disease (《素问》).Long has three parts of length, one part of length is in the season of spring, in humans corresponds to the liver; heart pulse is long, spirit is strong and qi is robust; kidney pulse is long, root is deep. The classic states: long indicates qi treatment, all refer to flat pulse.『Body Condition Similarity Poem』Exceeding the original position, the pulse is called long, string-like is not so, but full and stretched.String pulse and long are quite different, a good craftsman can measure.(Full, solid, string, tight all can be long pulses.)『Main Disease Poem』Long pulse is long and even, abnormal indicates disease like a pulled rope.If not Yang toxicity epilepsy, it is Yangming heat deep.(Long indicates excess disease.)
10、Duǎn (Short)
Duǎn mài, bù jí běn wèi (《脉诀》).Responding to the finger and returning, cannot fill the entire section (《脉经》). Dài Tóngfù states: short pulse is only seen at the inch, if seen at the guān, it is short, not reaching the inch, below does not reach the chǐ, it is the pulse of Yin and Yang severed, must die. Therefore, the guān does not diagnose short.Lí Jūshì states: length and short have no fixed body, all pulses lifted and pressed, exceeding the original position is long, not reaching the original position is short. Long pulse belongs to the liver, suitable for spring. Short pulse belongs to the lung, suitable for autumn. But diagnosing liver and lung, length and short are self-evident.『Body Condition Similarity Poem』Both ends shrink are called short, rough short and slow, fine and difficult.Short and rough and floating is seen in autumn, spring is a thief with evil interference.(Rough, fine, moving, and knotty all can be short pulses.)『Main Disease Poem』Short pulse is only sought at the inch, short and slippery indicates wine injury to the spirit.Floating indicates blood rough, deep indicates fullness, inch indicates headache, chǐ indicates abdominal pain.(The classic states: short indicates qi disease, short indicates insufficient disease.)
11、Hóng (Flooding)
Hóng mài, zhǐ xià jí dà (《脉经》).Comes strong and goes weak (《素问》). Comes large and goes long (《通真子》). Hóng pulse in the hexagram is Lì, in the season is summer, in humans corresponds to the heart. The classic states it is large, also called gōu.Huá shì states: comes strong and goes weak, like a hook that curves up and then down. Responding to blood pulse comes and goes, resembling all things spreading downwards. Zhān Yán states it is like a pearl necklace, not so. The pulse classic states: late summer is suitable, autumn and winter, sweating through the intestines, all are not suitable for Hóng pulse, this is a mistake.『Body Condition Poem』The pulse comes strong and abundant, goes back weak, filling the finger, flooding in summer.If in spring, autumn, or winter, rising Yang disperses fire, do not hesitate.『Similar Condition Poem』Hóng pulse comes strong and abundant, goes weak and comes strong like waves.To know solid pulse is uneven, lifting and pressing string long and firm.(Strong and powerful is solid, solid and weak is Hóng.)『Main Disease Poem』Hóng pulse indicates Yang is strong, blood is deficient, indicating fire of the heart is burning hot.Swelling and fullness in the stomach must be treated early, Yin deficiency leads to diarrhea, worry like.At the inch, Hóng indicates heart fire in the upper jiao, lung pulse Hóng indicates metal cannot bear.Liver fire and stomach deficiency, liver internal inspection, kidney deficiency and Yin fire at the chǐ.Hóng indicates Yang is strong, Yin is deficient, diarrhea, blood loss, chronic cough is to be avoided. The classic states: thin and large pulse often indicates death. It states: large pulse indicates disease progresses.
