Let’s talk about the Deep Pulse (Chen Mai)!
The deep pulse is associated with Yin, indicating internal diseases. A deep pulse at the cun position often presents with shortness of breath and chest pain radiating to the hypochondrium; it may be due to phlegm retention or water and blood issues. A deep pulse at the guan position indicates internal cold, leading to pain and stagnation; it may also manifest as fullness and discomfort in the stomach, acid reflux, and tightness in the muscles. A deep pulse at the chi position is often associated with back pain, as well as cold and pain in the lower back and knees; it may also indicate dampness and itching in the genital area, difficulty in urination, turbidity, or dysentery with blood and pus in the stool.
Explanation:
Compared to the floating pulse, the deep pulse belongs to Yin and is primarily associated with internal diseases. If a deep pulse is felt at the cun position, it is commonly associated with symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pain radiating to the hypochondrium, which may be due to phlegm retention, water stagnation, or blood stasis. A deep pulse at the guan position indicates symptoms of internal cold, where cold qi accumulates in the middle jiao, leading to upper abdominal pain and stagnation, or it may present as fullness and discomfort in the stomach, acid reflux, and tightness in the muscles. A deep pulse at the chi position is often associated with back pain, and may also indicate cold and pain in the lower back and knees, or dampness and itching in the genital area, difficulty in urination, turbidity, or dysentery with blood and pus in the stool.
Deep Pulse with Variations:
Weakness indicates internal deficiency, while strength indicates internal excess. A deep and slow pulse suggests cold accumulation, while a deep and rapid pulse indicates internal heat. A deep and slippery pulse suggests phlegm retention, while a deep and rough pulse indicates blood stasis. A weak deep pulse indicates organ deficiency, while a strong deep pulse suggests accumulation. A tight deep pulse indicates cold pain, while a soft deep pulse suggests dampness.
A weak deep pulse indicates internal deficiency, while a strong deep pulse indicates internal excess. A deep pulse that is not felt at all four positions indicates true Yang deficiency and prolonged Yin cold evil qi within the body; a deep pulse that exceeds five positions indicates internal heat; a deep pulse that flows smoothly is often due to phlegm retention; a deep pulse that is difficult to feel indicates blood stasis; a weak deep pulse indicates organ deficiency; a strong and large deep pulse often indicates difficult-to-resolve accumulations; a tight deep pulse like a rope often indicates cold pain; a soft deep pulse indicates internal dampness.
The deep pulse indicates internal conditions, and its formation is influenced by both Zheng (correct) and Xie (evil) factors, thus the deep pulse can be classified into deficiency and excess. A deep pulse indicating excess is often due to evil qi lurking internally, obstructing the movement of Zheng qi, preventing the flow of qi and blood; a deep pulse indicating deficiency is often due to insufficient Zheng qi, leading to weak blood circulation and inability to distribute qi and blood. Therefore, a strong deep pulse indicates internal excess, while a weak deep pulse indicates internal deficiency. A slow pulse indicates cold, while a rapid pulse indicates heat, thus a slow deep pulse indicates internal cold, but there is a distinction between deficiency cold and excess cold; a rapid deep pulse indicates internal heat, with distinctions between deficiency heat and excess heat. A slippery pulse indicates phlegm retention, while a rough pulse indicates blood stasis, thus a slippery deep pulse indicates phlegm retention, while a rough deep pulse indicates blood stasis. A tight pulse indicates cold and pain, while a soft pulse indicates dampness, thus a tight deep pulse indicates cold pain, while a soft deep pulse indicates internal dampness. A firm pulse indicates internal cold and hernia accumulation, and if both qi and blood are deficient, a firm deep pulse often indicates the presence of evil qi and difficult-to-resolve accumulations; if the pulse is deep and extremely thin, weak, and on the verge of disappearing, it indicates organ deficiency. “The meaning of deep is like a stone sinking to the bottom of the water.” This is to understand the pulse pattern of the deep pulse. However, being deep in the water does not mean that the deep pulse must be pressed to the bone to be felt, as Li Zhongzi said: “A deep pulse that touches the bone is a hidden pulse.” Clinically, the deep pulse often needs to be distinguished from weak pulses, firm pulses, and hidden pulses; the deep pulse, weak pulse, firm pulse, and hidden pulse are all located in the deeper layers beneath the skin and should not be lightly pressed. However, the deep pulse is named for its position, requiring firm pressure to be felt; a weak pulse is deep, thin, and weak, determined by pulse strength; a hidden pulse is deeper than a deep pulse and must be pressed to the bone to be felt, and may even temporarily be hidden and not felt; a firm pulse is characterized by being deep, strong, and firm, remaining unchanged. The pulse patterns that can accompany the deep pulse include slow, rapid, slippery, rough, weak, firm, tight, and soft. Regarding this, “Pulse Theory Seeking Truth” has a thorough discussion: “Deep indicates phlegm and cold not moving, water qi lurking internally, stagnant fluids not transforming, food not digesting, qi counterflowing, diarrhea not closing, hence seen as internal deep. If it is deep and thin, it indicates shortness of breath; if deep and slow, it indicates cold pain; if deep and slippery, it indicates food retention; if deep and hidden, it indicates cholera and cramping pain; if deep and rapid, it indicates internal heat; if deep and wiry, it indicates abdominal pain. However, it ultimately does not exceed the distinction of strength and weakness for identification.”
Previous Articles:
How to Wash Hair for Nourishing and Promoting Hair Growth, I spent over a year verifying
The Theory of Yuan Qi