I have been engaged in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for over fifty years, studying numerous ancient texts on pulse diagnosis. Through long-term clinical practice, I have realized the necessity of combining pulse diagnosis with the three other diagnostic methods: observation, listening, and inquiry. It is also essential to fully understand the regularities and variations of pulse diagnosis, paying attention to the unique pulse patterns of individuals based on their physical constitution, work, and mental state to determine normal and pathological pulses, as well as auspicious and ominous signs.
Part One: Understanding Normal Pulses
The outline summarizes six categories: floating, sinking, slow, rapid, slippery, and rough. These include exterior-interior, yin-yang, cold-heat, deficiency-excess, and organ qi-blood. Floating indicates yang and exterior. Sinking indicates yin and interior. Slow indicates presence in the organs, cold, and deficiency. Rapid indicates presence in the bowels, heat, and excess. Slippery indicates excess blood, while rough indicates stagnation of qi. Floating and sinking are assessed by light and heavy pressure; the strong, wiry, and empty pulses are obtained with light pressure, thus categorized as floating. Short, thin, solid, hidden, firm, leather, and intermittent pulses are obtained with heavy pressure, thus categorized as sinking.
Slow and rapid pulses are determined by the frequency of breaths. Weak, faint, slow, and intermittent pulses are categorized as slow. Tight, hurried, and moving pulses are categorized as rapid. Although slippery resembles rapid and rough resembles slow, their underlying principles differ. The slow and rapid pulses are determined by breath frequency, while slippery and rough are assessed by their shape. Moreover, slippery and rough pulses often indicate qi and blood issues, thus these two pulses, while not categorized together, are listed alongside floating, sinking, slow, and rapid as the six categories.
1. Floating Pulse
Floating is assessed at the surface; its characteristic is that it can be felt with light pressure but not with heavy pressure, moving above the muscles. Floating indicates conditions of wind, deficiency, and dizziness. A floating yang pulse indicates exterior heat, while a floating yin pulse indicates exterior deficiency. A strong floating pulse indicates wind-heat, while a weak floating pulse indicates weak blood.
Strong: A strong floating pulse indicates a large pulse, also known as a hook pulse, characterized by being very large and rapid, filling the fingers like waves surging, coming strong and going weak, coming large and going long. A strong pulse indicates great heat in the meridians, a sign of burning blood and qi. If this pulse is seen in cases of prolonged cough with blood, it is to be avoided. Those who are thin and have much qi should avoid this pulse. If a pathological pulse shows strong, it indicates a worsening condition. A strong pulse indicates heat in both the exterior and interior, constipation, agitation, and dryness of the mouth and throat.
Rough: A weak floating pulse indicates a rough pulse, characterized by being large and soft, with a central void and solid sides, creating a hollow feeling under the fingers. A rough pulse indicates blood loss, excess qi, and insufficient blood to carry qi. If fire invades the yang channels, blood may overflow, leading to vomiting or bleeding; if fire invades the yin channels, blood may flow downward, leading to blood in the stool or excessive menstruation.
Wiry: A straight floating pulse indicates a wiry pulse, characterized by being firm and straight, like a newly drawn bowstring. A wiry pulse indicates blood and qi convergence, with yang hidden within yin, or stagnation of cold in the meridians. A tight and rapid wiry pulse indicates excess, while a tight and thin wiry pulse indicates deficiency. A wiry pulse that is soft indicates a mild condition, while a hard wiry pulse indicates a severe condition. A light, slippery pulse indicates a mild condition, while a solid, slippery pulse indicates a severe condition. A wiry pulse combined with rapid indicates labor-induced malaria, while a wiry pulse combined with long indicates stagnation in the middle, with both hands showing wiry pulses indicating pain in the sides.
Weak: A weak floating pulse indicates a weak pulse, characterized by being soft, scattered, and large, with little strength when lifted, feeling empty and unable to hold itself. A weak pulse indicates deficiency of both qi and blood, often associated with insufficient internal organs, heat injury, deficiency, agitation, spontaneous sweating, or childhood convulsions.