12、Wēi (Fine)
Wēi mài, jí xì ér ruǎn, àn zhī rú yù jué, ruò yǒu ruò wú (《脉经》).Fine and slightly long (Dài shì). The classic states it is small. Qi and blood are weak, hence the pulse is weak.『Body Condition Similarity Poem』Fine pulse lightly and slightly, pressing it is about to break, as if there is none.Wēi indicates Yang is weak and fine, Yin is weak. Fine is slightly thicker than Wēi.Lightly diagnosed is seen, pressing hard as if about to break is Wēi. Coming and going like a thread and always present is fine. Zhòng Jīng states: pulse lightly like fat on soup, indicates weak Yang; flowing like silk is fine Yin; long illness leads to death, sudden illness leads to life.『Main Disease Poem』Qi and blood are weak, pulse is also weak, aversion to cold, fever, and profuse sweating.Men indicate exhaustion and various deficiency conditions, women indicate bleeding and discharge during menstruation.At the inch, Wēi indicates shortness of breath or heart palpitations, at the guān pulse is weak indicates abdominal distension.At the chǐ indicates deficiency of essence and blood, aversion to cold, pain, and moaning.Wēi indicates long-term deficiency of blood, weak Yang, aversion to cold, weak Yin, fever. The pulse classic states: long-term illness leads to white discharge, prolonged leakage leads to bone decay.
13、Jǐn (Tight)
Jǐn mài, lái wǎng yǒu lì, zuǒ yòu tán rén shǒu (《素问》). Like turning a rope without permanence (Zhòng Jīng), rapid like cutting a rope (《脉经》), like a thread (Dān xī).Tight indicates heat binding cold pulse, hence rapid and numerous, must have spirit. The classic states it is urgent. The pulse classic states: sparse and sparse enters the chǐ. Cuī shì states: like a thread, all are not tight. Or floating tight is string-like, deep tight is solid, also similar.『Body Condition Poem』Lifted like turning a rope, cut like a string, the pulse image thus gains the name tight.All are cold evils invading, internally causing abdominal pain, externally causing body pain.『Similar Condition Poem』『Main Disease Poem』Tight indicates various pains caused by cold, wheezing, coughing, wind, convulsions, and vomiting cold phlegm.Floating tight indicates exterior cold, tight deep indicates warmth and dispersing naturally.At the inch, tight indicates the human pulse, at the guān indicates abdominal pain, at the chǐ indicates cold in the kidneys, indicating running piglet and hernia pain.All tight indicates cold and pain, human pulse tight indicates injury from cold, qi mouth tight indicates injury from food, tight at the chǐ indicates pain in the abdomen. Moreover, diseases in the abdomen, internal evils floating tight, coughing deep tight, all indicate death.
14、Huǎn (Relaxed)Huǎn mài, qù lái xiǎo kuài yú chí (《脉经》).
One breath four beats (Dài shì), like silk in the channel, not rolling its axis, responding gently, coming and going very evenly (Zhāng Tàisù), like the willows dancing in the gentle spring breeze (Yáng Xuáncāo), like a gentle breeze on the willow tips (Huá Bórén). The relaxed pulse in the hexagram is Kūn, in the season is all seasons, in humans corresponds to the spleen. Yang at the inch, Yin at the chǐ, upper and lower are equal, floating large and soft, without any bias, is a flat pulse.If not its time, it indicates disease. Relaxed and even, not floating, not deep, not rapid, not slow, not weak, indicates stomach qi. Therefore, Dù Guāngtíng states: to know the death date, how to take? Ancient sages determined five types of earth. Yang earth must not meet Yin, Yin earth meets Yin must be counted carefully. See the classic text of Yù Hán Jīng.『Body Condition Poem』Relaxed pulse A A four beats pass, willow tips sway lightly in the wind.To seek spirit and qi from the pulse, it is only in calmness and relaxation.『Similar Condition Poem』 see slow pulse.