浮脉属阳主表。举指轻按而得之曰浮。浮而有力曰洪。浮而无力为芤。浮而长大为实。
沉脉属阴主里。举指重按而得之曰沉。沉而有力曰滑。沉而无力为弱。沉而似有似无为
微。沉而至骨为伏。
迟脉属阴在脏。举指半重按之在内。再按乃见。一息三至曰迟。迟而有力为涩。迟而无
力为濡。迟而似有似无为缓。
数脉属阳在腑。举指轻按而极急。一息六至曰数。数而有力为弦。数而无力为紧。
寸部主上焦头面之疾。（凡诊脉按至骨而见者谓之有力。按至骨而无者谓之无力。余皆
仿此。）
浮而有力主风。无力主虚。主头面眼目。虚浮体重。风寒齿痛。口眼 斜。
沉而有力主积。无力主气。主胸膈痞满。咳嗽气急。膈气翻胃。胸满不食。
迟而有力主痛。无力主冷。主呕吐痞满。不入水谷。虚汗拘急。疼痛不已。
数而有力主热。无力主疮。主吐食烦躁。口苦咽干。客热烦渴。头痛口疮。
关部主中焦胸腹之疾。
浮而有力主风。无力主虚。主两臂拘挛。不能举运。背脊筋疼。身体麻木。
沉而有力主积。无力主气。主膨胀虚鸣。心腹疼痛。上下关格。不思饮食。
迟而有力主痛。无力主冷。主 癖腹痛。游走不定。上下攻刺。反胃吐食。
数而有力主热。无力主疮。主口热作渴。呕吐霍乱。怔忡烦躁。寒热交争。
尺部主下焦腰足之疾。
浮而有力主风。无力主虚。主寒邪腰痛。腿膝麻木。阴茎肿痛。大小便不利。
沉而有力主积。无力主气。主脐下肿痛。脚膝酸痛。下虚盗汗。小便频数。
迟而有力主痛。无力主冷。主小腹急痛。外肾偏坠。小便频数。大便泄泻。
数而有力主热。无力主疮。主小便不通。大便闭塞。或作肾痈。烦渴不止。
五脏见浮脉。主风虚之病。
心脉浮。主心虚。触事易惊。神不守舍。舌强不语。语言错乱。
肝脉浮。主中风瘫痪。筋脉挛搐。面肿牙疼。肠风下血。
脾脉浮。主脾虚作膨。饮食不进。上气喘急。呕逆泄泻。
肺脉浮。主咳嗽气急。大便风秘。面浮面疮。吐血吐脓。
肾脉浮。主腰疼牙痛。小腹气痛。腿足生疮。足膝无力。
五脏见沉脉。主积气之病。
心脉沉。主小便淋沥。咯血尿血。小便不通。寤而不寐。心惊。
肝脉沉。主怒气伤肝。胁痛肥气。眼目昏痛。肚腹胀满。
脾脉沉。主中满不食。痞气色黄。手足不仁。呕吐泄泻。贪睡。
肺脉沉。主咳嗽多痰。上气喘急。呕血失声。息贲肺痈。
肾脉沉。主风滞腰疼。小便不利。阴癞作胀。奔豚腹满。
五脏见迟脉。主冷痛之病。
心脉迟。主小便频数。心疼呕水。怔忡多悸。伏梁脐痛。
肝脉迟。主筋挛骨痛。目昏多泪。触事易惊。转筋麻木。
脾脉迟。主咳嗽泄泻。腹中有虫。痰涎多壅。饮食不化。
肺脉迟。主寒嗽喘满。大便溏泻。皮肤燥涩。梦涉大水。
肾脉迟。主小便频数。滑精不禁。膝胫酸痛。阴湿盗汗。
五脏见数脉。主疮热之病。
心脉数。主烦躁狂言。舌上生疮。小便赤涩。眼目昏花。
肝脉数。主眼痛翳膜。目昏多泪。头风眩晕。妇人血热骨蒸及中风。
脾脉数。主口臭胃翻。齿痛牙宣。多食不饱。四肢不举。
肺脉数。主咳嗽吐血。喉腥目赤。大便闭结。面生痤痱。
肾脉数。主消渴不止。小便血淋。下疳生疮。阴囊湿痒。
The floating pulse (Fu Mai, 浮脉) belongs to Yang and indicates exterior syndromes. It is felt with light pressure of the fingers. A floating pulse that is forceful is called a surging pulse (Hong Mai, 洪脉). A floating pulse that is weak is called a hollow pulse (Kou Mai, 芤脉), which feels empty in the center like a scallion stalk. A floating pulse that is large and full is called a solid pulse (Shi Mai, 实脉).
