The floating pulse (fu mai) is a pulse type with independent significance. It is characterized by a superficial pulse position, easily felt with light pressure, while medium or deep pressure yields less distinct results or no pulse sensation at all. The floating pulse is defined by its superficial location, situated “above the skin,” and does not involve other factors, contrasting with the deeper pulses.
The sensation of the floating pulse is easily obtained with light pressure, abundant when lifted, and insufficient when pressed down. With light pressure, the shape of the pulse vessel is clear, and the pulsation is distinct; with heavy pressure, the pulse vessel is compressed, and the pulsation weakens.
The floating pulse is metaphorically described as “like wood floating on water,” “like objects floating on water,” “the meaning of floating wood,” “like the movement of cypress seeds,” and “like hair blown by the wind.”
The floating pulse is one of the primary pulse types. Based on the floating pulse, various derived pulse patterns can be formed by adding related factors. There are many variations of the floating pulse, including floating rapid (fu shuo), floating slow (fu huan), floating delayed (fu chi), floating knotty (fu jie), floating fine (fu xi), floating surging (fu hong), floating moving (fu dong), floating short (fu duan), floating slippery (fu hua), floating rough (fu se), floating tight (fu jin), floating string-like (fu xian), floating scattered (fu san), floating supporting (fu tuo), floating moist (fu ru), floating weak (fu ruo), floating empty (fu xu), floating strong (fu er you li), floating weak (fu er wu li), floating large and surging (fu hong da), floating weak and rough (fu ruo se), floating fine and slippery (fu xi hua), floating tight and slippery (fu jin hua), floating slippery and rapid (fu hua ji jin), floating slippery and rapid (fu hua shuo ji), floating large and long (fu hong da chang), and floating. The floating pulse appears in a normal pulse (thin individuals, autumn season, lung pulse), indicating a superficial condition, with the pathogenic factor in the yang aspect, primarily indicating wind pathogens, or indicating deficiency in internal conditions, particularly in women during labor. In summary, the floating pulse can arise from superficial blood vessels, seasonal factors, invasion of superficial pathogens, internal deficiency leading to blood loss, qi deficiency leading to inability to retain, or excessive yang qi leading to a floating pulse.
1. Characteristics of the Pulse
The floating pulse is a pulse type with independent significance. It is characterized by a superficial pulse position, easily felt with light pressure, while medium or deep pressure yields less distinct results or no pulse sensation at all. The floating pulse belongs to the characteristics of pulse position, where the floating and sinking elements and the thickness elements change, with the floating element indicating a shallower pulse qi position, while the thickness element indicates a discontinuous thinness in the three positions.
(1) Sensation under the Finger:The sensation of the floating pulse is easily obtained with light pressure, abundant when lifted, and insufficient when pressed down. With light pressure, the pulse vessel shape is clear, and the pulsation is distinct; with heavy pressure, the pulse vessel is compressed, and the pulsation weakens. The pulse is located “above the flesh,” and the floating pulse is metaphorically described as “like wood floating on water,” “like objects floating on water,” “the meaning of floating wood,” “like the movement of elm seeds,” and “like hair blown by the wind.” In later generations, the metaphor “like wood floating on water” is often used to describe it, indicating a dead pulse, sometimes described as “like falling elm seeds.”
(2) Literature Research on Pulse Patterns:The earliest records of the floating pulse can be found in the “Huangdi Neijing” (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon). In the “Suwen: On the Five Qi,” it states, “The lung pulse is hairy”; in the “Suwen: On the True Organs of the Jade Machine,” it states, “The autumn pulse is the lung… hence its qi comes lightly and vacuously to float, comes urgently and scatters, hence it is called floating”; in the “Suwen: On Yin and Yang Differentiation,” it states, “To drum one yin is called hair.” The meaning of “to drum one yin is called hair” is now unknown, and one should not take it literally or misinterpret it.