『Main Disease Poem』Relaxed pulse indicates yíng is weak and wèi is excessive, either wind or damp or spleen deficiency.Above indicates stiff neck, below indicates weakness and atrophy, separating floating and deep, large and small.At the inch, relaxed indicates wind evil at the neck and back, at the guān indicates dizziness and stomach deficiency.Shénmén Rú leakage or wind secret, or limping foot strength is weak. Floating relaxed indicates wind, deep relaxed indicates damp, relaxed large indicates wind deficiency, relaxed fine indicates damp blockage, relaxed rough indicates spleen deficiency, relaxed weak indicates qi deficiency. The pulse classic states: relaxed indicates spleen heat, bad breath, reverse stomach, tooth pain, and dream ghost diseases. This is fabricated, unrelated to relaxation.15、Kē (Empty)Kē mài, fú dà ér ruǎn, àn zhī zhōngkōng, liǎng biān shí (《脉经》).Middle empty outside solid, looks like scallions. Kē, scallions. The classic does not mention Kē. Liú Sān diǎn states: what does Kē pulse resemble? It is exactly like scallions, under the finger forms a cave, having edges but no center. Dài Tóngfù states: yíng flows in the pulse, the pulse takes blood as its shape, Kē pulse is empty in the middle, indicating blood loss.The pulse classic states: three parts of Kē pulse, long illness leads to life, sudden illness leads to death. The pulse classic states: two ends have, middle has none, this pulse is cut off. It also indicates dripping, qi entering the small intestine. This is contrary to the symptoms of blood loss, misleading the world.
『Body Condition Poem』
Kē shape floating large soft like scallions, pressing it on the sides has a central void.Fire invades the Yang meridian, blood overflows, heat invades the Yin channel, flowing red.『Similar Condition Poem』Middle empty and sides solid is Kē, floating large and slow indicates weak pulse.Kē also carries string-like, called Gè, blood loss Kē Gè blood deficiency.『Main Disease Poem』At the inch, Kē indicates blood accumulation in the chest, at the guān encountering Kē indicates intestinal abscess.At the chǐ indicates much blood loss, red dripping, red diarrhea, leaking in the middle.
16、Xián (String)
Xián mài, duān zhí yǐ cháng (《素问》), like a bowstring (《脉经》), pressing it does not move, like pressing a qín sè (Náo shì), looks like a zheng string (《脉诀》), straight through the middle, upright under the finger (《kān wù》).Xián pulse in the hexagram is Zhèn, in the season is spring, in humans corresponds to the liver.Lightly weak and slippery is normal, solid slippery like following a long pole indicates disease, tight and urgent like a newly drawn bowstring indicates death. Chí shì states: tight and rapid indicates excessive, tight and fine indicates insufficient. Dài Tóngfù states: tight and soft indicates light disease; tight and hard indicates heavy disease. The pulse classic states: sometimes accompanied by rapid, also states the pulse tight looks like a rope. All are not the pulse image, now removed.『Body Condition Poem』Xián pulse is long and straight, the liver channel is strong, the earth should be injured.Anger fills the chest, always wanting to shout, misty tears fall like rain.『Similar Condition Poem』Xián comes straight like a silk string, tight like a rope swaying left and right.Tight indicates its strength, Xián indicates its image, solid pulse is long and deep.(Also seen as long pulse.)『Main Disease Poem』
Xián corresponds to the eastern liver and gallbladder channels, phlegm and cold heat entangle the body.
Floating, deep, slow, and rapid must be distinguished, large and small have weight and light.
At the inch, Xián indicates headache and much phlegm, cold heat, and masses at the left guān.
At the guān indicates stomach cold and heart abdominal pain, at the chǐ indicates Yin hernia and foot cramps.
Xián indicates wood excess disease. Floating Xián indicates phlegm overflowing, deep Xián indicates internal pain.
Fever pulse is Xián, rapid Xián indicates much heat, Xián slow indicates much cold. If not eating, wood comes to overcome earth, must be difficult to treat.
17、Gè (Leather)
Gè mài, xián ér Kē (Zhòng Jīng), like pressing a drum skin (Dān xī).
