一微者阴也。指可寻之。往来甚微。再再寻之。若有若无曰微。主败血不止
面色无光。
微者。阴土也。何为阴土。雨土 雾之象也。血实则脉实。血虚则脉虚。今
云指下寻之。往来甚微。则阳已衰矣。再再寻之。若有若无。则血已脱矣。
夫营出中焦。中焦治则能摄血。血足则能华色。今脉见微。则为阴盛阳
虚。不能摄血。以致败血不止。血去则不能华色。是以面色无光也。
按脉经云。微脉极细而软。或欲绝。若有若无。一曰小也。一曰手下快。一
曰浮而薄。一曰按之如欲尽。
指下寻之有若无。漩之败血小肠居。崩中日久为白带。漏下时多骨木枯。
指下寻之。其中往来甚微。再再寻之。若有若无。然何以至如是之虚也。
夫心主血者也。脾摄血者也。今脾不能摄血。以至心包络之血漩流而
下。入于小肠。然小肠主出而不主纳。不能久居。必下漏。而为崩中之证
矣。然崩中日久。则阴已衰而阳无所倚。传变而为虚寒。白带因之而下
矣。夫骨。肾所主也。肾主闭藏。受五脏六腑之精而藏之。斯骨有所濡润。
而不至于枯槁。今崩中而继之以漏下。则精血已竭。骨无所濡。而如木
之枯槁矣。
按经云。微则为虚。又云。微而紧者有寒。又云。微弱者。有寒少气。
微脉关前气上侵。
关前。阳部也。微脉而见关前。则上焦之阳气衰。阳气衰则阴气上逆。故
曰气上侵也。
按脉经云。寸口脉微。若寒为衄。宜服五味子汤。摩茱萸膏令汗出。又云。
寸口微无阳外寒。
当关郁结气排心。
关主中州。脾胃所居之地。然脾为阴土。生于相火。胃为阳土。生于心火。
微脉而见关中。是为纯阴而无阳矣。阴霾之气闭塞。阳明之气不行。阳
明者胃也。胃之上管。当于心下。故曰郁结气排心也。四气调神论云。阳
气者闭塞。地气者冒明。此之谓也。
按脉经云。关脉微。胃中冷。心下拘急。宜服附子汤。生姜汤。附子丸。针巨
阙补之。
尺部见之脐下积。身寒饮水即呻吟。
尺部者。纯阴之地。寒水之乡也。所赖者。下焦命门之真火相济。得以温
分肉。消水气。不至有凝结积聚之患。今尺部见微。则下焦之元阳衰而
身寒。膀胱之寒气结。而脐下积矣。然两尺属肾。微为阴土。土来克水。故
引水以自救。及至饮水。则又无相火以温暖分消。复助寒气。故作痛而
呻吟也。
按脉经云。尺中微。无阳厥冷。腹中拘急。又云。尺脉微厥逆。小腹中拘急
有寒气。宜服小建中汤。
I. The Micro pulse (Wei Mai) belongs to Yin. It can be felt with light palpation, and the pulsation is extremely faint. Upon repeated searching, it feels as if present yet absent; this is the Micro pulse. It primarily indicates unceasing bleeding of ruined blood (stasis or extravasated blood), leading to a lackluster complexion.
II. The Micro pulse corresponds to Yin Earth in the Five Elements. What is Yin Earth? It resembles soil wet by rain or shrouded in fog. When blood is substantial, the pulse is solid; when blood is deficient, the pulse is empty. Now, since the pulse feels extremely faint under the fingers, Yang Qi has already declined. Upon repeated searching, feeling as if present yet absent, it indicates that blood has been depleted. Ying Qi originates from the Middle Jiao; when the Middle Jiao functions normally, it can control blood, and sufficient blood can nourish the complexion. Now, seeing the Micro pulse indicates Excess of Yin and Deficiency of Yang, unable to control blood, resulting in unceasing bleeding of ruined blood. As blood is lost, it cannot nourish the complexion, hence the lackluster appearance.
III. According to the *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic): The Micro pulse is extremely thin and soft, or seems about to cease, feeling as if present yet absent. Some describe it as small; some say it feels quick under the fingers; some say it is floating and thin; some say it feels as if it will disappear upon pressing.