Soft: A soft floating pulse indicates a soft pulse, characterized by being weak and without strength, responding lightly and disappearing under heavy pressure. A soft pulse indicates deficiency of both qi and blood, also indicating spleen dampness, deficiency, spontaneous sweating, numbness, coldness, and blood loss.
Long: A long floating pulse indicates a long pulse, characterized by being neither large nor small, extending continuously, with excess under the fingers. A long pulse indicates excess of both qi and blood, with three sections long or one section long, feeling like a pulled rope indicating illness. It indicates strong heat, epilepsy, internal yang toxicity, and excessive heat in the Sanjiao.
Scattered: A scattered floating pulse indicates a large and weak pulse, characterized by having an exterior without an interior, yin without yang, filling the fingers but not gathering, coming and going indistinctly. A scattered pulse indicates depletion of qi and blood, with consumption of the true qi of the organs. If the heart pulse is large and scattered, and the lung pulse is short and scattered, it is still considered a normal pulse. If a pathological pulse shows a scattered pulse, it indicates a critical condition, indicating that the deficiency yang does not gather, and the heart qi is insufficient, often not a good sign.
2. Sinking Pulse
A sinking pulse is assessed at the interior; its characteristic is that it cannot be felt with light pressure but can be felt with heavy pressure, reaching below the muscles and resting between the tendons and bones. A sinking pulse indicates a condition of yin counteracting yang deficiency, indicating diseases of the yin channels, qi, water, cold, and bones, indicating stagnant fluids, masses, abdominal distension, counterflow, and diarrhea. A sinking pulse combined with thin indicates insufficient qi, while a sinking pulse combined with slippery indicates food stagnation, a sinking pulse combined with slow indicates internal cold, a sinking pulse combined with hidden indicates vomiting and diarrhea, and a sinking pulse combined with rapid indicates severe internal heat.
Short: A short sinking pulse indicates a short pulse, characterized by being short at both ends, not filling the normal position, and returning when lifted. A short pulse indicates insufficient qi and blood, often indicating a condition of not reaching the normal position. It also indicates qi stagnation in the Sanjiao and undigested food. A short pulse combined with floating indicates blood stagnation, while a short sinking pulse often indicates masses. A short pulse is generally only seen in the cun and guan positions; if seen in the chi position, it indicates a critical condition of yin and yang.
Thin: A thin sinking pulse indicates a thin pulse, characterized by being smaller than usual and often present, thin and soft, feeling like silk under the fingers. A thin pulse indicates cold blood and insufficient qi. It indicates various deficiencies and is often associated with insufficient original qi, internal and external cold, weakness, and diarrhea.
Solid: A solid sinking pulse indicates a solid pulse, characterized by being continuous and long, neither fast nor slow, moving with strength. A solid pulse indicates fullness in the Sanjiao. It indicates excess conditions, such as vomiting, pain, diarrhea, qi obstruction, qi accumulation, and food stagnation.
Hidden: A hidden pulse indicates a pulse that is almost imperceptible, characterized by being extremely heavy when pressed, reaching the tendons and bones, and only feeling slightly under pressure. A hidden pulse indicates hidden yin and yang, with blockage and closure. If felt in the cun position, it indicates yang hidden; if felt in the chi position, it indicates yin hidden. If a hidden pulse is felt, sweating should not be induced. It indicates severe pain, masses, hernias, vomiting, diarrhea, stagnant water, undigested food, and blockage of the qi and blood.
Firm: A firm sinking pulse indicates a firm pulse, characterized by being heavy like a hidden pulse, solid and large, with little wiriness, moving but not shifting, indicating firmness. A firm pulse indicates cold and solid conditions, or conditions of exhaustion and weakness. Cold and solid conditions indicate hernias and masses. Exhaustion and weakness often indicate a critical condition of insufficient stomach qi, indicating a deficiency pulse appearing as a solid pulse. Additionally, it may be seen in joint pain.