Zhòng Jīng states: Xián indicates cold, Kē indicates deficiency, deficiency and cold intertwine, this is called Gè. Men lose blood and essence, women have half births and leakage.
The pulse classic states: three parts of Gè pulse, long illness leads to death, sudden illness leads to life.
Shí zhēn states: this is the combination of Kē and Xián pulses, hence both indicate blood loss symptoms. Various pulse books all regard it as solid pulse, hence there may be Gè without solid, solid without Gè, confused and indistinguishable. They do not know Gè is floating and solid, Gè is deficient and solid, the forms and symptoms are all different.
Also pressing: the classic states: mixed Gè, like a surging spring, disease progresses and is dangerous; mixed and flowing, its departure is like a broken string, indicates death. It states the pulse comes mixed and turbid, urgent like a surging spring, exiting and not returning. Wáng Kuàng regards it as overflowing pulse, which is different.
『Body Condition Main Disease Poem』
Gè pulse looks like pressing a drum skin, Xián and Kē combine, pulse is cold and deficient.
Women have half births and leakage, men have yíng deficiency or dream loss.
『Similar Condition Poem』
See Kē, solid.
18、Láo (Solid)
Láo mài, shì chén shì fú, shí dà ér cháng, wēi xián (《脉经》).Biān Qiào states: solid and long indicates the liver. Zhòng Jīng states: cold indicates solid and firm, has a solid appearance.Shěn shì states: like deep and floating, solid position; solid and large, solid body.The pulse classic does not mention the shape, but states searching for it is absent, pressing it is present. The pulse enters the skin, distinguishing breath is difficult, and also regards solid as a dead pulse, all are reckless mistakes.
『Body Condition Similarity Poem』String long solid large pulse is solid and firm, solid position often resides in deep and floating.Gè pulse and Kē pulse rise from floating, Gè is deficient and solid is real, must be examined carefully.
『Main Disease Poem』
Cold indicates solid and firm, inside is surplus, abdominal and heart cold pain, wood overcomes spleen.
Hernia, pain, and masses are not to be worried about, blood loss and Yin deficiency must be avoided.
Láo indicates cold and solid diseases, wood solid indicates pain.
Biān Qiào states: soft indicates deficiency, solid indicates fullness. Blood loss indicates the pulse should be deep and fine, while floating large and solid indicates death, deficiency disease shows solid pulse. The pulse classic states: bone pain, qi resides on the surface. Chí shì states: kidney transmits to the spleen, all are reckless and erroneous.
19、Rú (Soft)
Rú mài, jí ruǎn ér fú xì, rú bó zài shuǐ zhōng, qīng shǒu xiāng dé, àn zhī wú yǒu (《脉经》).
Like floating foam on water. Fabric floating in water, pressing it with heavy hands, following the hand and reaching it. The pulse classic states: pressing it seems to have it, lifting it seems to have none, this is a fine pulse, not Rú.
『Body Condition Poem』
Rú shape floating fine must be light, water surface floating cotton strength cannot be restrained.
After illness, during childbirth, there is still medicine, normal people see it is rootless.
『Similar Condition Poem』
Floating and soft fine indicates Rú, deep fine indicates weak holding.
Fine indicates floating fine like about to break, deep fine indicates near fine.
Floating fine like cotton is called Rú, deep fine like cotton is called weak, floating and extremely fine like about to break is called wēi, deep and extremely fine is called fine.
『Main Disease Poem』
Rú indicates blood deficiency and Yin deficiency disease, marrow sea and dān tián are dark and depleted.
Rain and sweat at night steam into the bones, blood mountain collapses, damp invades the spleen.
At the inch, Rú indicates weak Yang, spontaneous sweating is much, at the guān indicates qi deficiency.
At the chǐ indicates injury to essence and blood, cold and damp are severe, warming and tonifying true Yin can alleviate the illness.
Rú indicates blood deficiency disease, also indicates injury from damp.
