Traditional Chinese Medicine
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“In ancient times, doctors would take the pulse and stroke their beard, telling the young lady: you are pregnant.”
Nowadays, even when consulting a TCM gynecologist, one still needs to check HCG levels and undergo ultrasound to confirm pregnancy.
So, how many days after conception could ancient doctors detect pregnancy through pulse diagnosis?
After conception, a “滑脉 (huá mài)” or slippery pulse appears, characterized by a smooth and flowing sensation, like beads rolling on a plate. This typically occurs around forty-five days after the missed menstrual period.
While a slippery pulse can indicate pregnancy, not all slippery pulses signify pregnancy. A normal person’s slippery pulse indicates a rich 营卫 (yíng wèi) (nutritive and defensive Qi), which is a sign of good health. To determine pregnancy, one must consider the following: the woman must be married; cohabiting with her husband; have a history of regular menstrual cycles; have missed her period for more than forty-five days; exhibit typical slippery pulse; have a complexion like a peach blossom; feel fatigued as if having a cold; experience fullness in the lower abdomen and breasts; or have symptoms of nausea and vomiting. Only then can pregnancy be considered.
Women may also exhibit a slippery pulse during their menstrual period, within three days before menstruation, or during ovulation between two menstrual cycles. Therefore, one should not rely solely on pulse diagnosis to confirm pregnancy. Additionally, if a woman is indeed pregnant but does not exhibit a slippery pulse, it may often lead to miscarriage or premature birth.
Television and novels often exaggerate pulse diagnosis, which should be understood from a literary perspective.
© Zheyan Looks at TCM
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