Library

Question: How can one know the diseases of the Zang and Fu organs through pulse diagnosis? The answer is: A rapid pulse (Shu Mai) belongs to the Fu organs, while a slow pulse (Chi Mai) belongs to the Zang organs. A rapid pulse indicates heat, while a slow pulse indicates cold. All Yang conditions manifest as heat, and all Yin conditions manifest as cold. Thus, one can distinguish which organ system is affected.
(The Fu organs belong to Yang, hence their pulse is rapid; the Zang organs belong to Yin, hence their pulse is slow. Yang Qi moves slowly, but when diseased, the pulse becomes rapid; Yin Qi moves swiftly, but when diseased, the pulse becomes slow.)

A floating and large pulse indicates the Lung pulse; a deep, slippery, and stone-like pulse indicates the Kidney pulse; a pulse like a bowstring indicates the Liver pulse; a pulse that is rapid upon arrival and slow upon departure indicates the Heart pulse. When a pulse should be present but is absent, it signifies disease. Diseases have varying depths; one must only understand how the pathogenic factor was acquired.

What is the method of Yin and Yang in pulses? The answer is: Exhalation involves the Heart and Lung; inhalation involves the Kidney and Liver. Between breaths, the Spleen receives the essence from food and grain, and its pulse is located in the middle. Floating pulses are Yang, and deep pulses are Yin; thus they are called Yin and Yang. Both the Heart and Lung pulses are floating; how to distinguish them? The answer is: A pulse that is floating, large, and scattered belongs to the Heart; a pulse that is floating, short, and choppy belongs to the Lung. Both the Kidney and Liver pulses are deep; how to distinguish them? The answer is: A firm and long pulse belongs to the Liver; a pulse that feels soft upon pressing but solid upon lifting the finger belongs to the Kidney. The Spleen resides in the central region (Zhongzhou), so its pulse is in the middle (The *Qianjin Yi Fang* states: A slow, moderate, and long pulse belongs to the Spleen). These are the Yin and Yang pulses. There are conditions of excessive Yang with deficient Yin, and excessive Yin with deficient Yang. What does this mean? The answer is: If the pulse is diminished and small upon superficial palpation (Fu) but solid and large upon deep palpation (Chen), it is called excessive Yin and deficient Yang. If the pulse is diminished and small upon deep palpation but solid and large upon superficial palpation, it is called excessive Yang and deficient Yin. This illustrates the meaning of Yin/Yang deficiency and excess. (Yang pulses appear at the Cun Kou position, normally floating and solid-large. Now, light superficial palpation makes it even more diminished and small, hence "Yang deficiency"; heavy deep palpation makes it even more solid, large, and deep, hence "Yin excess".)

The Classics state: There are pulses described as one Yin and one Yang, one Yin and two Yangs, one Yin and three Yangs; and one Yang and one Yin, one Yang and two Yins, one Yang and three Yins. Does this mean there are six pulses beating simultaneously at the Cun Kou? The answer is: The Classics do not mean six pulses beating simultaneously, but rather refer to the qualities of floating, deep, long, short, slippery, and choppy. Floating is Yang, slippery is Yang, long is Yang; deep is Yin, choppy is Yin, short is Yin. Therefore, "one Yin and one Yang" refers to a pulse that is deep and slippery; "one Yin and two Yangs" refers to a pulse that is deep, slippery, and long; "one Yin and three Yangs" refers to a pulse that is floating, slippery, and long, occasionally accompanied by a deep quality. "One Yang and one Yin" refers to a pulse that is floating and choppy; "one Yang and two Yins" refers to a pulse that is long, deep, and choppy; "one Yang and three Yins" refers to a pulse that is deep, choppy, and short, occasionally accompanied by a floating quality. Based on the location of the respective meridians, one determines the favorable or unfavorable nature of the disease.

Generally, a large pulse is Yang, floating is Yang, rapid is Yang, agitated is Yang, long is Yang, and slippery is Yang; deep is Yin, choppy is Yin, weak is Yin, wiry is Yin, short is Yin, and minute is Yin. These constitute the Three Yin and Three Yang. If a Yang disease presents with a Yin pulse, it is contrary and indicates death; if a Yin disease presents with a Yang pulse, it is favorable and indicates survival. The area anterior to the Guan position is Yang, and the area posterior to the Guan is Yin. A Yang pulse that is rapid indicates hematemesis; a Yin pulse that is minute indicates diarrhea. A Yang pulse that is wiry indicates headache; a Yin pulse that is wiry indicates abdominal pain. A Yang pulse that is minute indicates the need for sweating therapy; a Yin pulse that is minute indicates spontaneous downward discharge. A Yang pulse that is rapid indicates mouth ulcers; a Yin pulse that is rapid and minute indicates aversion to cold, vexation, and insomnia. If Yin attaches to Yang, mania occurs; if Yang attaches to Yin, epilepsy occurs. Obtaining a Yang pulse indicates disease in the Fu organs; obtaining a Yin pulse indicates disease in the Zang organs. Absence of Yang leads to cold limbs (Jue); absence of Yin leads to vomiting. A minute Yang pulse indicates inability to exhale; a minute Yin pulse indicates inability to inhale. Insufficient respiration leads to shortness of breath in the chest. By observing these Yin and Yang pulses, one examines the disease.

If the Cun Kou pulse is floating, large, and rapid, it is named Yang within Yang. The patient suffers from irritability and fullness, feverish body, headache, and heat in the abdomen.
If the Cun Kou pulse is deep and fine, it is named Yin within Yang. The patient suffers from sorrow and unhappiness, aversion to human voices, shortness of breath, occasional sweating, obstruction of Yin Qi, and inability to raise the arms.
If the Chi pulse is deep and fine, it is named Yin within Yin. The patient suffers from soreness and pain in both calves, inability to stand for long periods, decline of Yin Qi, dribbling of urine, and dampness and itching in the genital region.
If the Chi pulse is slippery and floating-large, it is named Yang within Yin. The patient suffers from pain and fullness in the lower abdomen, inability to urinate, pain in the genitalia during urination, and similar issues with defecation.
If the Chi pulse is firm and long, while the Guan pulse lacks this quality, it is called Yin invading Yang. The patient suffers from heaviness in both calves and lower abdominal pain radiating to the lower back.
If the Cun Kou pulse is strong and large, while the Chi pulse lacks this quality, it is called Yang invading Yin. The patient suffers from pain in the waist and back, injury to the genitalia, and coldness in the feet and calves.
Wind pathogens injure the Yang aspect, and Cold pathogens injure the Yin aspect. Yang diseases following Yin pulses are favorable; Yin diseases counteracting Yang pulses are unfavorable. Yang diseases are easy to treat; Yin diseases are difficult to treat. If the disease is between the intestines and stomach, it can be harmonized with medicine; if it is in the meridians, it can be cured with acupuncture and moxibustion.