Weak Pulse Category
1. From the Outline
Weak Pulse – should indicate lack of strength
Weak Pulse – when lifted, it is weak; when pressed, it feels empty—indicating deficiency of both Qi and Blood
Thin Pulse – pulse is thin like a thread, should indicate obvious signs—indicating deficiency of both Qi and Blood, and dampness
Minute Pulse – extremely thin and soft, almost imperceptible—indicating various deficiency syndromes, and sudden loss of Yang Qi
Intermittent Pulse – slow and stops intermittently, this has a fixed pattern—indicating weak organ Qi, pain, fright, or trauma
Short Pulse – both ends are short, not reaching the normal position—strong indicates Qi stagnation, weak indicates Qi deficiency
2. Mnemonic
Weak, Thin, Minute, Intermittent, Short
Weak and Thin indicate Qi and Blood with dampness
Minute indicates sudden loss of Yang Qi
Intermittent indicates organ weakness with pain, fright, or trauma
Short indicates strength or lack thereof with Qi stagnation
Strong Pulse Category
1. From the Outline
Strong Pulse – should indicate strength
Strong Pulse – when lifted, it is full and strong—indicating excess syndrome, normal individuals
Slippery Pulse – flows smoothly, should indicate round and smooth—indicating food stagnation, phlegm dampness, excess heat, young adults, and pregnant women
Wiry Pulse – straight and long, like pressing a guitar string—indicating pain, phlegm fluid disease, liver and gallbladder issues, healthy elderly individuals
Tight Pulse – tense and springy, resembling a twisted lock—indicating excess cold syndrome, pain, or food retention
Long Pulse – both ends are straight, exceeding the normal position—indicating excess Yang Qi, Yang syndrome, heat syndrome, excess syndrome, normal individuals
Large Pulse – wide pulse body, without surging—indicating healthy individuals or advancing disease
2. Mnemonic
Strong, Slippery, Wiry, Tight, Long, Large
Only the Tight Pulse is not seen in normal individuals
Slippery Pulse– seen in young adults and pregnant women indicating heat and excitement
Wiry Pulse– pressing the guitar string indicates pain that radiates to the liver and gallbladder pain
Tight Pulse – generally indicates cold and pain, here specifically remember food retention
Long Pulse – indicates Yang heat syndrome
Summary and Memory Aids
Soft Pulse – floating and thin
Weak Pulse – sinking and thin
Minute Pulse – extremely thin and soft
Knotted Pulse – slow and stops intermittently, this has no fixed pattern
Rapid Pulse – rapid and stops intermittently, this has no fixed pattern
Intermittent Pulse – slow and stops intermittently, this has a fixed pattern