中风之脉喜浮迟,数大弹指非所宜。
中风多虚,脉来浮缓是也。然虚近于寒,故浮迟亦可喜。弹指,有力之谓,且数而大则邪气深入,自不相宜。
(中恶同)
伤寒发热期浮大,涩小沉濡症不对。
寒伤皮肤,传里则热,故脉以浮大为期。反是便不对症,症脉参差,而凶逆显在言外。(温疫同)
汗后身凉脉静安,躁而加热治必难。
汗后邪解,合当脉静身凉。偏躁而热甚,此已汗,不为汗衰,故难治。
阳症得阴脉者忌,阴症见阳翻为喜。
阳症形实病实,风火了了,却见沉迟濡小等脉,势易进而退难,是以切忌。阴症终始虚寒,而脉忽浮大微数,
亦属大患,恶乎喜?盖直中伤寒,阴气将除,一阳来复,间由此而遂瘥者,故云。
火暑二症大数娱,有力无力个中推。
热症脉数,因暑则浮大而无力,此正应也。若濡小相左,或见沉涩,所谓发热脉静。难乎!其为医矣。
疟脉初弦久则异,一般受病因风暑。
疟乃风暑客气乘侮脾土,土衰不能制湿,而痰饮生焉。无痰不成疟,此之谓也。且暑令伤气,气虚则脉虚,
风游于内,痰应乎中,故脉不浮滑而得弦。疟脉自弦,非弦脉定疟
也。日久亦能转换,随所应而克之无咎,但濡小不堪,复见止脉,天命其危已夫。
诸湿发黄暨积聚,浮大无妨休沉细。
胀满发黄,皆湿热也。积聚则又加实矣。故脉以浮滑大数为候,如得沉濡等状,此真气衰败,不可为已。
(小便淋闭、三消同)
骨蒸热燥数而虚,躁大涩小殒其躯。
骨蒸之症,肌不甚热。但清瘦而五心烦躁,此元阴销耗,壮火内燔。脉数无力,治有瘥时。数而小,或涩或
躁,匪劳成瘵,直可以订死期。
劳极诸虚及咳逆,弦躁贻忧浮濡吉。
症虚脉虚,增以劳极则精气耗损,应得浮濡。咳乃肺疾,脉浮亦为正象,兼见濡者,病将退也。外此皆为残
贼,忧乎不忧。
头目暴疼平喘急,吾与浮滑嫌沉涩。
上证无非是风与痰耳,虽其中有虚实之分,而脉不外浮滑,假沉涩濡紧则气血枯瘁,为治不易成功。
泄泻滞下心腹疼,沉迟而小易还元。
泄利伤阴坏脾,痛则伤形,兼遏抑卫气,宜得上脉,且易瘥。苟浮大而数,是谓乱中,中乱则身必发热而成
恶候,元还何日。
泻与吐俱名霍乱,却逢迟小元欲丧。
肠胃满而不实,今中有宿滞,则实而不满矣。猝以乖气混扰,自然上下相夺,维时脉浮大有力,足胜病势。
间一止者亦无害,盖气血未宁,来去欠匀,非绝也。沉迟而小,洎厥逆舌卷,方不议治。
肢体无用木不仁,微濡而缓认宜真。
仁者木之全德,瘫痪痿痹皆不仁也。盖由气虚风中,痰泊厥阴经窦。故脉得濡缓为可治;弦大紧躁,虽能食
不死,难免残废之忧。(痫症同)
疝则筋急弦紧现,痈肿溃未阴阳辨。
筋急肝病,疝系阴寒,脉见弦紧理也。痈疽未溃属实得阳脉,既溃则虚得阴脉,顺也。反此即为背逆,罔敢
弗辨。
失血脉当芤缓小,蓄血居经滑大好。
芤有中空之象,失血者宜尔也。缓小亦属虚脉,故不妨杂见。倘数而大,病进自不消说。(金枪同)蓄血为
有形实症,滑大则病脉相合,少差便涉虚衰,既不能自行其血,又难施攻伐之剂,欲速其去,不知卿用何法。
(大便不通同)
带下得迟或缓滑,斯为本分无庸察。
赤白带下,均湿热也。故迟缓微滑为正脉。本妇荣卫不足,浮小已未为过。如数或躁,此火起九渊,恐相思
结下,龙性难驯耳。
欲产如诊必离经,既产缓小未须惊。
欲产之脉,胎动于中,脉乱于外,必主离经。离经者,离乎经常之谓也。既产血气两脱,缓小固是本色,沉
濡亦不算非分。要当留心调燮,毋使更变惊人。
兼胎产后伤风寒,勿与平人一样看。
胎前虽见表脉,不可轻易发散,古人用葱苏代麻黄、羌活等汤,可悟其理。逮传里热结,脉沉实,攻之终防
犯胎,无已有蜜胆导引及外护之法。中寒脉迟,急需姜附,市医狃于动胎不用,不知药过炮炙,再有监制,自不
妨事。产后唯一峻补,纵脉乱来,以末治之,所谓从症不从脉也。拘泥杀人,于此当发深省。
小儿初诞便有脉,诊来薄疾神得得。
初生婴孩,脏娇如花,故脉来薄疾。稍有感冒,或停乳食,精神便不清爽。而脉来亦无常,四诊之余,心参
可也。古人以指纹形色验病,已多不准。窃谓色白疳疾,色黄脾困,阅小儿多矣,不曾瞥见此色。窃谓弯里为风
寒,弯外为食积,夫脉纹曲直,有生即定,那能逐病转移。至云脉见得病,勿药而药,纹过三关不治,当药不药,
不知断送如许。
The pulse in wind-stroke favors floating and slow; rapid, large, and bounding pulses are inappropriate.