The deep pulse (Chen Mai, 沉脉) belongs to Yin and indicates interior syndromes. It is felt only with heavy pressure down to the bone. A deep pulse that is forceful is called a slippery pulse (Hua Mai, 滑脉), flowing smoothly like pearls rolling in a plate. A deep pulse that is weak is called a weak pulse (Ruo Mai, 弱脉). A deep pulse that seems present yet absent, extremely fine and soft, is called a minute pulse (Wei Mai, 微脉). A deep pulse that lies hidden beneath the tendons and bones, requiring pushing the tendons to feel it, is called a hiding pulse (Fu Mai, 伏脉).
The slow pulse (Chi Mai, 迟脉) belongs to Yin and relates to the Zang organs. It is felt with medium-heavy pressure in the deeper layer. When the pulse beats three times per respiratory cycle (one inhalation and one exhalation), it is called a slow pulse. A slow pulse that is forceful is called a choppy pulse (Se Mai, 涩脉), moving roughly like a light knife scraping bamboo. A slow pulse that is weak is called a soggy pulse (Ru Mai, 濡脉), floating, fine, and soft like cotton drifting on water. A slow pulse that is relaxed and seems present yet absent is called a moderate pulse (Huan Mai, 缓脉).
The rapid pulse (Shu Mai, 数脉) belongs to Yang and relates to the Fu organs. It is felt as extremely rapid even with light pressure. When the pulse beats six times per respiratory cycle, it is called a rapid pulse. A rapid pulse that is forceful is called a string-taut pulse (Xian Mai, 弦脉), straight and long like pressing a zither string. A rapid pulse that is weak is called a tight pulse (Jin Mai, 紧脉), tense and snapping like a twisting rope.
The Cun position (Cun Bu, 寸部) primarily reflects diseases of the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner) involving the head and face. (Generally, if the pulse can still be felt when pressed heavily to the bone, it is considered forceful; if it cannot be felt when pressed heavily to the bone, it is considered weak. Other situations follow this principle.)
A floating pulse that is forceful indicates Wind pathogen; if weak, it indicates Deficiency. Symptoms manifest in the head, face, and eyes, such as deficiency-induced edema, heaviness of the body, toothache due to Wind-Cold, and deviation of the mouth and eye.
A deep pulse that is forceful indicates accumulation/stagnation; if weak, it indicates Qi stagnation. Symptoms include chest and diaphragm stuffiness and fullness, coughing with shortness of breath, diaphragmatic qi, regurgitation, chest fullness, and loss of appetite.
A slow pulse that is forceful indicates Pain; if weak, it indicates Cold. Symptoms include vomiting, stuffiness and fullness, inability to eat or drink, spontaneous sweating, limb cramping and urgency, and unceasing pain.
A rapid pulse that is forceful indicates Heat; if weak, it indicates sores/ulcers. Symptoms include vomiting food, irritability, bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, external heat causing thirst, headache, and mouth ulcers.
The Guan position (Guan Bu, 关部) primarily reflects diseases of the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner) involving the chest and abdomen.
A floating pulse that is forceful indicates Wind pathogen; if weak, it indicates Deficiency. Symptoms include cramping and spasms of both arms, inability to lift or move them, pain in the back and spine muscles, and bodily numbness.
A deep pulse that is forceful indicates accumulation/stagnation; if weak, it indicates Qi stagnation. Symptoms include abdominal distension and borborygmus, heart and abdominal pain, upper and lower obstruction/blockage, and lack of desire to eat.
A slow pulse that is forceful indicates Pain; if weak, it indicates Cold. Symptoms include abdominal masses/pain, wandering pain, stabbing pain moving up and down, regurgitation, and vomiting.
A rapid pulse that is forceful indicates Heat; if weak, it indicates sores/ulcers. Symptoms include hot mouth and thirst, vomiting cholera-like symptoms, palpitations, irritability, and alternating chills and fever.
The Chi position (Chi Bu, 尺部) primarily reflects diseases of the Lower Jiao (Lower Burner) involving the waist and feet.