Both the “Huangdi Neijing” and the “Nanjing” refer to the floating pulse as “hairy pulse”; for example, in the “Suwen: On the Five Qi,” it states, “The lung pulse is hairy”; in the “Nanjing: Fifteenth Difficulty,” it states, “The autumn pulse is hairy, which corresponds to the lung in the western direction of metal.” The terms “floating” and “hairy” are used together, indicating that the floating pulse is as light as a feather.
Regarding the explanation of the shape of the floating pulse, medical practitioners throughout history have mostly followed the words in the “Pulse Classic: Secrets of Pulse Shape under the Finger,” which states, “The floating pulse is abundant when lifted and insufficient when pressed (floating under the hand).” Similar wording can be found in the “Qianjin Yifang,” “Taiping Shenghui Fang,” “Liu Zheng Huo Ren Shu,” “San Yin Ji Yi Bing Zheng Fang Lun,” “Pulse Jue Zhi Zhang Bing Shi Tu Shuo,” “Wai Ke Jing Yi,” “Pujifang,” “Chong Ding Tai Su Mai Mi Jue,” “Jing Yue Quanshu,” “Yang Yi Da Quan,” “Mai Shuo,” “Gu Jin Yi Jian,” “Zhen Jia Shu Yao,” “Zhen Jia Zheng Yan,” and “Zhen Mai: Twelve Differentiations”; while in some literature, “insufficient when pressed” is changed to “insufficient when sought,” such as in the “Cha Bing Zhi Nan” and “Mai Jue Ru Hai”; the “Yixue Rumen” and “Yijing Xiaoxue” abbreviate it to “the floating pulse is insufficient when lifted and abundant,” which is not very precise. Some literature does not use “lift, press, seek” to determine the pulse position, but rather use “light hand, heavy press” to determine the pulse position. The “Jishi Quansheng Zhi Mi Fang” states, “The floating pulse is found with a light hand on the skin, and with heavy pressure, it seems to be absent”; the “Shang Han Zhi Ge” states, “The floating pulse is obtained with a light hand, and is not seen with heavy pressure”; the “Gu Jin Yi Tong Da Quan” states, “The floating pulse is floating and superficial, at the skin level, easily obtained with light pressure, like floating wood”; the “Shoushi Baokuan Wu” states, “It is obtained by lifting the finger lightly”; the “Luo Shi Hui Yue Yi Jing” states, “The floating pulse is seen with a light hand, floating on top, like wood floating on water, all at the water’s surface”; the “Yixue Shizai Yi” states, “Floating, seen with a light hand, the shape is clear”; the “Yimen Bu Yao” states, “The pulse is floating and can be obtained with light pressure”; the “Yixue Zhai Cui” states, “The floating pulse is obtained with light pressure, and not seen with heavy pressure”; the “Yixue Jian Neng” states, “The floating pulse is seen with light pressure,” and so on.
The floating pulse primarily indicates changes in pulse position. Medical practitioners throughout history have believed that the pulsation of the floating pulse is located relatively shallow, but there are slight differences in understanding the specific location. For example, the “Nanjing” and “Binhuhua Xue” believe the floating pulse is located “above the flesh,” while the “Mai Yu” and “Mu Jing Da Cheng” believe the floating pulse is “above the skin,” and the “Mai Shuo” believes the floating pulse is “between the skin,” the “Jishi Quansheng Zhi Mi Fang” believes the floating pulse is “at the skin,” the “Wai Ke Jing Yi” and “Yang Yi Da Quan” believe the pulse position is “seen between the skin and hair,” and the “Gu Jin Yi Tong Da Quan” believes the floating pulse is at the “skin and hair level,” while the “Zhen Jia Zheng Yan” also believes the floating pulse is at the “skin and hair level.”