Wind-stroke is mostly deficiency, and a floating and moderate pulse indicates this. However, deficiency is close to cold, so a floating and slow pulse is also auspicious. "Bounding" refers to forcefulness; if the pulse is both rapid and large, it means the pathogenic factor has penetrated deeply, which is naturally unsuitable.
(The pulse for sudden evil [Zhong'e] is the same.)
In cold damage with fever, a floating and large pulse is expected; coarse, small, deep, and soft pulses do not match the symptoms.
Cold damages the skin; when transmitted inward, it generates heat, so a floating and large pulse is the expectation. Conversely, this does not match the symptoms; the discrepancy between symptoms and pulse reveals ominous signs beyond words. (The pulse for warm epidemic is the same.)
After sweating, if the body is cool and the pulse is calm, there is peace; if the pulse is restless and heat increases, treatment will be difficult.
After sweating, the pathogen should be resolved, and the pulse should be calm with a cool body. If the pulse is restless and heat is severe, this indicates that although sweating has occurred, the disease has not subsided due to sweating, hence it is difficult to treat.
Yang syndromes presenting with Yin pulses are taboo; Yin syndromes presenting with Yang pulses are auspicious.
Yang syndromes manifest as substantial form and substantial disease, with fierce wind-fire, yet showing deep, slow, soft, or small pulses; the condition tends to advance but is hard to retreat, thus strictly taboo. Yin syndromes are consistently deficient and cold from start to finish; if the pulse suddenly becomes floating, large, and slightly rapid,
it is also a major affliction, how can it be considered auspicious? This refers to direct invasion by cold damage in Yin syndromes, where Yin qi is about to be eliminated and one Yang returns; occasionally recovery occurs through this mechanism, hence the statement.
Fire and summer-heat syndromes typically show rapid pulses; one must deduce based on forcefulness or lack thereof.
Heat syndromes have rapid pulses; due to summer-heat, the pulse is floating, large, and forceless, which is the correct correspondence. If the pulse is soft and small contrary to expectations, or shows deep and coarse qualities, described as "fever with a calm pulse," it is extremely difficult! Such a physician would find it hard to practice.
Malaria pulses are initially wiry and change over time; generally, the cause involves wind and summer-heat.
Malaria is caused by wind and summer-heat pathogens invading and harassing the Spleen Earth; when Earth is weak and cannot control dampness, phlegm-fluids are generated. No phlegm, no malaria, this is what is meant. Moreover, summer-heat injures Qi; Qi deficiency leads to a deficient pulse.
Wind wanders internally, and phlegm responds internally, so the pulse is not floating and slippery but wiry. Malaria pulses are naturally wiry; it is not that all wiry pulses indicate malaria.
After a long duration, changes can occur; treating according to the corresponding pulse brings no blame. However, if the pulse becomes excessively soft and small, and intermittent pulses appear, fate's danger is inevitable.
Various dampness-induced jaundice and accumulations: floating and large pulses are acceptable, avoid deep and fine ones.
Distension, fullness, and jaundice are all due to damp-heat. Accumulations add excess conditions. Thus, the pulse should be floating, slippery, large, and rapid. If deep and soft pulses are obtained, this indicates the decay of true Qi, and it is incurable.
(Urinary strangury, obstruction, and Sanxiao [Three Consumptions] share similar principles.)
Bone-steaming heat and dryness: rapid and deficient pulses are manageable; restless, large, coarse, or small pulses endanger life.
Bone-steaming syndrome features muscles that are not very hot. Instead, there is emaciation and five-palm vexation/restlessness, indicating consumption of Primordial Yin and blazing of vigorous Fire within. A rapid but forceless pulse allows for potential recovery. If the pulse is rapid and small, or coarse or restless, unless it is consumptive tuberculosis resulting from exhaustion, one could directly predict the date of death.
Extreme fatigue causing various deficiencies and coughing/reversal flow: wiry and restless pulses cause worry; floating and soft pulses are auspicious.
Symptoms are deficient, and the pulse is deficient; adding extreme fatigue depletes Essence and Qi, requiring a floating and soft pulse. Cough is a Lung disease, and a floating pulse is a positive sign; combined with a soft pulse, the disease is retreating. Outside of these, all are destructive pulses, causing great worry.
Sudden head and eye pain with panting and urgency: I dislike deep and coarse pulses, preferring floating and slippery ones.