IV. Feeling as if present yet absent under the fingers indicates the accumulation of ruined blood in the Small Intestine. Prolonged metrorrhagia may transform into leukorrhea, and excessive leakage may lead to skeletal dryness.
V. Under the fingers, the pulsation is extremely faint; upon repeated searching, it feels as if present yet absent. Why is it so deficient? The Heart governs Blood, and the Spleen controls Blood. Now, the Spleen fails to control blood, causing the blood of the Pericardium to flow turbidly downward into the Small Intestine. However, the Small Intestine governs excretion rather than retention, so blood cannot stay long and must leak downward, forming the syndrome of metrorrhagia. Prolonged metrorrhagia leads to Yin deficiency and Yang having no support, transforming into deficiency-cold, which causes leukorrhea to descend. Bones are governed by the Kidney; the Kidney governs closure and storage, receiving and storing the essence of the five zang and six fu organs, thereby moistening bones and preventing them from becoming dry. Now, following metrorrhagia with continuous leakage, essence and blood are exhausted, bones lose moisture, and become dry like dead wood.
VI. According to classics: The Micro pulse indicates deficiency. It is also stated that a Micro and Tight pulse indicates cold. It is further stated that a Weak and Micro pulse indicates cold and shortness of breath.
VII. When the Micro pulse appears at the Guanqian position (Cun/Inch position), it indicates Qi invading upward.
The Guanqian position is the Yang region. If the Micro pulse appears here, it indicates the decline of Yang Qi in the Upper Jiao. Decline of Yang Qi leads to the counterflow of Yin Qi, hence "Qi invades upward."
According to the *Mai Jing*: If the Cun Kou pulse is Micro and accompanied by cold symptoms such as epistaxis, Wuweizi Tang (Schisandra Decoction) should be taken, and Zhuyu Gao (Evodia Ointment) should be massaged to induce sweating. It is also stated: Cun Kou pulse Micro indicates absence of Yang and external cold.
VIII. When the Guan position is blocked, Qi presses against the Heart.
The Guan position governs the Central Region (Zhongzhou), where the Spleen and Stomach reside. The Spleen is Yin Earth, born from Ministerial Fire; the Stomach is Yang Earth, born from Heart Fire. If the Micro pulse appears at the Guan position, it indicates pure Yin without Yang. Turbid Yin Qi blocks the pathway, and Mingyang Qi does not move. Mingyang refers to the Stomach. The upper opening of the Stomach is located below the heart, hence "blocked Qi presses against the Heart." The *Siqi Tiaoshen Lun* states: "When Yang Qi is blocked, earthly Qi obscures clarity." This refers to this phenomenon.
According to the *Mai Jing*: Guan pulse Micro indicates cold in the stomach and stiffness/tension below the heart. Fuzi Tang (Aconite Decoction), Shengjiang Tang (Fresh Ginger Decoction), and Fuzi Wan (Aconite Pill) are suitable. Acupuncture at Juxue (CV14) with tonification method is indicated.
IX. When the Chi position shows a Micro pulse, it indicates accumulation below the navel, body coldness, and groaning after drinking water.
The Chi position is a place of pure Yin and cold water. It relies on the true fire of the Mingmen (Gate of Life) in the Lower Jiao for assistance, to warm the muscles and dissipate dampness, avoiding condensation and accumulation. Now, seeing a Micro pulse at the Chi position indicates decline of Yuan Yang in the Lower Jiao and body coldness, while cold Qi in the Bladder condenses, causing accumulation below the navel. Both Chi positions belong to the Kidneys. The Micro pulse belongs to Yin Earth; Earth overcomes Water, so the body draws in water to save itself. However, upon drinking, there is no ministerial fire to warm and dissipate it, which instead aids the cold Qi, causing pain and groaning.
According to the *Mai Jing*: Chi pulse Micro indicates absence of Yang, cold extremities, and abdominal tension. It is also stated: Chi pulse Micro indicates cold extremities, tension in the lower abdomen with cold Qi. Xiaojianzhong Tang (Minor Construct the Middle Decoction) is suitable.