浮如指下捻葱叶。 浮者，阳也。主风虚运动之候。浮应东方木。木生风。故脉高虚而
浮泛
下捻
紧。
关浮
芤则中虚有两头。 芤者阳也。荣卫妄行。失血之候也。气则关膈不能续。故脉来指下
寻之
气既
谓
血
滑似动珠往来利。 滑者阳也。主气交并。逆动之候也。滑应北、方壬癸水。故脉往来流利
。圆滑如珠。象水貌也。其状指下寻之。三关如珠动。按之则定不出。圆圆凑指滑利。若按
动珠之状。谓之滑。滑者。阴气壅阳气虚。滑而数者。主寒热。滑而洪者。主吐逆翻胃。紧
滑者。主体倦小肠急痛。微滑上部或冷逆。下部则下痢气痛。寸滑、主上吐逆。关滑、胃中
积冷。尺滑、主上热下冷而虚躁也。
实向浮中取次求。 实者、阳也。象中央戊己土之位。故体来实。高下取之皆有。主三
焦满
沉。
中
弦若筝弦时带数。 弦者阳也。象东方木位。气血收敛之貌。指下寻之、脉若筝弦而小
直。气血收敛。筋脉不能舒畅。故脉象弦貌。按之不足。举之有余、若筝弦小直。时带数、
曰弦。主拘急、劳急。体痛、乏力、虚汗。寸弦。头目痛。关弦。胸积冷。胃中时逆、恶寒。
尺
紧伏琴弦促轸留。 紧者阳也。主三阳并盛。风气搏击。伏于阳络之候也。故寻之三关
通度
。紧急如促琴轸。此由阴阳相搏。气血交争。指下寻之有余。举之指下数而并非洪也。紧脉
形大于弦。故似琴弦状、曰紧。紧主狂躁。而神乱不定。或紧滑。则吐逆寒热。紧而甚数。
主热体疼。寸紧。主头疼。关紧。主胸膈疼。尺紧。主丹田急痛。
洪举有余来极大。七阳为表定其由。 洪者阳也。应南方火。主荣络大热而气灼烁之候。
脉
实
吐
A floating pulse feels under the fingers like rolling a scallion leaf. Floating indicates Yang, primarily governing conditions of wind deficiency and tremor. Floating corresponds to Wood in the East; Wood generates Wind. Thus, the pulse is high, empty, and floats superficially, becoming tight when pressed down. A floating pulse at the Guan position accompanied by a knifelike (Kou) pulse indicates emptiness in the middle with solidity at both ends. Kou is also Yang, representing reckless movement of Ying and Wei Qi, indicating blood loss. In terms of Qi, the Qi at the Guan and Diaphragm cannot continue, so when seeking the pulse under the fingers, the Qi seems interrupted, referred to as a Blood pulse.
A slippery pulse flows smoothly like pearls moving back and forth. Slippery is Yang, primarily governing the intertwining and rebellious movement of Qi. Slippery corresponds to Water (Ren-Gui) in the North. Therefore, the pulse flows smoothly, round and slippery like a pearl, resembling water. Its condition is sought under the fingers; across the three positions, it moves like a pearl. When pressed, it settles and does not escape; it gathers roundly against the fingers, slippery and smooth, resembling the sensation of pressing a moving pearl. This is called a Slippery pulse. Slipperiness indicates excess Yin Qi and deficient Yang Qi. A slippery and rapid pulse governs cold and heat; a slippery and large pulse governs vomiting and reverse flow of stomach Qi; a tight and slippery pulse governs body fatigue and acute pain in the small intestine; slightly slippery above indicates cold reversal, below indicates dysentery with Qi pain. A Slippery pulse at the Cun position governs upper vomiting and reversal; at the Guan position, accumulated cold in the stomach; at the Chi position, upper heat and lower cold with deficiency and restlessness.
A solid pulse is sought secondarily at the Floating and Middle levels. Solid is Yang, symbolizing the position of Wu-Ji Earth in the Center. Thus, the pulse body comes solidly; whether taken from high or low, it is present. It governs fullness and stagnation in the Triple Burner.
A wiry pulse resembles the string of a zither, often carrying a rapid quality. Wiry is Yang, symbolizing the position of Wood in the East, representing the gathering and converging of Qi and Blood. When sought under the fingers, the pulse is small and straight like a zither string. Qi and Blood gather and converge, tendons and vessels cannot stretch freely, thus the pulse appears wiry. Pressing reveals insufficiency, lifting reveals excess; it is small and straight like a zither string, occasionally rapid, called Wiry. It governs spasm, labor-induced tension, body pain, weakness, and spontaneous sweating. A Wiry pulse at the Cun position governs headache and eye pain; at the Guan position, accumulated cold in the chest, occasional reversal in the stomach, and aversion to cold; at the Chi position...
A tight pulse is like the tuning peg of a zither remaining fixed. Tight is Yang, governing the exuberance of the Three Yang channels, where Wind Qi battles and lies hidden in the Yang collaterals. Thus, seeking through the three positions, the passage is urgent like a tightened zither peg. This arises from the struggle between Yin and Yang, and the contention of Qi and Blood. Seeking under the fingers reveals excess; lifting reveals rapidity under the fingers but not largeness. The shape of a Tight pulse is larger than a Wiry one, thus resembling a zither string, called Tight. Tight governs mania and agitation, with unsettled spirit. If Tight and Slippery, it indicates vomiting, reverse flow, and cold/heat; if Tight and very rapid, it governs heat and body pain. A Tight pulse at the Cun position governs headache; at the Guan position, chest and diaphragm pain; at the Chi position, acute pain in the Dantian.
A large (Hong) pulse has excess upon lifting and comes with great magnitude, determined by the Seven Yang as exterior. Large is Yang, corresponding to Fire in the South, governing excessive heat in the Ying collaterals and the scorching of Qi. Pulse... Solid... Vomiting...