A floating pulse that is forceful indicates Wind pathogen; if weak, it indicates Deficiency. Symptoms include lumbar pain due to Cold pathogen, numbness of legs and knees, swelling and pain of the penis, and difficulty in urination and defecation.
A deep pulse that is forceful indicates accumulation/stagnation; if weak, it indicates Qi stagnation. Symptoms include swelling and pain below the navel, soreness and pain of feet and knees, night sweats due to lower deficiency, and frequent urination.
A slow pulse that is forceful indicates Pain; if weak, it indicates Cold. Symptoms include acute pain in the lower abdomen, descent of the testis, frequent urination, and diarrhea.
A rapid pulse that is forceful indicates Heat; if weak, it indicates sores/ulcers. Symptoms include urinary retention, fecal impaction, or kidney abscess, and incessant thirst and irritability.
When the Five Zang organs present a floating pulse, it indicates Wind-Deficiency diseases.
If the Heart pulse is floating, it indicates Heart Deficiency. Symptoms include easily startled by events, unsettled spirit, stiff tongue with inability to speak, and disordered speech.
If the Liver pulse is floating, it indicates stroke paralysis. Symptoms include tendon and vessel cramping/spasms, facial swelling and toothache, and intestinal wind with bleeding.
If the Spleen pulse is floating, it indicates Spleen Deficiency leading to bloating. Symptoms include poor appetite, asthma and rapid breathing, vomiting and reflux, and diarrhea.
If the Lung pulse is floating, it indicates coughing and rapid breathing. Symptoms include constipation due to Wind, facial edema, facial sores, hemoptysis, and expectoration of pus.
If the Kidney pulse is floating, it indicates lumbar pain and toothache. Symptoms include Qi pain in the lower abdomen, sores on legs and feet, and weakness in the feet and knees.
When the Five Zang organs present a deep pulse, it indicates diseases of accumulated Qi.
If the Heart pulse is deep, it indicates dribbling urine, spitting blood or hematuria, urinary retention, insomnia while awake, and fright.
If the Liver pulse is deep, it indicates Liver injury due to anger. Symptoms include hypochondriac pain, Fei Qi (Liver accumulation), blurry and painful eyes, and abdominal distension.
If the Spleen pulse is deep, it indicates middle-jiao fullness and anorexia, Pi Qi (Spleen accumulation) with sallow complexion, numbness of hands and feet, vomiting and diarrhea, and excessive sleepiness.
If the Lung pulse is deep, it indicates coughing with profuse phlegm, asthma and rapid breathing, hematemesis, loss of voice, Xi Ben (Lung accumulation), and lung abscess.
If the Kidney pulse is deep, it indicates Wind-stasis lumbar pain, difficult urination,阴癞 (scrotal swelling), Ben Tun (rushing pig/Qi rushing from lower abdomen to chest), and abdominal fullness.
When the Five Zang organs present a slow pulse, it indicates Cold-Pain diseases.
If the Heart pulse is slow, it indicates frequent urination, heart pain with vomiting clear fluid, palpitations and frequent fright, Fu Liang (Heart accumulation) with umbilical pain.
If the Liver pulse is slow, it indicates tendon cramping and bone pain, blurry vision with excessive tearing, easily startled, convulsions, and numbness.
If the Spleen pulse is slow, it indicates coughing and diarrhea, intestinal parasites, excessive phlegm and saliva, and undigested food.
If the Lung pulse is slow, it indicates cold cough with asthma and fullness, loose stools, dry and rough skin, and dreaming of crossing large waters.
If the Kidney pulse is slow, it indicates frequent urination, spermatorrhea without control, soreness and pain of knees and shins, dampness in the genital area, and night sweats.
When the Five Zang organs present a rapid pulse, it indicates Sores-Heat diseases.
If the Heart pulse is rapid, it indicates irritability, manic speech, mouth ulcers, red and coarse urine, and blurry vision.
If the Liver pulse is rapid, it indicates eye pain with nebula, blurry vision with excessive tearing, wind-head dizziness, blood-heat bone-steaming in women, and stroke.
If the Spleen pulse is rapid, it indicates bad breath and stomach reflux, toothache and receding gums, eating much but not feeling full, and inability to lift the limbs.
If the Lung pulse is rapid, it indicates coughing with hemoptysis, foul smell in throat and red eyes, fecal impaction, and acne/prickly heat on the face.
If the Kidney pulse is rapid, it indicates incessant Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst/Diabetes), bloody strangury, chancre sores, and damp itching of the scrotum.