The floating pulse only indicates changes in pulse position and should not be accompanied by other specific elements. However, some practitioners believe that the floating pulse should also have other characteristics. (1) Strong: For example, the “Cha Bing Zhi Nan” states, “The floating pulse is insufficient when sought, abundant when lifted, like objects floating on water, and when pressed, it disperses, but when lifted, it is strong.” (2) Smooth: The “Zhen Zong San Mei” states, “The floating pulse is evident when the finger is down, slightly reduced when pressed, but not empty, and abundant when lifted, flowing smoothly.” (3) Rootless: The “Gu Jin Yi Tong Da Quan” states, “The floating pulse is floating and superficial, at the skin level, easily obtained with light pressure, like floating wood”; “floating has pressure but no root.” This kind of discussion is relatively rare in many literatures, indicating that this is merely a unique perspective of individual practitioners and does not reflect the overall characteristics of the floating pulse.
3. Selected Literature
“Suwen: On the Five Qi” states: “The lung pulse is hairy.”
“Suwen: On Yin and Yang Differentiation” states: “To drum one yin is called hair.”
“Nanjing: Eighteenth Difficulty” states: “Floating means the pulse is above the flesh.”
“Pulse Classic: Secrets of Pulse Shape under the Finger” states: “The floating pulse is abundant when lifted and insufficient when pressed (floating under the hand).”
“Qianjin Yifang” states: “Floating, insufficient when pressed, abundant when lifted.”
“Taiping Shenghui Fang” states: “The floating pulse is insufficient when pressed, abundant when lifted, but floating under the finger.”
“Liu Zheng Huo Ren Shu” states: “Floating, insufficient when pressed, abundant when lifted.”
“Jishi Quansheng Zhi Mi Fang” states: “The floating pulse is found with a light hand on the skin, and with heavy pressure, it seems to be absent.”
“Shang Han Zhi Ge” states: “The floating pulse is obtained with a light hand, and is not seen with heavy pressure.”
“San Yin Ji Yi Bing Zheng Fang Lun” states: “Floating means insufficient when pressed, abundant when lifted.”
“Cha Bing Zhi Nan” states: “The floating pulse is insufficient when sought, abundant when lifted, like objects floating on water, dispersing when pressed, and strong when lifted.”
“Pulse Jue Zhi Zhang Bing Shi Tu Shuo” states: “Floating means insufficient when pressed, abundant when lifted.”
“Wai Ke Jing Yi” states: “The diagnosis of the floating pulse is floating under the finger, insufficient when pressed, abundant when lifted, gradually sought, appearing as excessive, and seen between the skin and hair.”
“Zhen Jia Shu Yao” states: “Floating is not sinking. It is insufficient when pressed, abundant when lifted, filling the finger and floating above, called floating.”
“Yixue Xiaoxue” states: “The floating pulse is insufficient when lifted and abundant.”
“Pujifang” states: “Floating means insufficient when pressed, abundant when lifted.”
“Gu Jin Yi Tong Da Quan” states: “The floating pulse is floating and superficial, at the skin level, easily obtained with light pressure, like floating wood; floating has pressure but no root.”
“Binhuhua Xue” states: “Floating means the floating pulse only travels above the flesh, like following elm seeds, lightly floating; floating like wood in water.”
“Yixue Rumen” states: “The floating pulse is insufficient when lifted and abundant.”
“Gu Jin Yi Jian” states: “The floating pulse is insufficient when pressed, abundant when lifted, filling the finger and floating above, called floating.”
“Mai Yu” states: “Floating is obtained from above the skin.”
“Shoushi Baokuan Wu” states: “It is obtained by lifting the finger lightly, called floating.”
“Chong Ding Tai Su Mai Mi Jue” states: “Floating means insufficient when pressed, abundant when lifted.”
“Jing Yue Quanshu” states: “The floating pulse is abundant when lifted and insufficient when pressed, the floating pulse is yang, and all large surging pulses belong to its category.”
“Zhen Jia Zheng Yan” states: “Floating is at the skin and hair level, like wood floating on water, abundant when lifted and insufficient when pressed.”
“Zhen Zong San Mei” states: “The floating pulse is evident when the finger is down, slightly reduced when pressed, but not empty, and abundant when lifted, flowing smoothly.”