Leather: A leather sinking pulse indicates an abnormal sinking pulse, characterized by being heavy and solid, like pressing on a drum skin. A leather pulse indicates deficiency cold and blood loss (it is actually a combination of rough and wiry pulses, with rough indicating deficiency and wiry indicating cold, thus deficiency and cold colliding). It indicates blood loss in men, loss of essence, and in women, postpartum bleeding, also indicating conditions of wind and dampness.
Intermittent: An intermittent sinking pulse indicates a pulse that moves and then stops, returning after a long time, moving again, with even intervals. An intermittent pulse indicates deficiency of the organ qi, indicating insufficient qi and blood. If a sickly thin person shows this pulse, it indicates organ failure. If due to sudden loss of qi and blood, or due to wind or pain, it indicates a pathological pulse, which should be treated appropriately.
3. Slow Pulse
A slow pulse is assessed at the organs; its characteristic is that between breaths, the pulse only beats three times, coming and going very slowly. A slow pulse indicates excess yin and deficiency of yang, with yang unable to overcome yin, hence the pulse is slow. In the cun position, it indicates insufficient qi; if cold, it contracts. In the chi position, it indicates insufficient blood; if cold, it coagulates. It indicates cold and deficiency. A combined floating pulse indicates exterior cold. If yang is insufficient, the body must feel cold. A combined sinking pulse indicates interior cold. If yang is insufficient, it often indicates internal cold and diarrhea.
Faint: A faint slow pulse indicates a faint pulse, characterized by being extremely thin and soft, almost imperceptible, feeling like it is about to disappear. A faint pulse indicates qi deficiency and weak blood, also indicating cold yin. It may also indicate external heat accumulation inside, with the pulse path obstructed, not belonging to cold conditions, which should be differentiated. In summary, a faint pulse indicates weakness. It indicates spontaneous sweating, diarrhea, insufficient qi, and continuous bleeding.
Weak: A weak slow pulse indicates a weak pulse, characterized by being extremely soft and thin, feeling like it is about to disappear, and if lightly touched, it is imperceptible. A weak pulse indicates yang sinking into yin, insufficient essence, also indicating issues with the tendons. It indicates coldness, heat, loss of essence, spontaneous sweating, weakness, and deficiency. A weak pulse combined with slippery indicates some stomach qi. A weak pulse combined with rough often indicates a prolonged illness. If the yang is floating and the yin is weak, it indicates blood deficiency and tense tendons, with cold and fever.
Gentle: A gentle slow pulse indicates a gentle pulse, characterized by being slightly larger than a floating pulse, resembling a slow pulse but with a slight illness. A pulse of four beats per breath, coming and going gently, breathing slowly. A gentle pulse indicates qi and blood decline. If it is neither sinking nor floating, calm and gentle, without rapid or weak tendencies, it indicates sufficient spirit and normal spleen and stomach. If it is a pathological pulse, it indicates wind, deficiency, pain, weakness, and discomfort. In the upper body, it indicates neck stiffness; in the lower body, it indicates weakness in the legs. A combined floating pulse indicates external wind invasion, while a combined sinking pulse indicates qi and blood deficiency.
Knotted: A knotted slow pulse indicates a pulse that comes slowly and then stops. Its characteristic is that it comes slowly, stops at times, and then returns. A knotted pulse indicates extreme excess of yin, with yang unable to enter. This is the extreme of a yin pulse, indicating loss of yang, sweating, hernias, masses, phlegm stagnation, qi and blood coagulation, food and drink retention, and emotional stagnation. A combined floating pulse indicates cold stagnation, while a combined sinking pulse indicates internal qi stagnation. Although many conditions are caused by qi and blood stagnation, attention should be paid to the changes in yin and yang deficiency to avoid misdiagnosing the condition.
4. Rapid Pulse
A rapid pulse is assessed at the bowels; its characteristic is that it beats six times per breath, pulsating rapidly. A rapid pulse indicates excessive yang heat, with yin fluids depleted, indicating signs of heat. A rapid floating pulse indicates exterior heat, while a rapid sinking pulse indicates interior heat. A rapid pulse with strength indicates real heat, while a rapid pulse without strength indicates false heat.
