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The pulse presents with "Sun" (Loss/Deficiency) and "Zhi" (Excess/Increase). What does this mean? Answer: The "Zhi" pulse refers to an increase in the frequency of heartbeats per breath. In one exhalation, if the pulse beats twice, it is a normal Ping (Level/Healthy) pulse. If it beats three times in one exhalation, it is called Li Jing (Departing from the Canon), indicating the disease has deviated from the norm. If it beats four times, it is called Duo Jing (Deprivation of Essence), indicating the depletion of essence. If it beats five times, it is called Kun (Distress), indicating the exhaustion of righteous Qi. If it beats six times, it is called Luo (Fall), indicating the loss of vitality.

Conversely, the "Sun" pulse is characterized by a decrease in pulse frequency. Two beats per inhalation are termed Zai Sun (Double Loss). Second-degree Sun injury damages the Blood Vessels (Xue Mai); when blood vessels are deficient and sparse, they cannot nourish the Five Zang and Six Fu organs. Third-degree Sun injury damages the Muscles; when muscles emaciate, although food and drink enter, they fail to transform into nutrients, leading to physical debility and disease.

What are the Eight Extraordinary Vessels (Qi Jing Ba Mai)? Answer: There are Yang Wei Mai (Yang Linking Vessel) and Yin Wei Mai (Yin Linking Vessel); Yang Qiao Mai (Yang Heel Vessel) and Yin Qiao Mai (Yin Heel Vessel); Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel), Du Mai (Governing Vessel), Ren Mai (Conception Vessel), and Dai Mai (Girdle Vessel). Why do these eight vessels not belong to the Twelve Regular Meridians? Because they operate independently, accumulating and regulating Qi and Blood rather than directly participating in the circulation of the Twelve Regular Meridians.

Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) originates below Zhongji (CV5), ascends through the pubic hair region, follows the interior of the abdomen, passes through Guanyuan (CV4), and reaches the throat. "Ren" shares the phonetic and semantic root with "Ren" (Pregnancy/Nurturing), signifying the foundation of human life and nurturing. Thus, it is named Ren Mai. It is located below Zhongji (CV5) and above Changqiang (GV1). This is the second of the extraordinary vessels.

Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) originates at Qichong (ST30), runs parallel to the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, ascends on both sides of the umbilicus, and disperses in the chest. "Chong" means penetration or thoroughfare. This vessel extends from the feet to the head, receiving and distributing the Qi and Blood of all Twelve Regular Meridians; hence it is called Chong Mai. This is the third of the extraordinary vessels.

Dai Mai (Girdle Vessel) originates at the Hypochondrium (Ji Xie), encircling the body once. "Dai" means girdle or belt. It binds all meridians together, ensuring their harmony and flexibility. The hypochondrium is located below the ribs, connecting to the area between the iliac bones. "Hui" means to circle. Encircling the body once, like a waist belt, this is the fourth of the extraordinary vessels.

Yang Qiao Mai (Yang Heel Vessel) originates in the center of the heel, follows the lateral malleolus, ascends, and enters Fengchi (GB20). "Qiao" means agile or swift. This vessel is crucial for walking and is the origin of foot movement; hence it is called Qiao Mai. This is the fifth of the extraordinary vessels.

Yin Qiao Mai (Yin Heel Vessel) also originates in the center of the heel, follows the medial malleolus, ascends to the throat, and intersects with Chong Mai. Its meaning parallels that of Yang Qiao Mai. This is the sixth of the extraordinary vessels.

Yang Wei Mai and Yin Wei Mai are vessels where meridian Qi overflows and accumulates in the body, unable to circulate continuously to irrigate the regular meridians. Therefore, Yang Wei Mai originates from the intersection of all Yang meridians, and Yin Wei Mai originates from the intersection of all Yin meridians.

How do diseases of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels manifest? Answer: Yang Wei Mai links the Yang aspects of the body, and Yin Wei Mai links the Yin aspects. If Yin and Yang cannot mutually link, the person experiences melancholy and loss of will, appearing disorganized and unable to control themselves. "Chang Ran" refers to a state of fright; fright causes disease. When the Wei Mai pulse is slow and weak, it leads to an inability to self-regulate. Fright causes loss of memory and mental confusion.

When Yang Qiao Mai is diseased, the Yin side is lax while the Yang side is tense. Yang Qiao Mai is located at the lateral malleolus; upon disease, the pulse becomes tense ascending from the lateral malleolus and lax above the medial malleolus.