“Yixue Zhai Cui” states: “The floating pulse is obtained with light pressure, and not seen with heavy pressure.”
“Zhen Mai: Twelve Differentiations” states: “Floating means the pulse is above the skin, insufficient when pressed, abundant when lifted, and seen between the skin and hair.”
“Mai Jue Ru Hai” states: “Floating means insufficient when sought, abundant when lifted, gradually sought, appearing as excessive, and seen between the skin and hair.”
“Nanjing Zheng Yi” states: “Floating is not sinking.”
“Yixue Zhai Cui” states: “The floating pulse is obtained with light pressure, and not seen with heavy pressure.”
“Zhen Jia Zheng Yan” states: “The floating pulse is seen with a light hand, floating on top, like wood floating on water, all at the water’s surface.”
4. Differentiation
(1) Hollow Pulse:The hollow pulse is easily obtained with light pressure, sharing the same pulse position as the floating pulse. However, the hollow pulse feels empty when pressed, with a significantly reduced fullness, while the floating pulse feels full and does not exhibit major abnormalities in fullness. This is the main distinction; the hollow pulse indicates blood loss, with yang qi leaking out with the blood; the floating pulse indicates superficial symptoms, with pathogenic qi dispersing with sweat, indicating different pathogenesis.
[Selected Literature]
“Zhen Zong San Mei” states: “The floating pulse is evident when the finger is down, slightly reduced when pressed, but not empty, and abundant when lifted, flowing smoothly, unlike the empty pulse which does not vibrate when pressed, the flower pulse which is empty when sought, and the moist pulse which is weak and powerless.”
(2) Empty Pulse:The floating pulse is easily obtained with light pressure, and the empty pulse can also be obtained with light pressure, sharing the same characteristic. However, the fullness differs; the floating pulse feels full when pressed, while the empty pulse feels empty. When there is qi deficiency with external symptoms, the pulse may be floating but weak, without obvious emptiness. This is due to the action of external pathogens, causing the body to reactively increase the qi and blood in the pulse, hence not showing obvious emptiness, only reflecting insufficient pulse strength, floating but weak, not floating and empty. More importantly, the empty pulse, although floating, shows the most distinct pulse sensation when pressed, which should confirm it is not a floating pulse, but an empty pulse.
[Selected Literature]
“Zhen Zong San Mei” states: “The floating pulse is evident when the finger is down, slightly reduced when pressed, but not empty, and abundant when lifted, flowing smoothly, unlike the empty pulse which does not vibrate when pressed, the flower pulse which is empty when sought, and the moist pulse which is weak and powerless.”
“Mai Jue Qi Wu” states: “When pressed, the pulse strength decreases, indicating it is not an empty pulse.”
(3) Moist Pulse:The floating pulse is easily obtained with light pressure, and the moist pulse can also be obtained with light pressure, sharing the same characteristic. However, the floating pulse is generally larger in shape, while the moist pulse is smaller. The floating pulse generally has a stronger pulse strength than the moist pulse, which is weaker. The moist pulse indicates dampness and heat, while the floating pulse indicates wind and cold.
[Selected Literature]
“Zhen Zong San Mei” states: “The floating pulse is evident when the finger is down, slightly reduced when pressed, but not empty, and abundant when lifted, flowing smoothly, unlike the empty pulse which does not vibrate when pressed, the flower pulse which is empty when sought, and the moist pulse which is weak and powerless.”