20、Ruò (Weak)
Ruò mài, jí ruǎn ér chén xì, àn zhī nǎi dé, jǔ shǒu wú yǒu (《脉经》).Weak indicates Rú is dry. The pulse classic states: light hands can feel it. Lí shì compares it to floating foam, all are Rú pulses, not weak. The classic states: weak pulse is slippery, indicating there is stomach qi. Weak pulse is rough, indicating long illness. After illness, old and weak see it as smooth, normal people see it as reverse.『Body Condition Poem』Weak comes without strength, pressing it is soft, soft and fine but not floating.Yang sinks into Yin, essence and blood are weak, white-haired can still be youthful.『Similar Condition Poem』See Rú pulse.『Main Disease Poem』Weak pulse indicates Yin deficiency and Yang qi decline, aversion to cold, fever, and muscle atrophy.Much fright, much sweating, spirit is diminished, benefit qi and adjust yíng must be treated early.At the inch, weak indicates Yang deficiency disease can be known, at the guān indicates stomach weakness and spleen decline.To seek Yang sinking into Yin deficiency disease, must push the spirit gate of both parts.Weak indicates qi deficiency disease. Zhòng Jīng states: Yang sinks into Yin, hence aversion to cold and fever. It also states: weak indicates muscles, deep indicates bones, Yang floating and Yin weak, blood deficiency and muscle tight. Liú shì states: qi deficiency leads to weak pulse, inch weak indicates Yang deficiency, chǐ weak indicates Yin deficiency, guān weak indicates stomach deficiency.
21、Sàn (Scattered)
Sàn mài, dà ér sàn. Yǒu biǎo wú lǐ (《脉经》).Scattered and not collected (Cuī shì), without order, without restraint, to the number is not uniform, or comes much goes less, or goes much comes less. Scattered and not collected, like willow fluff scattered (Liú shì). Dài Tóngfù states: heart pulse floating large and scattered, lung pulse short and rough and scattered, flat pulse. Heart pulse soft and scattered indicates palpitations; lung pulse soft and scattered indicates sweating; liver pulse soft and scattered indicates overflow; spleen pulse soft and scattered indicates swelling, disease pulse. Kidney pulse soft and scattered indicates various disease pulses scattered, dead pulse.The classic states: scattered pulse alone indicates danger. Liú shì states: scattered indicates both qi and blood are deficient, the root is detached pulse, seen in childbirth indicates life, seen in pregnancy indicates miscarriage.『Body Condition Poem』Scattered like willow fluff flying, coming and going is uncertain, difficult to gather.Childbirth indicates life, fetus indicates miscarriage, long illness encounters it need not be treated.『Similar Condition Poem』Scattered pulse has no restraint, scattered and floating fine in water.Floating and slow large indicates weak pulse, Kē pulse is empty with two sides.『Main Disease Poem』Left inch indicates palpitations, right inch indicates sweating, overflow left guān indicates sàn (ruǎn) scattered,Right guān sàn indicates swelling, scattered at both chǐ indicates soul is broken.
22、Xì (Fine)
Xì mài, xiǎo yú wēi ér cháng yǒu, xì zhí ér ruǎn, ruò sī xiàn zhī yìng zhǐ (《脉经》).
The classic states it is small. Wáng Qǐxuán states it is like a weed, indicating its softness and fineness. The pulse classic states: coming and going is extremely fine, is fine but larger than fine, contradicting the classic text.『Body Condition Poem』Fine comes in a continuous stream, fine like a thread, responding to the finger is heavy and heavy.Spring and summer are not beneficial for youth, autumn and winter are suitable for the old and weak.『Similar Condition Poem』See Wēi, Rú.『Main Disease Poem』Fine pulse indicates blood and qi are weak, various deficiencies and damages, seven emotions are disordered.If not dampness invading the waist and kidneys, it is injury to essence and leakage.At the inch, fine indicates frequent vomiting, at the guān indicates abdominal distension, stomach weakness.At the chǐ indicates cold in the dān tián, diarrhea, leakage, indicates loss of Yin.The classic states: fine indicates blood deficiency and qi decline. If this symptom is present, it is normal, otherwise, it is reverse. Hence, vomiting and bleeding lead to deep fine pulse indicates life. Excessive worry leads to fine pulse.