Tight: A tight rapid pulse indicates a tight pulse, characterized by being vigorous and urgent, pressing long, and moving like a pulled rope. However, it does not reach six beats per breath, also known as a hurried pulse. A tight pulse indicates cold wind attacking the defensive qi, indicating cold and pain, with internal abdominal pain and external body pain often showing a tight pulse. There may also be heat pain, but it must be combined with a solid rapid pulse. Heat is bound by cold, hence the urgent rapid pulse, but it must have spirit to be effective. A tight pulse combined with floating indicates external wind-cold body pain. A tight pulse combined with sinking indicates internal cold.
Prominent: A prominent rapid pulse indicates a pulse that comes rapidly and then stops, characterized by being rapid and stopping at times, with no definite pattern. A prominent pulse indicates excessive yang, with yin unable to harmonize. Anger and anxiety can also cause a rapid pulse. This is the extreme of a yang pulse, indicating qi pain, depression, toxic sores, and blood stasis, indicating excessive fire in the Sanjiao, phlegm accumulation, cough, and shortness of breath.
Moving: A moving pulse is felt in the guan position, characterized by being rapid and only felt in the guan. It is round like a bean, with no head or tail, moving erratically, felt sometimes but not always, not coming or going, and not leaving its place. A moving pulse indicates pain, shock, diarrhea, spasms, bleeding, and weakness. If the yang moves, it indicates sweating; if the yin moves, it indicates fever.
5. Slippery Pulse
A slippery pulse indicates qi. Its characteristic is that it flows smoothly, like pearls rolling on a plate, neither advancing nor retreating. A slippery pulse indicates blood fullness and qi obstruction, with blood unable to support qi. It indicates phlegm and fluid diseases, with blood stasis and excess blood. In women, if the pulse is slippery without disease, it indicates pregnancy. In the upper body, it indicates vomiting; in the lower body, it indicates qi stagnation. A slippery pulse combined with rapid indicates heat stagnation.
6. Rough Pulse
A rough pulse indicates blood. Its characteristic is that it is thin and slow, with difficulty coming and going. It may stop and return, with irregular intervals. A rough pulse indicates excess qi and insufficient blood, indicating blood deficiency and pain without sweating. In women, if a rough pulse is felt during pregnancy, it indicates fetal issues. If a rough pulse is felt without pregnancy, it indicates blood stagnation.
Part Two: Understanding Variations
1. Pulses with Doubts Must Be Differentiated
Floating indicates the exterior, sinking indicates the interior, rapid pulses indicate heat, and slow pulses indicate cold. Tight and wiry indicate excess, while thin and weak indicate deficiency; this is common knowledge. However, among the doubts, it is essential to differentiate between true and false, as the relationship is significant and cannot be overlooked.
For example, although floating belongs to the exterior, if there is yin deficiency and blood loss with qi depletion, the pulse may appear floating but weak. Thus, floating cannot be generalized as an exterior sign.
Although sinking belongs to the interior, if an external pathogen has deeply invaded, causing cold to bind the meridians, the pulse may appear sinking and tight. Thus, sinking cannot be generalized as an interior sign.
Rapid indicates heat, but true heat does not necessarily mean rapid. If there is a deficiency condition with both yin and yang exhausted, qi and blood disordered and weakened, the more deficient, the more rapid the pulse. Thus, rapid cannot be generalized as heat.
Slow indicates cold, but if an external pathogen has just recovered, residual heat may cause the pulse to be slow and slippery. Thus, slow cannot be generalized as cold.
Tight and wiry are similar to excess, but if true yin and stomach qi are greatly depleted, and yin and yang are blocked, the pulse may appear large and tight. Thus, tight and wiry cannot be generalized as excess.
Thin and weak are similar to deficiency, but if there is extreme pain and qi obstruction, the pulse may appear hidden and thin. Thus, hidden may not necessarily indicate deficiency.
From this, it can be inferred that all pulses have doubts and must be carefully differentiated.