(4) Scattered Pulse:The floating pulse is easily obtained with light pressure, and the scattered pulse can also be obtained with light pressure, sharing the same characteristic. However, the floating pulse can be felt with medium pressure, while the scattered pulse cannot be felt with medium pressure, and cannot be felt at all with deep pressure. The floating pulse has strong pulse strength, while the scattered pulse is weak, and with slight pressure, it may become imperceptible. The scattered pulse is extremely fine and small, while the floating pulse is generally normal or slightly larger; although there are also fine ones, they are larger than the scattered pulse. The scattered pulse indicates rootless danger, while the floating pulse indicates a rooted disease. The scattered pulse indicates qi leakage, with solitary yang floating outward; the floating pulse indicates superficial symptoms, with defensive qi leaking outward. Severe or chronic diseases often present with scattered pulses, but floating pulses may also be present, although floating and weak, with no pulse sensation when pressed or felt deeply, this type of floating pulse is very similar to the scattered pulse. The main distinction lies in the presence of a root versus the absence of a root. The rooted pulse is the floating pulse, which has a better prognosis; the rootless pulse is the scattered pulse, which has a poor prognosis. The “San Zhi Chan” states that “the essence and blood leak” leading to a floating pulse, or it may be a hollow pulse or a scattered pulse of the floating type.
[Selected Literature]
“Yishu” states: “The floating pulse is easily obtained with light pressure, not necessarily absent with medium or deep pressure; if it is said to have a surface without an interior, it is rootless and mixed with the scattered pulse, not the true appearance of the floating pulse.”
5. Mechanisms Influencing Pulse Shape Changes
The appearance of the floating pulse can occur in the following situations: (1) Normal pulse (thin individuals, autumn season, lung pulse); (2) Disease in the exterior; (3) Pathogenic factors in the yang aspect; (4) Primarily indicating wind pathogens; (5) Disease in the interior; (6) Primarily indicating deficiency syndromes; (7) Women in labor. The mechanisms leading to the floating pulse can be summarized as follows.
1. Superficial Blood Vessels Leading to Floating Pulse:In thin individuals, the pulse position at the cun (inch) is relatively shallow, and the fat layer and skin are thin, hence the pulse position appears superficial.
2. Seasonal Factors Leading to Floating Pulse:The lung corresponds to the autumn season; although in the golden autumn, the qi of heaven and earth descends, and the metal nature is heavy and sinks, the lung, being the crown of the five organs, is in a high position, primarily indicating solid yang, and has a light and clear function, harmonizing with the dry sky, hence the pulse position is floating and shallow.
3. Invasion of Exterior Pathogens Leading to Floating Pulse:When the six excesses invade the skin, it must provoke the body’s defensive yang qi to resist, with the righteous qi filling the exterior, contending with the pathogens, through enhancing the lung’s dispersing function, pushing the defensive qi to the skin surface, stimulating the pulse qi, causing the defensive qi at the skin surface to increase, resulting in a floating pulse position. The exterior pathogenic factors cause disease, as the qi and blood push outward to contend with the pathogens, while the internal condition is relatively weak, hence pressing down slightly reduces the pulse, but it is not due to qi and blood deficiency, hence it does not feel empty. Therefore, at this time, the floating pulse represents the body’s enhanced resistance to disease.
4. Internal Deficiency and Blood Loss Leading to Floating Pulse:Blood is the mother of qi, and blood is the carrier of qi. When there is significant blood loss, qi leaks out with the blood, leading to a hollow pulse, with qi leaking outward, and the defensive qi at the skin surface increasing, resulting in a floating pulse position, or floating and weak, or floating and empty.
The mechanism of the floating pulse appearing due to internal deficiency and blood loss has differences between yin and yang; if yin is deficient and yang is excessive, the pulse should be large and floating, with no strength when pressed; if yin is extremely deficient, yang has no support and floats outward, the pulse is floating and rootless, even showing signs of being scattered. Both cases involve yang qi floating outward, and the pulse qi cannot sink inward, hence easily obtained with light pressure, due to floating yang leaking outward, hence the pulse is not solid, feeling empty and weak, or rootless. At this time, the floating pulse indicates the body is weak, with low resistance to disease.
5. Qi Leakage Leading to Floating Pulse:Functional failure, blood loss, excessive sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea can lead to qi leakage. During qi leakage, the hollow pulse has no qi, and the defensive qi leaks outward, with solitary yang floating outward, causing the qi at the body surface to increase, enhancing the upward and outward pushing force, thus forming a weak floating pulse. Chronic diseases lead to deficiency, and yang qi cannot sink, floating outward, resulting in a floating pulse that is weak.
