Library

The Master said: Pulse diagnosis is divided into three positions (Cun, Guan, Chi), which is the root of pulse theory. Ying (Nutritive) Qi and Wei (Defensive) Qi circulate within the body without losing their balance and measure. The Kidney pulse is deep (Chen), the Heart pulse is surging (Hong), the Lung pulse is floating (Fu), and the Liver pulse is string-taut (Xian); these are the normal constant pulses, accurate to the finest degree. The entering and exiting, ascending and descending of the pulse rotate with time; after two ke (approx. 27 minutes) of water dripping in a clepsydra, one complete circulation occurs, returning to the Cun position, where deficiency and excess can be observed. Changes interact with each other, and Yin and Yang interfere with one another. Wind pathogens present as floating and deficient (Xu); Cold pathogens present as firm and solid (Lao). Water retention presents as deep and submerged; Branching Fluid Retention (Zhi Yin) presents as rapid and taut. A Moving pulse (Dong) indicates pain; a Rapid pulse (Shu) indicates heat and restlessness. If the pulse does not correspond to these patterns, one must understand the cause of the variation. The three positions differ, and diseases have various origins; an Excessive pulse is abnormal, just as an Insufficient pulse is. Pathogenic factors do not appear out of nowhere; there must be hidden evils within. Examine whether the pathogen is in the Exterior or Interior, and distinguish the San Jiao (Triple Burner). Knowing where the pathogen resides and adjusting the diagnostic approach allows one to predict Zang-Fu organ pathology with divine insight. I have recorded these points in detail to pass them on to worthy individuals.

The Master said: Respiration is the leader of the pulse. When initially palpating the pulse, if the arrival is rapid and the departure is slow (Out-rapid, In-slow), it is named Internal Deficiency and External Excess. If initially palpating the pulse, the arrival is slow and the departure is rapid (Out-slow, In-rapid), it is named Internal Excess and External Deficiency.

When the Master palpates the pulse, if the patient yawns, there is no disease. If the patient groans, there is disease. Slow speech indicates Wind. Shaking the head while speaking indicates interior pain. Walking slowly indicates exterior stiffness (e.g., Taiyang Cold Damage). Sitting and leaning forward indicates shortness of breath. Sitting with one leg hanging down indicates lower back pain. Curling up and protecting the abdomen, as if holding an egg, indicates heart pain.

Question: What is the pulse condition when a person suffers from fear? Answer: The pulse feels like tracing a continuous thread (fine and unbroken), and the face is pale and devoid of color. Question: What kind of pulse does a person feel when ashamed? Answer: The pulse is floating, and the complexion alternates between white and red.

Question: What is meant by "destructive" (Can Zei) pulses? Answer: String-taut (Xian), tight (Jin), floating (Fu), slippery (Hua), deep (Chen), and choppy (Se) are the six types called destructive, as they can cause pathological changes in various other pulses.

Question: What is meant by "disaster" (Zai Guai) phenomena in pulses? Answer: Suppose a person is ill, and the pulse corresponds to Taiyang disease, matching the symptoms, so a decoction is prepared. Shortly after taking the medicine, the patient suddenly vomits severely, or experiences diarrhea and abdominal pain. The Master says: "I did not see these symptoms earlier, but now there is a variation; this is called a disaster." Another asks: "What causes this vomiting and diarrhea?" The answer is: "Perhaps medication taken long ago is now manifesting; hence it is called a disaster."

For obese persons, one should look for a Deep (Chen) pulse; for thin persons, one should look for a Floating (Fu) pulse. If an obese person who should have a deep pulse instead has a floating one, or a thin person who should have a floating pulse instead has a deep one, one must investigate the cause.

If the Cun pulse does not extend down to the Guan position, it is called Yang Extinction; if the Chi pulse does not extend up to the Guan position, it is called Yin Extinction. These are all untreatable and indicate death. To calculate the remaining lifespan, one predicts the time of death based on the clash of monthly solar terms.

