轻按之则无。重按之则有。有而有力。则脉实也。有而无力。则虚甚也。沉而迟。此寒也。
沉而数。伏火也。沉而滑。有伏痰也。妇人或主有娠。沉而涩。有瘀血也。或失血。沉而弦。阳
绝也。不治。沉而细必四至。此气血虚也。
太过不及不治。
四至以下。俱为迟脉。视其至数之微甚。为温补之轻重。如脉迟而汗出不止者死。
数而有力。阴败也。数而无力。阳虚也。数而滑。辨其有力无力。分治。虽危不死。数而涩。
血内热也。数而弦。真脏脉也。不治。数而细。大虚也。急补之。
有形体之长。如无病而出鱼际。寸与尺等。露而不陷也。有往来之长。谓来有余韵也。此脉
最善。
与长脉相反。虽无病不佳。
往来流利。此胃气也。滑而浮主痰。滑而有力。有食也。滑而无力。胃虚也。滑而有力兼数
。痰火盛也。滑而细。必四至。平人脉也。太过血虚。不及气虚。
弦如弓弦之弦。按之勒指。胃气将绝。五脏无土。木气太甚。即真脏脉也。凡病脉见之即凶。
与滑相反。
按之如发。细脉必沉。但得见滑。即是正脉。平人多有之。若见弦数。即是枯脉。六腑内绝。
不治。
但浮而不数。阳虚也。（补中益气汤主之。）浮而数。阴虚也。（黑逍遥散主之。不应。用
疏肝益肾汤。少间六味饮主之。黑逍遥逍遥加熟地即是。）沉而不数。阴中之阳虚也。（八味丸
主之）。沉而数。阴中之阴虚也。（左归饮都气饮主之）浮而迟。阳中之阳虚也。（黄 建中汤
主之）沉而迟。阳中之阴虚也。
（右归饮主之）乍沉乍浮。乍大乍小。乍迟乍数。或三或五。阴阳俱虚也。（十全大补汤主之。此一段阴阳气血分发。
尤极精细的当。医家得此。直是枕中之秘。）
When light pressure is applied, the pulse is imperceptible. With heavy pressure, it becomes palpable. If it is forceful under heavy pressure, it is a Shi (Excess) pulse; if it is weak under heavy pressure, it indicates severe deficiency (Xu).
A Chen (Deep) and Chi (Slow) pulse indicates Cold syndrome.
A Chen (Deep) and Shu (Rapid) pulse indicates Fu Huo (Hidden Fire).
A Chen (Deep) and Hua (Slippery) pulse indicates Fu Tan (Hidden Phlegm).
In women, this may indicate pregnancy.
A Chen (Deep) and Se (Choppy) pulse indicates Yu Xue (Blood Stasis) or blood loss.
A Chen (Deep) and Xian (Wiry) pulse indicates Jue Yang (Extinction of Yang Qi), which is untreatable.
A Chen (Deep) and Xi (Fine) pulse with four beats per respiration indicates Qi and Blood deficiency.
Pulses that are excessive or deficient in nature are difficult to treat.
Fewer than four beats per respiration are all classified as Chi (Slow) pulses. The degree of slowness determines the intensity of warm tonification therapy. For instance, a Chi (Slow) pulse accompanied by incessant sweating indicates a fatal prognosis.
A Shu (Rapid) and forceful pulse indicates Yin exhaustion.
A Shu (Rapid) and weak pulse indicates Yang deficiency.
A Shu (Rapid) and slippery pulse requires differentiation based on forcefulness or weakness for treatment. Although critical, death is not inevitable.
A Shu (Rapid) and choppy pulse indicates internal heat in the blood.
A Shu (Rapid) and wiry pulse is a Zang Zhen Mai (True Organ Pulse), indicating untreatability.
A Shu (Rapid) and fine pulse indicates severe deficiency, requiring urgent tonification.
A long pulse body, resembling a healthy state, extending to the Yuji (LU10) area, with equal strength at the Cun (Inch) and Chi (Cubit) positions, exposed but not sunken. A pulse with long arrival and departure, possessing residual resonance, is the most auspicious.
Opposite to the Long pulse (i.e., Short pulse); even without disease, it is not favorable.
A smooth flow of Qi and blood indicates the presence of Wei Qi (Stomach Qi).
A Slippery and Floating pulse primarily indicates Phlegm.
A Slippery and forceful pulse indicates Food Stagnation.
A Slippery and weak pulse indicates Spleen/Stomach deficiency.
A Slippery, forceful, and Rapid pulse indicates flourishing Phlegm-Fire.
A Slippery and Fine pulse with four beats per respiration is a Ping Ren (Healthy Person) pulse. Excessiveness implies Blood deficiency; insufficiency implies Qi deficiency.
The deepest pulse, seeming to adhere to the skin, with an uncomfortable arrival, indicates severe Blood deficiency or Blood Stasis.
A Wiry pulse, hard like a bowstring and pressing tightly against the finger, indicates the extinction of Wei Qi (Stomach Qi), lack of Earth element nourishing the Five Zang organs, and excessive Wood Qi. This is a Zang Zhen Mai (True Organ Pulse). Its appearance in any disease portends凶 (misfortune/death). It is opposite to the Slippery pulse.
A pulse felt like hair strands upon pressure, where the Xi (Fine) pulse must be sought at the deep level. If a Slippery pulse is found, it is the normal pulse, common in healthy people. If a Wiry and Rapid pulse appears, it is a Ku Mai (Withered Pulse), indicating the internal severance of the Six Fu organs, which is untreatable.
Floating but not Rapid: Yang deficiency. (Treated with Buzhong Yiqi Tang.)
Floating and Rapid: Yin deficiency. (Treated with Hei Xiaoyao San. If ineffective, use Shugan Yishen Tang. After slight improvement, Liuwei Dihuang Wan is used. Hei Xiaoyao San is Xiaoyao San plus Shudi.)
Deep but not Rapid: Deficiency of Yang within Yin. (Treated with Bawei Wan.)
Deep and Rapid: Deficiency of Yin within Yin. (Treated with Zuogui Yin and Duqi Yin.)
Floating and Slow: Deficiency of Yang within Yang. (Treated with Xiao Jianzhong Tang.)
Deep and Slow: Deficiency of Yin within Yang. (Treated with Yougui Yin.)
Intermittently Deep and Floating, Large and Small, Slow and Rapid, or three or five beats per respiration: Simultaneous deficiency of Yin and Yang. (Treated with Shiquan Dabu Tang. This section on the differentiation of Yin, Yang, Qi, and Blood is extremely precise and appropriate. For physicians, it is a secret treasure kept at the pillow.)