6. Yang Qi Floating Outward Leading to Floating Pulse:Yang qi leaking outward forms the floating pulse, with pathogenic factors in the exterior or solitary yang floating outward, qi leakage, blood loss, excessive sweating, or diarrhea can all cause the body’s yang qi to excessively leak outward. When yang qi leaks outward, it can be easily obtained with light pressure, and not obvious with heavy pressure. The upward floating force is a kind of “abundant when lifted,” or called “floating with abundance” pulse sensation, seen in individuals with sufficient yang qi but with exterior symptoms. Women in labor are in a physiological state of “sudden deficiency of yin blood, yang qi easily floating,” hence the yang qi leaks outward, and the pulse qi rises, resulting in a floating pulse position.
[Selected Literature]
“Mai Shuo” states: “Thin individuals have floating pulses, with three positions corresponding, indicating thin flesh; fat individuals with floating pulses have no illness.”
“Mai Zhen Qian Tan” states: “When the exterior is attacked, the defensive yang resists the external pathogens, hence the pulse qi is pushed outward, floating and strong; or if qi deficiency cannot retain internally, it floats outward, hence the pulse is large and weak.”
“Suwen: On the True Organs of the Jade Machine” states: “The autumn pulse is the lung… hence its qi comes lightly and vacuously to float, comes urgently and scatters, hence it is called floating.”
“Zhen Jia Zheng Yan: Volume II: Floating Pulse Yang” states: “The lung corresponds to autumn metal, and the qi of heaven and earth descends in autumn, and the heavy metal sinks, but does not correspond to the floating pulse. The lung metal is heavy, yet it is primarily yang, and is in a high position, being the crown of the five organs, hence it harmonizes with the floating pulse.”
“Zhen Zong San Mei” states: “Floating corresponds to the meridians and skin surface, primarily due to the external pathogens attacking the three yang meridians, pushing the pulse qi outward, hence it appears floating. Therefore, all floating pulses indicate disease in the exterior, but if the pulse is strong under the finger, it indicates excess external pathogens; if the pulse is floating after a long illness, it indicates that the internal qi is deficient and cannot retain.”
“Sihai Tongchun” states: “All floating pulses indicate yang, exterior, and are the external pathogens of the five movements and six qi that have not yet entered the interior, with the pathogenic qi prevailing in the exterior, and harming the defensive qi, hence it is appropriate to use dispersing agents. If the pulse is floating but weak, it indicates that the external pathogens harm the nourishing qi, hence it is appropriate to tonify the middle and harmonize.”
“Yishu” states: “Floating indicates the exterior”; “The floating pulse can also indicate internal conditions, where yang is solid and yin is deficient, leading to water deficiency.” “Although floating belongs to the exterior, if yin is deficient and blood is low, the pulse must be floating and weak, hence floating cannot be generalized as exterior.”
“Mai Xue Ji Yao” states: “Sinking indicates the yin qi is reversed, and the yang qi is not relaxed; sinking and floating are opposites, with floating indicating the external pathogens prevailing, and blood and qi floating outward, hence it is yang indicating the exterior, while sinking indicates the yin pathogens prevailing, and blood and qi stagnating and not vibrating, hence it is yin indicating the interior.”
5. Main Diseases
The appearance of the floating pulse can occur in the following situations.
1. Normal Pulse
(1) Thin Individuals
[Selected Literature]
“Yishu” states: “Floating and sinking can be obtained from endowment; those with high spirits often have floating pulses… Thin individuals often have floating pulses, with changes in seasonal conditions, as in spring and summer, the qi rises and the pulse floats.”
(2) Autumn Pulse
[Selected Literature]
“Shang Han Lun: Normal Pulse Method” states: “In February, the hairy floating pulse indicates death in autumn; in February, the liver is active, corresponding to wood, and the pulse should be moist and weak, but if the hairy floating pulse is obtained, it indicates the lung pulse, which corresponds to metal, hence it is known to die in autumn.”
