三滑者。阳也。指下寻之。三关如珠动。按之即伏。不进不退。曰滑。主四肢。困
弊。脚手酸疼。小便赤涩。
滑者。阳水也。何为阳水。谓水中有火也。夫滑与涩相反。荣气不足。则脉
往来蹇涩。荣气有余。则脉往来流利。故其论曰。滑之体。非独阳也。非独
阴也。乃纯阳正阴。和合交结然。所以然者何也。盖人身左肾属水。右肾
属火。膀胱为水。三焦为火。阴阳相维。水火相济。故脉道往来滑利。而无
蹇涩之患。此平人之常脉耳。今诀所谓滑者。乃水中之火太甚。煎熬腾
沸。故指下寻之。三关如珠动。如珠动者。即刘氏所谓如荷叶上。水珠。言
其往来流利也。按之即伏。不进不退者。即脉经所谓浮中如有力。言其
不任寻按也。故所主病。为四肢困弊。四肢属脾土。困弊者。谓相火盛而
乘其脾土也。脚手酸疼者。谓相火盛而煎熬其肾水也。小便赤涩者。三
焦属相火。为决渎之官。今既不守本位。与前之太阳合。从阳化则热。故
小便赤涩也。
按脉经云。滑脉往来。前却流利。展转替替。然与数相似。一曰浮中如有
力。一曰漉漉如欲脱。丹溪心法云。滑为血实有痰。仲景书问曰。奄翕沉
名曰滑。何谓也。师曰。沉为纯阴。翕为正阳。阴阳和合。故脉滑也。
又按脉经云。脉滑者。多血少气。脉涩者。少血多气。
Sanhua pulse (Three-Slide Pulse) is a Yang pulse. When seeking it with the fingers, the pulses at the Cun, Guan, and Chi positions roll like beads; upon pressing, they sink and do not advance or retreat. This is called Huamai (Slippery Pulse). It primarily indicates symptoms of limb fatigue and debility, soreness and pain in the hands and feet, and dark, scanty, or difficult urination.
Huamai represents Yang Water. What is Yang Water? It refers to water containing Fire. Huamai is opposite to Sema (Choppy Pulse). When Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) is deficient, the pulse flow is sluggish and choppy; when Ying Qi is abundant, the pulse flow is smooth and slippery. Therefore, it is said that the nature of Huamai is neither purely Yang nor purely Yin, but rather a harmonious union of Pure Yang and Correct Yin. Why is this so? The human body’s left Kidney belongs to Water, while the right Kidney belongs to Fire; the Bladder belongs to Water, and the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) belongs to Fire. Yin and Yang sustain each other, and Water and Fire nourish each other, resulting in a smooth and slippery pulse without obstruction. This is the normal pulse of a healthy person. However, the Huamai mentioned in the verse refers to an excessive amount of Fire within the Water, causing boiling and scalding. Thus, when sought with the fingers, the pulses at the three positions roll like beads. Rolling like beads, as described by Liu, is likened to water droplets on a lotus leaf, indicating smooth and slippery flow. Pressing causes them to sink, advancing not and retreating not, which corresponds to the description in the *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic) as "feeling forceful at superficial and middle depths," indicating that the pulse cannot withstand excessive pressure. Consequently, the diseases it indicates include limb fatigue. The limbs belong to Spleen Earth; fatigue implies that Xianghuo (Ministerial Fire) is excessive and overacts on Spleen Earth. Soreness and pain in the hands and feet imply that excessive Ministerial Fire is scalding and consuming Kidney Water. Dark and difficult urination occurs because the Sanjiao, belonging to Ministerial Fire and serving as the official responsible for draining waterways, has lost its proper position and merged with the Taiyang (Greater Yang) channel. Following Yang transformation generates heat, leading to dark and difficult urination.
According to the *Mai Jing*: Huamai flows smoothly back and forth, rolling continuously, resembling Shumai (Rapid Pulse). One description is "feeling forceful at superficial and middle depths"; another is "gurgling as if about to detach." The *Danxi Xinfa* states: Huamai indicates Blood excess with Phlegm. Zhang Zhongjing asks in the *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage): "What does 'an xi chen' mean when called Huamai?" The Master replies: "Chen (Deep) is Pure Yin, Xi (Floating/Opening) is Correct Yang. When Yin and Yang harmonize, the pulse becomes slippery."
Furthermore, according to the *Mai Jing*: A slippery pulse usually indicates abundant Blood and deficient Qi, whereas a choppy pulse usually indicates deficient Blood and abundant Qi.