奇经八脉。亦候于手太阴肺经者也。李濒湖奇经八脉考。极其详悉。然非神而明之。莫能洞窥其奥。晓然于指下也。
要之用针用炙。则奇经之病。必求奇经之穴以治之。至于用药。则奇经之表里寒热虚实。而脏腑之脉。可以测之。则亦
可以统之也。故兹编姑阙而不录。
\r内经切脉之图\p01-e25a1.bmp\r
脉理作为歌。便诵习也。其以浮沉至数辨。及不以浮沉至数辨者。各从其类。欲其易分别也。浮沉等脉。即用浮沉
等字之韵。欲其不混淆也。脉之应病。以内经为主。内经未详者。以脉经补之。脉经未详者。以历代明医之说补之。欲
其简而诀也。有是脉。即有主是病之由。复逐句笺释于其下。欲其明且畅也。较前人脉赋脉诗。颇有胜处。有志医学人。
由此入门。虽曰快捷方式。实为正路矣。
脉以轻乱辨者曰浮。轻手便得。如木浮水上。其以浮辨者曰洪。浮大来有力。去无力。曰虚。浮大按之。无力曰芤。
浮大无力。按之中央空。两边实曰散。浮大无力。至数不齐。涣漫不收。曰微。浮细无力。按之如欲绝。若有若无。凡
六脉。
（内经谓之乏）
浮脉轻手得。如木水中浮。（浮秋脉也。春夏冬见之。则病脉也。然在秋轻虚以浮。来急去散。则为手脉。若中央坚。
两边虚。此谓太过。细而微。此谓不及。亦病脉也。）有力表邪清涕嗽。恶寒发热令人愁。（风邪自皮毛入。皮毛合肺。
肺开窍于鼻。肺恶寒、金寒则生水、故鼻流清涕、风邪迫肺。则气逆、故嗽、肺主卫、风邪入则皮毛闭。固卫气不能温
外。故恶寒、肺与心皆在上。肺邪传心则心火郁。心主营。营行血脉。数一身发热。仲景谓冬月寒伤营。则发热恶寒无
汗。风伤。龈则发热恶风有汗、此固然矣、然四时感昌者。亦发热恶寒。必用表药而愈。盖表药其味皆辛、辛开毛孔。
散火郁。毛孔开。则卫气外达。火郁散则营血内安。营卫调和。则汗出而寒热解矣。）寸主头疼开腹满。尺司癃闭好推求。
（自胸至头寸主之。诸阳经起于头、风邪自皮毛深入。则归经。故头痛。肝脾与肾。且脉常沉。今脉浮。乃阳之乘阴也。
阳盛则热。水之性。寒则凋。热则旺、肝水旺、则克脾土。脾虚则不欲食。而腹满。肾窍于二阴。真性恶燥。热胜则血
燥。而大肠不润。故闭气燥而膀胱不化。故癃、癃者。小便不利也。）浮紧伤寒浮虚暑。（寒伤营。营行脉中。寒气动急。
故脉紧。暑伤气。伤气故脉虚。）浮缓风湿自宜搜。（湿气濡滞。故脉缓。凡头重、身重、腿膝痛、浮肿、大便泄、小便
黄者。风湿症也。）浮滑风痰浮数热。（滑主痰。带浮则为风痰、数主热、带浮则为风热。）无力须将血弱谋。（阳盛故脉
浮。阴虚故无力、遇此等脉。不宜轻用表药。）
The Eight Extraordinary Vessels (Qi Jing Ba Mai, the eight important vessel systems outside the twelve regular meridians) are also examined via the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin (Shou Tai Yin Fei Jing, a meridian circulating along the anterior aspect of the upper inner limb, belonging to the Lung and connecting with the Large Intestine). Li Shizhen's *Kai Jing Ba Mai Kao* (Investigation of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels) records this in extreme detail. However, unless one comprehends it spiritually and illuminates its principles, one cannot thoroughly penetrate its mysteries or clearly perceive them under the fingers.
In summary, when using acupuncture or moxibustion, diseases of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels must be treated by seeking acupoints of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels. Regarding herbal medicine, the exterior-interior, cold-heat, and deficiency-excess conditions of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels can be inferred from the pulses of the Zang-Fu organs, thereby allowing for unified regulation. Therefore, this compilation temporarily omits recording these contents.
[Image: Neijing Pulse Diagnosis Chart]
Pulse theory is presented as songs for easy recitation and study. Pulses distinguished by floating/sinking and rate are categorized separately from those not distinguished by these factors, to facilitate differentiation. The names of floating and sinking pulses use the rhymes of the characters "floating" and "sinking" to avoid confusion. The correspondence between pulses and diseases is primarily based on the *Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon). Details missing in the *Neijing* are supplemented by the *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic), and further details missing in the *Mai Jing* are supplemented by the theories of famous physicians through the ages, aiming for simplicity and conciseness. Where there is a specific pulse, there is a cause for the corresponding disease; annotations are provided sentence by sentence below to ensure clarity and fluency. Compared to previous works like *Mai Fu* (Ode to Pulses) and *Mai Shi* (Poems on Pulses), this has considerable advantages. For those aspiring to medicine, entering through here, though called a shortcut, is actually the correct path.