“Pulse Classic: Normal and Miscellaneous Disease Pulses” states: “Slightly floating, autumn is auspicious, winter leads to illness.”
(3) Lung Pulse
[Selected Literature]
“Suwen: On the Five Qi” states: “The lung pulse is hairy.”
“Nanjing: Fifteenth Difficulty” states: “The autumn pulse is hairy, which corresponds to the lung in the western direction of metal.”
“Suwen: On the Normal Qi of the Lung” states: “The normal lung pulse is light and soft, like falling elm seeds, called lung normal.”
“Binhuhua Xue” states: “In the third autumn, knowing the floating pulse is not harmful, but if it appears after a long illness, it can be alarming.”
“Yixue Chuanxin Lu” states: “The autumn pulse is hairy, and the winter pulse is stone; following the season is auspicious, while going against it is ominous, and the finger must be carefully examined for generation and overcoming.”
“Mai Shuo” states: “Thin individuals have floating pulses, with three positions corresponding, indicating thin flesh; fat individuals with floating pulses have no illness.”
2. Wind Pathogen
[Selected Literature]
“Sihai Tongchun” states: “The floating pulse is not only due to the pulse floating above the skin; the pulse appearing above the boundaries of each part indicates the corresponding organ is affected, and it should not be solely attributed to external pathogens. If the pulse is more external than internal, it should be treated as an external condition, while if the pulse is more internal than external, it should be treated as an internal condition, without further mention of external pathogens. The floating pulse of each meridian, such as the lung pulse appearing outside the fish joint, the heart pulse appearing above the three quiet points, the spleen pulse appearing above the six quiet points, the liver pulse appearing above the nine quiet points, and the kidney pulse appearing above the twelve quiet points, all indicate excess in their respective meridians, and if it appears above the two or three parts, it indicates excessive pathogenic qi in those areas, and should not be treated with a single approach.”
“Yizong Bidi” states: “The floating pulse indicates the exterior, and treatment should involve sweating; this is its norm, but there are also cases where purging is appropriate. Zhang Zhongjing states that if the pulse is large and floating, with hardness under the heart, and heat is present, it belongs to the organ, and one should not induce sweating.”
“Yishu” states: “The pulse floating indicates the disease is in the upper part (the upper part of the body), in the exterior, or in the organs, hence the pulse is floating. The upper, exterior, and organ correspond to yang, and the floating pulse also corresponds to yang, hence yang diseases show yang pulses.”
“Yixue Xinyu” states: “Floating is not sinking, indicating the disease is in the exterior.”
“Mai Jue Qi Wu” states: “Floating corresponds to the wind aspect.”
“Shang Han Lun” states: “The disease of the sun is indicated by a floating pulse, with stiff neck and aversion to cold.”; “The disease of the sun is indicated by fever and thirst, without aversion to cold, indicating a warm disease; if sweating has already occurred, and the body is burning hot, it is called wind warmth, and the wind warmth is the disease, with both yin and yang being floating; hence floating indicates wind.”
“Yixue Chuanxin Lu” states: “All three positions of the floating pulse indicate lung wind, with aversion to cold, fever, and nasal congestion.”
3. Deficiency Syndrome
[Selected Literature]
“Mai Li Qiu Zhen” states: “Floating indicates deficiency and insufficiency.”
“Jinkui Yaolue: Pulse and Symptoms of Wind and Cold” states: “Floating indicates blood deficiency, with the vessels empty.”
“Binhuhua Xue” states: “If it appears after a long illness, it can be alarming.”
“Shang Han Lun” states: “If the pulse is large and floating, it should not be purged; purging it will lead to death.”
“Jinkui Yaolue: Pulse and Symptoms of Blood Deficiency” states: “If a man has a pale complexion, it indicates thirst and blood loss, sudden shortness of breath, and the pulse is floating, indicating internal deficiency.”
“San Zhi Chan” states: “The internal disease leads to floating due to the essence and blood leaking out.”
