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The pulse of wind-stroke (Zhong Feng, 中风) initially must present as floating, large, and moderate (Huan, 缓). Examining the *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot), *Su Wen* (Basic Questions), and Master Zhongjing’s writings, their statements are consistent; verified through clinical experience with thousands of patients, the pattern remains uniform. "Floating" (Fu, 浮) is determined by light or heavy finger pressure; "large" (Da, 大) is determined by the shape of the pulse; "moderate" (Huan, 缓) is determined by the rate of beats per respiration (specifically, four beats per exhalation). Wind pathogen injures Wei Qi (Defensive Qi, 卫气); since wind is a Yang pathogen, the pulse appears large; Wei Qi circulates outside the vessels, hence the pulse appears floating. At the onset of the disease, the pathogen resides only in the Wei division outside the vessels, not yet entering the Ying (Nutritive) division inside the vessels. The Ying blood and Zong Qi (Gathering Qi, 宗气) within the pulse continue to circulate at their normal rhythm, thus the pulse appears moderate. Moderate refers to the beat frequency. Zong Qi leads the movement of Ying blood: with one exhalation of Zong Qi, Ying blood moves twice; with one inhalation, Ying blood moves twice; in one complete breath cycle, the pulse beats four times. This is called "moderate," representing the normal pulse of a healthy person. Since wind-stroke injures only Wei Qi and not Ying Qi, the pulse should naturally remain moderate. Then, how can one distinguish the severity of the wind pathogen? It is said: if the floating and large qualities are abnormal, it is a pathological pulse. Moderate is the pulse of a healthy person, so it should not be viewed as pathological. Then, why mention "moderate" if merely stating "floating and large" suffices? It is said: the ancients mentioned this precisely to clarify that the disease is not in the Ying division. If the pathogen enters Ying, the pulse cannot be moderate. Later generations failed to understand this principle, often conflating normal pulses with pathological ones, which is why pulse diagnosis has become obscure.

The eight types of wind pathogens are further distinguished by additional pulse qualities superimposed on the floating and large characteristics. If wind comes from the East, it is Wood pathogen, governing warm transformation; its large quality will necessarily include a string-like (Xian, 弦) image. If from the South, it is Fire pathogen, governing heat transformation; its large quality will necessarily include a slippery (Hua, 滑) image. If from the West, it is Metal pathogen, governing dryness transformation; its large quality will necessarily include a choppy (Se, 涩) image. If from the North, it is Water pathogen, governing cold transformation; its large quality will necessarily include a tight (Jin, 紧) image. If from the Center, it is Earth pathogen, governing dampness transformation; its large quality will necessarily include a soft (Ru, 濡) image. If winds from the four corners (Southeast, Southwest, Northeast, Northwest) arrive simultaneously, their respective directional pulse qualities will appear together (e.g., seeing string-like and slippery images intermixed indicates wind coming from the Southeast). All these pulse patterns have been verified across thousands of cases without exception; who says pulse methods are unreliable?

The winds from the eight directions are categorized into five levels: warm, hot, dry, cold, and damp. Among these, warm, hot, and dry account for three, all constituting heat syndromes. Cold accounts for only one, while dampness may transform into cold or heat. Thus, it can be known that wind-stroke is predominantly a heat disease, explaining why people in the South suffer from wind-stroke more frequently than those in the North. Throughout my career, I have achieved efficacy using cooling medicines, a realization derived from this understanding. Recently, many physicians rely solely on mediocre and vulgar texts, groping in the dark. Mild cases develop into hemiplegia (Pian Ku, 偏枯) over time, causing the pulse to change significantly. However, if after one or two years the pulse still presents as floating, large, and moderate, this indicates the wind pathogen has merged with Wei Qi and persists, similar to silver dissolving in mercury (Shui Yin, 水银). In such cases, recurrent stroke (Fu Zhong, 复中) is inevitable. Because the Yang pathogen has not been eliminated, it will inevitably attract new pathogens. Recurrent stroke exacerbates the condition; however, if treated correctly, not only can recurrent stroke be prevented, but hemiplegia can also be cured. If the pulse becomes deep, fine, rapid, and urgent (Chen Xi Shu Ji, 沉细数急), recovery is difficult; if the pulse becomes slow (Chi, 迟, defined as three beats per respiration), recovery is possible; if the floating and large qualities completely recede and the four-season normal pulses appear, recovery is easy. When wind-stroke affects the Three Yang meridians, the floating and large pulse is stronger at the Cun (Inch) position than at the Chi (Cubit) position; when it affects the Three Yin meridians, the floating and large pulse is stronger at the Chi position than at the Cun position; if both Yin and Yang meridians are affected, both Cun and Chi positions present equally with floating and large qualities. This is the method for distinguishing meridian involvement.