2. Differentiating Between Pulse and Symptoms (Refer to Wei Changchun’s “Notes on Medicine”)
XU Lingtai said: There are cases where symptoms should be prioritized, and cases where pulses should be prioritized, which must have specific reasons. If the diagnosis is clear, the condition cannot escape. If the differentiation of symptoms is unclear, it will not be misled by symptoms but must be misled by pulses. Therefore, in cases where symptoms should be prioritized, even if the pulse is extremely smooth but the symptoms are critical, it is concluded that the patient will die. In cases where pulses should be prioritized, even if the symptoms are extremely dangerous but the pulse is harmonious, it is concluded that the patient will survive. For example, in cases of blood loss, if the patient appears lifeless, in critical condition, but the six pulses are rooted, the patient will not die; this is a case where pulses should be prioritized over symptoms. In cases of phlegm obstruction, if the six pulses are either rapid or absent, if the phlegm is resolved, the patient will recover; this is a case where symptoms should be prioritized over pulses. In cases of yin deficiency cough, if the diet and daily activities are normal, but the six pulses are thin and rapid, the patient will eventually die; this is a case where pulses should be prioritized over symptoms. In cases of hiccups and gastroesophageal reflux, if the pulse is normal, the patient will eventually suffer from gastric failure, and if the pulse suddenly changes, the patient will have no chance of survival; this is another case where symptoms should be prioritized over pulses. In summary, pulses and symptoms should be observed separately to determine auspicious and ominous signs, and when observed together, certain symptoms may be contraindicated by certain pulses, and certain pulses may be contraindicated by certain symptoms, thus determining auspicious and ominous signs.
2.1 Prioritizing Symptoms Over Pulses
A floating pulse indicates an exterior condition, and treatment should involve sweating; however, there are cases where purging is also appropriate. Zhang Zhongjing said: If the pulse is floating and large, but the abdomen is hard, if there is heat in the organs, it should be attacked, and sweating is not appropriate.
A sinking pulse indicates an interior condition, and treatment should involve purging; however, there are cases where sweating is also appropriate, such as in Shaoyin disease. If the pulse is sinking and there is fever, the Ma Huang, Fu Zi, and Xi Xin decoction should be used to induce sweating.
A rapid pulse indicates excessive yang, and the use of Ge Gen, Qin Lian decoction should be employed to clear it. However, if a rapid pulse is accompanied by cold extremities, moxibustion at the Baihui point should be used to restore yang. This type of rapid pulse is not a sign of excessive yang and should prioritize symptoms over pulses.
A slow pulse indicates cold, and ginger and Fu Zi should be used to warm it. However, if the pulse is slow in Yangming disease without aversion to cold and sweating, Da Chengqi decoction should be used. Thus, a slow pulse is not necessarily a sign of cold.
2.2 Prioritizing Pulses Over Symptoms
If there is an exterior condition, sweating should be induced, which is the common method. Zhang Zhongjing said: If there is fever and headache, but the pulse is sinking, and the body is in pain, it should be warmed. The Si Ni decoction should be used.
If there is an interior condition, purging should be used, which is the standard procedure. If there is fever in the afternoon, it indicates Yangming, but the pulse is floating and weak, sweating should be induced, and Gui Zhi decoction should be used.
If there is a case of chest obstruction, it should be treated with the Xianxiong decoction. If the pulse is floating and large, it should not be purged, but rather warmed with Gui Zhi and Ren Shen decoction.
If there is body pain, it should be treated with Gui Zhi and Ma Huang to induce sweating; however, if the pulse in the chi position is slow, sweating should not be induced, but rather treated with Xiao Jianzhong decoction.
3. Distinguishing Between Auspicious and Ominous Signs Based on the Presence or Absence of Spirit
Li Dongyuan said: “In the absence of disease, the pulse should not be sought for spirit; spirit is always present. In the presence of disease, the pulse should be sought for the presence or absence of spirit.” The pulse method states: “A pulse with strength indicates the presence of spirit.” The term “with strength” should be carefully observed. For example, solid, tight, wiry, and firm pulses are all strong and belong to pathological pulses. Thus, strength does not mean hardness; it means balance. A pulse should have strength without losing gentleness, and softness without losing strength, which is the pulse of spirit. If it is insufficient, it indicates a weak and faint pulse. If it is excessive, it indicates a tight and wiry pulse, both of which are signs of danger.
