Fang Zhou Kai Qi Yong Xin Huan Piao
The Joyful Pulse (Xi Mai) is characterized as a slippery pulse (hua mai), but not all slippery pulses are joyful. Slippery pulses are commonly seen in young adults with abundant Qi and blood, and in pregnant women, a slippery pulse indicates a strong Qi and blood nourishing the fetus, which is a physiological phenomenon. The joyful pulse typically becomes more pronounced around four months into pregnancy, making it easier to diagnose.What is a “slippery pulse”?According to the Pulse Classic (Mai Jue), it states: “When pressed, it sinks; the three positions feel like pearls, neither advancing nor retreating, distinguishing between floating slippery, sinking slippery, and the size of the slippery pulse.”The characteristics of a slippery pulse include: smooth and flowing, like beads rolling on a plate, with a sensation of swirling forward, which can be understood as a flowing pulse.In other words, when you take the pulse, you can feel the pulse beating smoothly without stagnation, with a rhythm that resembles the movement of flying numbers. The fingers feel a smooth sensation like “beads rolling on a plate.”
What is a “joyful pulse”?If a woman is healthy but presents a slippery pulse, it can be determined as a “joyful pulse,” generally observed between 2 to 9 months of pregnancy.However, to diagnose pregnancy through a slippery pulse, other conditions must also be met:
- She must be a married woman who has engaged in sexual relations, with a history of normal menstruation, and this time has missed her period for more than forty-five days, presenting a typical slippery pulse.
- Her complexion may resemble that of a peach blossom, yet she feels fatigued as if having a cold, with a sensation of fullness in the lower abdomen and breasts, or may have experienced nausea and vomiting; only then should pregnancy be considered.
Moreover, women may exhibit a slippery pulse during their menstrual period or within three days before and after menstruation, as well as during ovulation, so one cannot solely rely on the pulse to determine pregnancy.Importantly, if pregnancy is confirmed but no slippery pulse is detected, it often leads to miscarriage or premature birth.
- Diagnosing the “joyful pulse”
If the above conditions are met, a fast and slippery pulse indicates pregnancy: place the index, middle, ring, and little fingers of the right hand sequentially on the left wrist.Generally, the ring finger corresponds to the “cun” (寸), the middle finger to the “guan” (关), and the index finger to the “chi” (尺). Clearly, cun, guan, and chi imply a length, with cun being closest to the palm and chi being the farthest.If pregnant, the ring, middle, and index fingers can distinctly feel a lively pulse, and from “cun” to “chi,” it flows smoothly and rhythmically…
- Gender and the “joyful pulse”
Generally speaking, the pulse of women is slightly weaker than that of men. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) holds that “men rely on Qi, while women rely on blood.” The ancient principle of using pulse diagnosis to determine the gender of the fetus is:“Male is Yang, female is Yin; left is Yang, right is Yin.” This means that if the left pulse of the expectant mother beats more steadily and powerfully than the right, it indicates a higher likelihood of having a boy; conversely, a girl. If both sides have equal strength and speed, the possibility of twins increases.When determining gender by pulse, the male and female pulses are similar, but the “chi” differs, with Yang being weaker and Yin being stronger. The left governs the official, while the right governs the residence; a strong left indicates a boy, while a strong right indicates a girl.
- Theoretical Basis
The pulse of a normal person is rhythmic, gentle, and strong. The “joyful pulse” of pregnant women is smooth, slippery, strong, and calm. However, it is influenced by various factors, so a slippery pulse is not exclusive to pregnancy; a comprehensive diagnosis is essential.Importantly, after conception, a pregnant woman’s body undergoes significant physiological changes, especially to meet the nutritional needs of the fetus, leading to increased blood volume and strengthened heartbeats, which will inevitably be reflected in the pulse. Therefore, using pulse diagnosis to determine pregnancy is scientifically valid.
- Similar Pulses
【Arterial】 A pulse that is slippery, rapid, and strong, with a sensation of jumping like beans, but the area of pulsation is shorter than that of a slippery pulse, hence described as “like a bean, shaking and swaying.” It is associated with shock and pain. Pain disrupts the balance of Yin and Yang, causing Qi to obstruct blood, while shock leads to chaotic Qi and blood, resulting in a restless pulse.【Short Pulse】 The amplitude of the pulse wave is short, not reaching the baseline, with a more pronounced sensation at the guan position, while the cun and chi feel insufficient. It indicates Qi deficiency. A short and strong pulse suggests Qi stagnation, while a short and weak pulse indicates lung Qi deficiency and insufficient middle Qi.
【Floating Pulse】 The floating pulse is superficial, resting on the skin, easily felt with light pressure, and slightly diminishes with heavier pressure, but is not weak or empty. A floating pulse indicates that the patient has an external pathogen, with a mild condition, as the external evil has just entered the body, and the body’s righteous Qi is still strong, fighting against the external evil, thus the pulse appears floating and strong.In summary, diagnosing the joyful pulse requires consideration of multiple factors before reaching a conclusion. Of course, after reading this article, expectant mothers and fathers can try to feel the pulse and experience the joyful pulse’s rhythm.