Xian Mai (弦脉), or the ‘string-like pulse’, is akin to pressing on a guitar string, feeling tight, straight, and long, rising and falling directly. The Xian Mai is the primary pulse associated with liver and gallbladder diseases. The liver is considered a ‘hard organ’, and when ill, the meridians and tendons become tense, resulting in a straight and string-like pulse. Pain syndromes often present with a Xian Mai pulse, as abdominal pain is frequently caused by the liver qi (气) counteracting and damaging the spleen’s earth element. Additionally, pain syndromes are often induced by cold pathogens, which constrict and tighten the meridians, hence the Xian Mai pulse. Phlegm and fluid retention along the liver meridian, known as Xuan Yin (悬饮), also exhibit a Xian Mai pulse. Patients with modern arterial sclerosis are particularly representative of the Xian Mai pulse.
This is a passage I have collected, and it reflects my current understanding of the Xian Mai.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Xiao Meng
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