The above conditions are nothing more than Wind and Phlegm. Although there are distinctions between deficiency and excess, the pulse is essentially floating and slippery. If deep, coarse, soft, or tight, Qi and Blood are exhausted and emaciated, making treatment unlikely to succeed.
Diarrhea, dysentery, and abdominal pain: deep, slow, and small pulses facilitate recovery of Yuan Qi.
Diarrhea and dysentery damage Yin and harm the Spleen; pain damages the form and suppresses Defensive Qi. These pulses are appropriate, and recovery is easy. If the pulse is floating, large, and rapid, it is called "Chaos in the Middle"; Middle chaos causes fever and malignant conditions, delaying the return of Yuan Qi indefinitely.
Diarrhea and vomiting together are named Huoluan [Colic]; encountering slow and small pulses indicates loss of Yuan Qi.
The intestines and stomach should be full but not solid; now with retained stagnation inside, they become solid but not full. Suddenly disturbed by chaotic Qi, upper and lower parts compete. At this time, a floating, large, and forceful pulse is sufficient to overcome the disease.
Intermittent pulses are also harmless, as Qi and Blood are not yet settled, and the rhythm is uneven, not an absolute stop. If deep, slow, and small, accompanied by cold extremities and curled tongue, treatment is no longer feasible.
Limb immobility and numbness: slight, soft, and moderate pulses confirm the diagnosis.
"Ren" [Benevolence] is the complete virtue of Wood; paralysis and atrophy belong to numbness. It arises from Qi deficiency allowing Wind to enter, and Phlegm lodging in the Jueyin meridians. Thus, soft and moderate pulses indicate treatability; wiry, large, tight, or restless pulses, even if the patient can eat and survive, cannot avoid the risk of disability. (Epilepsy shares similar principles.)
Hernia involves tendon tension, presenting wiry and tight pulses; abscesses require distinguishing Yin and Yang before and after ulceration.
Tendon tension relates to Liver disease; hernias are related to Yin Cold, so wiry and tight pulses are logical. Abscesses/ulcers before ulceration are excess and present Yang pulses; after ulceration, they become deficient and present Yin pulses, which is favorable. The reverse is unfavorable, and careful distinction is necessary.
Blood loss pulses should be hollow [Kou], moderate, or small; blood stasis or amenorrhea pulses should be slippery and large.
The Kou pulse has a hollow center, suitable for blood loss. Moderate and small are also deficient pulses, so their coexistence is acceptable. If rapid and large, disease progression is evident. (Metal injuries share similar principles.) Blood stasis is a tangible excess condition; slippery and large pulses match the disease. Any deviation suggests deficiency; since the blood cannot expel itself naturally, and aggressive purgatives are difficult to apply, wanting to remove it quickly, one wonders what method you would use.
(Constipation shares similar principles.)
Leukorrhea with slow or slippery pulses is normal and needs no special examination.
Red and white leukorrhea are both due to damp-heat. Therefore, slow, moderate, and slightly slippery pulses are correct. Since women often have insufficient Ying and Wei, floating and small pulses are not excessive. If rapid or restless, this is fire rising from the abyss, likely due to lovesickness, which is hard to tame.
Pregnancy imminent requires Li Jing [Departing from the Regular] pulse; postpartum slow and small pulses need no alarm.
The pulse for impending birth, with fetal movement inside and external pulse disorder, must show Li Jing. Li Jing means departing from the regular pattern. After birth, with dual depletion of Blood and Qi, slow and small are indeed the natural state; deep and soft are also not improper. Careful regulation is needed to prevent alarming changes.
Concurrent wind-cold injury during pregnancy or postpartum should not be viewed like ordinary cases.
Although exterior pulses may appear during pregnancy, dispersing agents should not be used lightly. Ancients used Scallion White and Perilla Leaf instead of Ephedra and Notopterygium decoctions, illustrating the principle. When heat binds internally and the pulse becomes deep and solid, attacking risks harming the fetus; honey suppositories or external care methods are不得已 [forced] alternatives. For cold damage with slow pulses, Ginger and Aconite are urgently needed. Market physicians refuse them due to fears of disturbing the fetus, unaware that processed and controlled herbs are safe. Postpartum requires only strong tonification; even if the pulse is chaotic, treat based on symptoms, known as "following symptoms rather than pulses." Dogmatism kills; deep reflection is warranted here.
Newborns have pulses; thin and rapid with adequate spirit is normal.
Newborn infants have delicate organs like flowers, so pulses are thin and rapid. With slight colds or milk/stagnation issues, spirit becomes unclear. Pulses vary without fixed patterns; aside from the four diagnostic methods, mental contemplation suffices. Ancient finger-print color/shape diagnostics were often inaccurate. I believe white color indicates malnutrition diseases, yellow indicates Spleen distress. Having examined many children, I rarely saw these colors. I believe inner curve indicates wind-cold, outer curve indicates food stagnation. Pulse vein curvature is determined at birth and does not shift with disease. Regarding saying "pulse reveals disease, treat without medicine," or "vein passing three gates is untreatable, treat when medicine is indicated," I do not know how many lives have been lost this way.