When Yin Qiao Mai is diseased, the Yang side is lax while the Yin side is tense. Yin Qiao Mai is located at the medial malleolus; upon disease, the pulse becomes tense ascending from the medial malleolus and lax above the lateral malleolus.

When Chong Mai is diseased, there is rebellious Qi and abdominal urgency/pain. Since Chong Mai runs from Guanyuan (CV4) to the throat, its pathology manifests as rebellious Qi and abdominal urgency.

When Du Mai is diseased, there is spinal rigidity and cold extremities (Jue). Since Du Mai runs along the spine, disease causes tension in the vessel, leading to spinal rigidity.

When Ren Mai is diseased, there is internal stagnation and knotting. In men, this manifests as Seven Types of Hernia (Qi She); in women, as Jia Ju (abdominal masses). Since Ren Mai originates from the Bao Men Zi Hu (uterine opening), its pathology manifests as knotting leading to hernias or masses.

When Dai Mai is diseased, there is abdominal fullness and a sensation of the waist being loose and flaccid, as if sitting in water. Dai Mai girdles the body; when diseased, the vessel becomes lax, causing waist flaccidity.

When Yang Wei Mai is diseased, there is aversion to cold and fever. When Yin Wei Mai is diseased, there is heart pain. Yang governs Wei Qi (Defensive Qi), which is associated with the Lung; thus, cold and fever occur. Yin manages Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi), which is associated with the Heart; thus, heart pain occurs. These are the pathologies of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels.

It is also stated: Chong Mai originates at Guanyuan (CV4), follows the interior of the abdomen, and ascends straight to the throat. Ren Mai originates from Bao Men Zi Hu, ascends alongside the umbilicus to the chest. Although these two descriptions differ, both have basis and can be applied clinically.

At the Cun Kou (Radial Pulse) position, if the pulse comes large and gradually becomes small, it indicates disease in the Yin Collaterals (Yin Luo). The patient suffers from wind-bi syndrome and carbuncles that spontaneously flare up.

At the Cun Kou position, if the pulse comes small and gradually becomes large, it indicates disease in the Yang Collaterals (Yang Luo). The patient suffers from skin itching/pain, sweating, and aversion to cold.

If the Cun Kou pulse is tight, thin, and long, reaching the Guan position, it indicates Ren Mai disease. The patient suffers from peri-umbilical and transverse abdominal pain.

If Ren Mai disease is diagnosed with a slow and sluggish Cun Kou pulse, the patient suffers from Qi rushing upward from the abdomen to the heart, preventing flexion and extension, accompanied by stiffness.

If Yang Wei Mai is diagnosed as floating, sudden standing causes dizziness. Yang Qi is excessive and solid, causing shoulder breathing and a shivering sensation akin to cold.

If Yin Wei Mai is diagnosed as deep, large, and excess, the patient suffers from chest pain, flank distension/fullness, and heart pain.

If Yin Wei Mai feels like threaded pearls (smooth and rolling), men suffer from fullness in the hypochondrium and lower back pain; women suffer from vaginal pain with a sensation of heat.

If Dai Mai disease is diagnosed, there is pain encircling the umbilicus, lower back and spine pain, and impact on the inner thighs.

If pulses in both hands are floating, with both Yin and Yang aspects excess and solid, this indicates Chong and Du Mai disease. Chong and Du Mai serve as pathways for the Twelve Regular Meridians. When Chong and Du Mai dominate pathology, the Twelve Regular Meridians no longer regularly reflect at the Cun Kou. The patient suffers from mental confusion, mania, dementia, and instability.

If pulses in both hands are fine, minute, and continuous, and the Yin pulse is also fine, minute, and continuous, this indicates Yin Qiao and Yang Qiao Mai disease.

If both Chi (Cun) and Cun (Chi - note: context implies radial positions) pulses are floating and straight downward, this indicates Du Mai disease. Symptoms include stiff and painful back, inability to bend or extend. In adults, it manifests as Dian illness (epilepsy/psychosis); in children, as Feng Xian (wind epilepsy).

Diagnosis reveals that Yang Qiao disease presents with tense pulses, while Yin Qiao disease presents with lax pulses.

If Chi and Cun pulses are firm (Lao) and move straight up and down, this indicates Chong Mai disease. Symptoms include cold hernia in the chest.