4. Practical Experience in Pulse Diagnosis
4.1 In cases of febrile disease, a hidden pulse indicates internal fire stagnation. In cases of externally contracted febrile disease, if the pulse is not palpable, a single hand shows a hidden pulse, while both hands show a double hidden pulse. This is not a sign of yang presenting as a yin pulse, but rather internal fire stagnation, with blood stasis unable to be released, where the yang appears like yin, requiring significant sweating to resolve. The treatment should primarily involve cooling herbs to penetrate.
4.2 If the pulse is extremely large and weak, it indicates the floating of yang qi. In clinical practice, encountering an extremely coarse pulse that is weak under heavy pressure, with a pale complexion and sweating on the head, often indicates a deficiency condition where yang qi is floating. Although there may be an external pathogen, it should be avoided to disperse the exterior; rather, methods to quickly gather qi and stabilize the foundation should be employed to rescue from collapse (i.e., shock).
4.3 An extremely faint pulse may also indicate a hidden pulse, which is a sign of obstruction. An extremely faint pulse that is difficult to find, requiring heavy pressure to feel, with all six positions showing no pulse, but the chi position showing a solid and strong pulse, indicates a hidden pulse, which should not be mistaken for cold deficiency, but rather a sign of internal heat obstruction.
4.4 A firm pulse often indicates masses or tumors. A firm pulse that is not felt with light pressure but is solid and large with strength under heavy pressure indicates a solid pulse. A firm pulse indicates excess conditions. If this pulse is felt, it often indicates the presence of masses or tumors or cancer in the abdomen.
A firm pulse differs from a leather pulse, as a firm pulse is solid and rooted, while a leather pulse is floating and hard without a root.
A firm pulse differs from a hidden pulse, as a hidden pulse cannot be felt even with heavy pressure, requiring deep pressure to the bone to feel its shape, while a firm pulse is solid and large, easily felt under heavy pressure.
4.5 A leather pulse indicates a significant deficiency pulse, indicating blood loss and loss of essence. Zhang Zhongjing’s “Jin Kui Yao Lue” states: A pulse that is wiry and large indicates reduction, while large indicates roughness, reduction indicates cold, and roughness indicates deficiency, with cold and deficiency colliding, termed leather. In women, it indicates postpartum bleeding, while in men, it indicates blood loss and loss of essence. In clinical practice, a leather pulse feels like pressing on a drum skin, hard on the outside but hollow inside, appearing wiry and large but not strong, with strength but not slippery. If this pulse is felt, the complexion is often pale, and the abdomen is soft, with shortness of breath upon movement, indicating external floating and internal emptiness, often seen in regenerative anemia, which is difficult to treat.
4.6 In cases of prolonged illness, fatigue, and lack of spirit, a gentle pulse indicates a critical condition. The “Three Finger Zen Pulse Method” states that a gentle pulse is a pulse of health, the best pulse, and if seen in cases of illness, it indicates no danger. In clinical practice, it is often encountered in cases of prolonged illness with weakened spirit and reduced appetite, where the pulse appears gentle, often leading to no recovery. Thus, I firmly believe in the words of “Shen Rou Wu Shu” by Chen Dingwu. He said that in cases of prolonged illness, the pulse may appear large, strong, rapid, thin, sinking, or floating, or the cun may be floating while the chi is sinking, but if there is a pathological pulse, it is still treatable. However, if both floating and sinking pulses appear gentle in cases of prolonged illness, with fatigue, it indicates certain death. This has been confirmed in practice.
4.7 In cases of acute illness with fever, even if the pulse is weak, it should be treated as an external pathogen. Treatment must carefully observe external pathogens and internal injuries. In cases of acute illness with fever, even if the pulse is weak, it should be treated as an external pathogen. In cases of prolonged illness with a weak pulse, even if the heat is severe, it should be treated as an internal injury. At the same time, the tongue quality and coating should be observed; external febrile illness often has a coating that is either yellow or white, while internal injury symptoms often have a smooth tongue with little coating. The tongue may be tender red, pale red, or dark red, requiring differentiation between blood deficiency, qi deficiency, and blood heat, with pulse and symptoms combined for clearer differentiation.