23、Fú (Hidden)
Fú mài, zhòng àn zhe gǔ, zhǐ xià cái dòng (《脉经》).The pulse travels under the muscles (《kān wù》). The pulse classic states: searching seems to have it, lifting has none, is extremely erroneous.『Body Condition Poem』Fú pulse pushes the muscles to touch the bones, fingers move subtly and deeply.Injury from cold desires sweating, Yang will resolve, reverse pain at the navel indicates Yin.『Similar Condition Poem』See deep pulse.『Main Disease Poem』Fú indicates frequent vomiting and diarrhea, abdominal pain often due to retained food.Accumulated drink and old phlegm form a mass, dispersing cold and warming the interior must not be delayed.Food stagnation in the chest, double inch Fú, wanting to vomit but cannot, always in distress.At the guān indicates abdominal pain, heavy and heavy, at the guān indicates hernia pain and breaking abdomen.Injury from cold, one hand pulse Fú indicates single Fú, two hands pulse Fú indicates double Fú, cannot use Yang symptoms to see Yin for diagnosis. This is fire evil internally trapped, cannot be released, Yang extreme appears like Yin, hence the pulse is Fú, must have great sweating to resolve. Just like long drought will rain, the universe darkens, after rain all things revive.There are also mixed Yin injury from cold, first having Fú Yin inside, externally feeling cold, Yin is strong and Yang is weak, four pulses are reversed, six pulses are deep and hidden, must use ginger and fuzi to warm the guān, the pulse will then return. If Tàixī and Chōngyáng have no pulse, it indicates certain death. The pulse classic states: slowly induce sweating. Jié Gǔ states: fuzi, xìng, má huáng soup is the main treatment, all are incorrect. Liú Yuánbīn states: Fú pulse cannot induce sweating.
24、Dòng (Moving)
Dòng indicates rapid pulse, seen at the guān above and below, without head or tail, like a bean, shaking and moving.
Zhòng Jīng states: Yin and Yang clash is called moving, Yang moves then sweating occurs, Yin moves then heat occurs, shape is cold and aversion to cold, this is three jiaos injury.
Chéng Wújǐ states: Yin and Yang clash, hence the weak moves, hence Yang weak indicates Yang moves, Yin weak indicates Yin moves.
Páng Āncháng states: the first third of the guān is Yang, the last third is Yin, the guān position is half Yin and half Yang, hence moving appears with deficiency.
The pulse classic states: searching seems to have it, lifting has none, does not leave its place, does not go or come, three guān are heavy. Confused and erroneous, is not moving pulse. Zhān shì states its shape beats like a hook, like hair, is especially erroneous.
『Body Condition Poem』
Moving pulse shakes and shakes, number is at the guān, without head or tail, like a bean-shaped group.
Its origin is Yin and Yang clashing, the weak shakes while the strong remains.
『Main Disease Poem』
Moving pulse specializes in pain and fright, sweating is due to Yang movement, heat is due to Yin movement.Or it indicates diarrhea, cramps, and disease, men lose essence, women have bleeding.Zhòng Jīng states: moving indicates pain and fright. The classic states: Yin deficiency and Yang clash is called bleeding. It also states: women with less Yin pulse moving greatly indicates pregnancy.
25、Cù (Urgent)
Cù mài, lái qù shù, shí yī zhǐ fù lái (《脉经》).
Like a sudden urge, slow and fast is not constant (Lí shì). The pulse classic only states rapid and stopping is called urgent, the pulse classic states: also residing at the inch, does not state stopping is erroneous. Rapid stopping is urgent, slow stopping is knotty, why only at the inch?