“Zhen Zong San Mei” states: “If the pulse is floating after a long illness, it indicates that the internal qi is deficient and cannot retain.”
“Jinkui Yaolue: Pulse and Symptoms of Wind and Cold” states: “Floating indicates deficiency, and floating indicates blood deficiency.”
“Pujifang” states: “The floating pulse indicates wind pathogens… The floating pulse indicates all wind pulses.”
“Zhen Zong San Mei” states: “The disease is in the exterior, indicating wind, with strong exterior symptoms, while the floating pulse is weak, indicating blood deficiency.”
4. Disease in the Yang Aspect
[Selected Literature]
“Shang Han Lun: Differentiating the Disease of the Sun” states: “Wind warmth is the disease, with both yin and yang being floating.”
“Shang Han Lun: Differentiating the Yangming Disease” states: “The pulse is floating, with fever, dry mouth, and dry nose; if the person can eat, it indicates bleeding.”
“Binhuhua Xue” states: “The floating pulse indicates a yang disease in the exterior, with slow wind, rapid heat, and tight cold months. If the pulse is floating and strong, it indicates much wind and heat; if it is weak and floating, it indicates blood deficiency.”
5. Internal Conditions
[Selected Literature]
“Binhuhua Xue” states: “In the third autumn, knowing the floating pulse is not harmful, but if it appears after a long illness, it can be alarming.”
“Jinkui Yaolue: Pulse and Symptoms of Blood Deficiency” states: “The floating pulse indicates internal deficiency.”
“Jinkui Yaolue” states: “If a man has a pale complexion, it indicates thirst and blood loss, sudden shortness of breath, and the pulse is floating, indicating internal deficiency.”
“Suwen: On the Discussion of the Intestines” states: “The pulse is sinking, indicating life; the pulse is floating, indicating death.”
“Jing Yue Quanshu” states: “Although floating indicates the exterior, if yin is deficient and blood is low, the pulse must be floating and weak, hence floating cannot be generalized as exterior.”
“Yixue Chuanxin Lu” states: “The floating pulse indicates the disease is in the exterior, and the floating pulse can also indicate internal conditions, where yang is solid and yin is deficient, leading to water deficiency.”
“Yixue Chuanxin Lu” states: “The floating pulse indicates the disease is in the exterior, and the floating pulse can also indicate internal conditions, where yang is solid and yin is deficient, leading to water deficiency.”
“Yixue Chuanxin Lu” states: “The floating pulse indicates the disease is in the exterior, and the floating pulse can also indicate internal conditions, where yang is solid and yin is deficient, leading to water deficiency.”
6. Disease in the Exterior
[Selected Literature]
“Binhuhua Xue” states: “The floating pulse indicates a yang disease in the exterior, with slow wind, rapid heat, and tight cold months. If the pulse is floating and strong, it indicates much wind and heat; if it is weak and floating, it indicates blood deficiency.”
“Shang Han Lun: Differentiating the Disease of the Sun” states: “The disease of the sun is indicated by a floating pulse, which can induce sweating; the floating pulse indicates the disease is in the exterior, and it is appropriate to induce sweating with Mahuang Decoction.”
“Shang Han Lun: Differentiating the Yangming Disease” states: “The pulse is floating, with fever, dry mouth, and dry nose; if the person can eat, it indicates bleeding.”
7. Lung Disease
[Selected Literature]
“Pulse Classic: Normal Lung Pain, Coughing, and Shortness of Breath” states: “If the pulse is floating, the person does not cough or eat, and this continues for forty days.”
“Yixue Chuanxin Lu” states: “All three positions of the floating pulse indicate lung wind, with aversion to cold, fever, and nasal congestion.”
8. Women in Labor
[Selected Literature]
“Pulse Classic: Differentiating Pregnancy and Labor” states: “If a woman is pregnant and the pulse is floating, with abdominal pain radiating to the waist and spine, it indicates she is about to give birth. However, if the pulse is floating, it does not indicate illness.”