4.8 In cases of depression, the pulse often appears wiry and rough, with a tendency to be unable to relax, and a tendency to be rapid but not truly rapid. It is essential to recognize that this is a fire without flame, a sound without rhythm, and a pulse that does not flow smoothly, indicating a depressed pulse. The treatment should involve dispersing and releasing it. If fire is below and covered with damp grass, it will smolder and not be released, leading to self-extinguishment. Therefore, it should be dispersed and released to allow the fire to penetrate.
4.9 In healthy individuals, a gentle and slow pulse indicates longevity, while a rapid and strong pulse indicates early death. Yu Tuan (Tianming) stated: “The pulse of life, is there not a difference between gentle and rapid? The classics state: A quick pulse is also quick, while a slow pulse is also slow. Generally, a gentle and slow pulse indicates longevity, while a rapid and strong pulse indicates early death. The classics state: The root is in the center, called the spirit machine; when the spirit departs, the machine ceases. Qi and blood are the spirit of the human body. A rapid and strong pulse indicates that qi and blood are easily depleted, and the spirit machine easily ceases, hence early death. A gentle and slow pulse indicates that qi and blood are balanced, and the spirit machine is difficult to damage, hence longevity.” In practice, it is indeed true that a rapid and strong pulse often indicates early death. In cases of young men and women suffering from fatigue, a large and rapid pulse often indicates difficulty in treatment. What Yu Tuan said is true; a rapid and strong pulse indicates that qi and blood are easily depleted, while a gentle and slow pulse indicates that qi and blood are balanced, which is all about daily cultivation. It is essential to achieve external movement and internal stillness, maintaining a calm heart and spirit, allowing qi and blood to harmonize, thus ensuring health and fewer illnesses.
4.10 In cases of unmarried women, the pulse often appears slippery and rapid. In cases of pregnancy, the pulse is often slippery and rapid, but in unmarried women and older unmarried women, the pulse often appears slippery and rapid, which is often caused by unfulfilled desires. The “Book of the Chushi” has discussed this, and in clinical practice, it is essential to differentiate carefully and not misdiagnose as pregnancy. Therefore, the ancients emphasized the four diagnostic methods: observation, listening, inquiry, and palpation, with pulse diagnosis being the last. There are principles that can be relied upon and those that cannot, which should be understood in the context of variations.
4.11 Distinguishing between overly strong and overly weak pulses requires careful differentiation. In elderly individuals, qi and blood have already declined, and the pulse should be weak; if it is overly strong, it indicates illness. If the pulse is strong but not rapid, and the appetite is normal, it indicates a strong constitution, a sign of longevity. If the pulse is strong and rapid, it indicates solitary yang.
In young and middle-aged individuals, the pulse should be full. If the pulse is weak, it indicates illness. If a young person with abundant qi and blood shows a weak pulse, it indicates weakness and insufficiency. If the pulse is small and gentle, with equal measurements in the cun, guan, and chi positions, it indicates a calm and cultivated constitution, a sign of health. If the pulse is thin and rapid, it indicates an ominous sign.
In pulse diagnosis, it is essential to distinguish between symptoms and adapt flexibly. In overweight individuals, qi is abundant externally, and the muscles are thick, often showing a strong and sinking pulse. In thin individuals, qi is often stagnant internally, and the muscles are thin, often showing a floating pulse. After drinking alcohol, the pulse is often floating and strong. After long journeys, qi and blood are unsettled, and the pulse often shows rapid signs.
— THE END —
⊙This article is reproduced from the internet and is for reference only. The copyright belongs to the original author. If there are any objections, please inform us for timely deletion.
⊙The various prescriptions or therapies mentioned in this article should be consulted with a physician and should not be used blindly. This platform does not bear any responsibility for any consequences!
Recommended Courses
Hao Wanshan lectures on “Shang Han Lun” (Complete 70 episodes)