『Body Condition Poem』Urgent pulse is rapid and sometimes stops, this indicates Yang extreme desires to lose Yin.Three jiaos are stagnant fire, burning fiercely, advancing must have no life, retreat can live.『Similar Condition Poem』See Dài pulse.『Main Disease Poem』
Urgent pulse indicates fire disease, its cause has five details to push it.
At times, wheezing and coughing are all phlegm accumulation, or madness, spots, and toxic sores.
Urgent indicates Yang excess disease. Cù and jié are both caused by qi, blood, phlegm, drink, and food, five factors differ. Any stagnation, the pulse must be seen to stop.
26、Jié (Knotty)
Jié mài, wǎng lái huǎn, shí yī zhǐ fù lái (《脉经》).
The pulse classic states: or comes or goes, gathers and then returns. This is unrelated to Jié. Zhòng Jīng has a pulse that is like a long pole, called Yin Jié, and a pulse that is like a car cover, called Yang Jié. The pulse classic also states: like a sesame seed shaking, rotating and gathering, scattering is not constant is called Jié, indicates death. These three pulses have the same name but different realities.
『Body Condition Poem』Jié pulse is slow and sometimes stops, only Yin is excessive desiring to lose Yang.Floating indicates qi stagnation, deep indicates accumulation, sweating and dividing clearly at the main pulse.『Similar Condition Poem』See Dài pulse.『Main Disease Poem』Jié pulse is due to qi and blood coagulation, old phlegm accumulates, suffering from deep murmurs.Internal accumulation and external abscess, hernia and masses are calamities belonging to Yin.
27、Dài (Intermittent)
Dài mài, dòng ér zhōng zhǐ, bù néng zì huí, yīn ér fù dòng (Zhòng Jīng).
The pulse reaches five beats, the lungs, heart, spleen, liver, and kidneys all have qi, all reach fifty beats and one breath, combining the great number, called flat pulse. Conversely, if it stops, it is seen, if kidney qi cannot reach, then forty beats and one stop; if liver qi cannot reach, then thirty beats and one stop. This is because one organ’s qi is weak, while the other organ’s qi arrives.
The classic states: Dài indicates qi is weak. Huá Bórén states: if there is no disease, a thin pulse indicates Dài, it is a dangerous pulse. If there is disease and qi and blood suddenly lose, qi cannot continue, it is a disease pulse. Injury from cold and palpitations indicates Dài pulse, the pulse classic states: its birth and death must not be indistinguishable.
『Body Condition Poem』
Dài pulse moves and stops, cannot return, moving again indicates Dài pulse.
Patients with it can still be treated, normal people are related to longevity.
『Similar Condition Poem』
Rapid and stopping is called urgent, slow stopping must call Jié pulse.Stopping cannot return is Dài, Jié gives birth and Dài gives death, self-different paths.
Urgent and Jié stopping are not constant, or two moves, three moves, one stop comes. Dài pulse stops has a constant number, must be based on the number and stop, returning to the chǐ, a long time before coming back.
『Main Disease Poem』Dài pulse indicates the original qi of the organs is weak, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and lower source deficiency.Or it indicates vomiting and diarrhea in the middle palace, women pregnant for three months.The pulse classic states: Dài scattered indicates death. Birth of diarrhea and blood. Fifty beats without stopping indicates no disease, number within stopping indicates certainty. Forty beats and one stop indicates one organ is severed, after four years many will die. Thirty beats and one stop indicates three years, twenty-one beats and one stop indicates two years. Ten beats and one stop indicates one year, more observing qi color and shape symptoms. Two beats and one stop indicates three to four days, three to four beats and one stop indicates six to seven mornings, in order to push it without loss.
Source: Bànxià Jiànkāng. Please indicate the source when reprinting.
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