A pulse that can be felt with light pressure is called Floating Pulse (Fu Mai). It is accessible with light touch, like wood floating on water. Distinguished by its floating nature is the Surging Pulse (Hong Mai). It is large and forceful upon arrival but weak upon departure, which is termed Deficiency Pulse (Xu Mai). If it is large and weak upon deep pressure, it is called Cunkou Pulse (Kou Mai - resembling an onion stem). If it is large and weak, empty in the center and solid on both sides upon pressure, it is called Scattered Pulse (San Mai). If it is large and weak, irregular in rhythm, and dissipated without restraint, it is called Minute Pulse (Wei Mai). If it is fine and weak, seeming to vanish upon pressure, existing yet non-existent, these constitute six types of pulses.
(The *Neijing* refers to this as "Lack/Deficiency")
Floating pulse is obtained with light touch, like wood floating in water. (Floating is the normal autumn pulse. If seen in spring, summer, or winter, it is a pathological pulse. However, in autumn, if it is light, void, and floating, coming rapidly and dispersing slowly, it is a normal pulse. If the center is firm and the sides are void, this is termed "Excessive"; if fine and minute, this is termed "Insufficient," both being pathological pulses.) A forceful pulse indicates exterior pathogens, clear nasal discharge, and cough, causing distress. (Wind pathogen enters via the skin and hair pores, which correspond to the Lung. The Lung opens into the nose. The Lung dislikes cold; cold metal generates water, hence clear nasal discharge. Wind pathogen forces the Lung, causing Qi rebellion, hence cough. The Lung governs Defensive Qi (Wei Qi); wind pathogen invasion closes the skin and hair pores, preventing Defensive Qi from warming the exterior, hence aversion to cold. The Lung and Heart are both superior. Lung pathogen transmitting to the Heart causes Heart Fire stagnation. The Heart governs Nutritive Qi (Ying Qi), which circulates in the blood vessels. Rapid pulse leads to whole-body fever. Zhang Zhongjing stated that in winter, cold damages Ying Qi, leading to fever, aversion to cold, and no sweat; wind damages Wei Qi, leading to fever, aversion to wind, and sweat. This is true. However, those contracting pathogens in all four seasons also experience fever and aversion to cold, requiring exterior-releasing herbs to heal. Exterior-releasing herbs are pungent in flavor; pungency opens pores and dissipates fire stagnation. When pores open, Defensive Qi reaches the exterior; when fire stagnation dissipates, Nutritive Blood remains secure internally. When Ying and Wei harmonize, sweat occurs, and cold-heat symptoms resolve.) The Cun position mainly governs headache and abdominal fullness; the Chi position governs strangury (Long Bi - difficulty in urination), which requires careful deduction. (From chest to head, the Cun position governs. All Yang meridians originate at the head. Wind pathogen penetrating deeply from the skin/hair pores returns to the meridians, causing headache. Liver, Spleen, and Kidney pulses are usually sunken. Now the pulse is floating, indicating Yang invading Yin. Yang excess generates heat. Water's nature is withering in cold and flourishing in heat. Flourishing Liver Wood attacks Spleen Earth. Spleen deficiency leads to loss of appetite and abdominal fullness. The Kidney opens into the two yin orifices; its true nature dislikes dryness. Heat excess causes blood dryness, leaving the Large Intestine unmoistened. Thus, Qi closure and dryness occur, and the Bladder fails to transform, resulting in strangury. Strangury means difficult urination.) Floating-tight pulse indicates Cold Damage (Shang Han); floating-deficient pulse indicates Summerheat. (Cold damages Ying Qi, which circulates in the vessels. Cold makes Qi tense and urgent, hence tight pulse. Summerheat damages Qi; damaged Qi results in deficient pulse.) Floating-slow pulse is suitable for searching out Wind-Dampness. (Dampness is sticky and stagnant, hence slow pulse. Symptoms such as heavy head, heavy body, leg/knee pain, edema, loose stools, and yellow urine indicate Wind-Damp syndrome.) Floating-slippery pulse indicates Wind-Phlegm; floating-rapid pulse indicates Heat. (Slippery pulse governs Phlegm; combined with floating, it is Wind-Phlegm. Rapid pulse governs Heat; combined with floating, it is Wind-Heat.) Weakness requires addressing Blood deficiency. (Yang excess causes floating pulse; Yin/Blood deficiency causes weakness. When encountering such pulses, exterior-releasing herbs should not be used lightly.)