If the pulse shows disease but the person appears healthy, it is called a "Walking Corpse," lacking vital energy; sudden dizziness, collapse, and loss of consciousness lead to early death. If the person is diseased but the pulse is normal, it is called Internal Deficiency, lacking Grain Spirit; although distressed, there is no suffering.

Question: Where does the Tight (Jin) pulse come from? Answer: For example, due to excessive sweating or vomiting, cold in the Lungs causes the pulse to become tight. For example, due to coughing caused by drinking cold water, the pulse becomes tight. For example, due to diarrhea caused by deficiency-cold in the Stomach, the pulse becomes tight.

At the Cun position, a Slow (Chi) and Moderate (Huan) pulse indicates that Yang Qi is growing, resulting in a fresh complexion, bright facial appearance, clear voice, and long hair; Slowness indicates abundant Yin Qi, bone marrow generation, full blood, and firm, thin, hard muscles. Yin and Yang embrace each other, Ying and Wei Qi circulate together, and hardness and softness interact; this is called strength.

At the Cun position, a Floating (Fu) and Large (Da) pulse: Floating indicates deficiency, Large indicates excess. At the Chi position, this is called Guan (Closure), leading to inability to urinate; at the Cun position, this is called Ge (Reverse), leading to vomiting and regurgitation.

At the Cun position, a Weak (Ruo) and Slow (Chi) pulse: Weak indicates deficient Wei Qi; Slow indicates Cold in Ying. Ying is Blood; Blood Cold causes fever. Wei is Qi; deficient Qi causes a sensation of hunger in the heart, but due to empty fullness, one cannot eat.

At the Cun position, a Weak (Ruo) and Moderate (Huan) pulse: Weak indicates insufficient Yang Qi; Moderate indicates surplus Stomach Qi (often implying dampness or food stagnation), belching, acid regurgitation, sudden inability to swallow food, and Qi filling the upper Diaphragm.

At the Cun position, a Fine (Wei) and Choppy (Se) pulse: Fine indicates blocked Wei Qi movement; Choppy indicates insufficient Ying Qi. Ying and Wei fail to support each other, leaving the San Jiao without reliance, causing numbness and paralysis of the body. Insufficient Ying Qi causes irritability and pain, and difficulty speaking. Deficient Wei Qi causes aversion to cold and frequent yawning. If the San Jiao fails to return to its proper sector: Upper Jiao failure leads to belching and acid regurgitation; Middle Jiao failure leads to inability to digest grains and absorb food; Lower Jiao failure leads to urinary incontinence. (Cu is an ancient character for vinegar/acid.)

At the Cun position, a Fine (Wei) and Choppy (Se) pulse: Fine indicates declining Wei Qi; Choppy indicates insufficient Ying Qi. Declining Wei Qi results in a yellow complexion; insufficient Ying Qi results in a green complexion. Ying is the root, Wei is the leaf; if both Ying and Wei are weak, the roots and leaves wither, leading to chills, coughing and reverse qi, vomiting of fishy substances, and spitting of saliva/phlegm.

At the Cun position, a Fine (Wei) pulse, and at the Chi position, a Tight (Jin) pulse: The person is deficient and sweats excessively; this indicates Yin is constantly present, while Yang is completely absent.

All Fine (Wei) pulses at the Cun position indicate Yang Exhaustion; all Soft (Ru) pulses indicate Blood Loss; all Weak (Ruo) pulses indicate Fever; all Tight (Jin) pulses indicate Cold. All conditions affected by Cold result in Jue (Cold Limb Reversal), depression and vertigo, and numbness, because the Stomach lacks Grain Qi, the Spleen is stagnant and obstructed, the mouth/lips are tight preventing speech, and there is trembling and shivering.

Question: How do we know if the pathogen has invaded the Fu organs? How do we know if it has invaded the Zang organs? Answer: All Yang pulses that are Floating and Rapid indicate invasion of the Fu organs; all Yin pulses that are Slow and Choppy indicate invasion of the Zang organs.