体象 缓脉四至，来往和匀；微风轻 ，初春杨柳。
兼脉主病 缓为胃气，不主于病。取其兼见，方可断症。浮缓风伤，沉缓寒湿。缓大风虚，缓细湿
痹。缓涩脾薄，缓弱气虚。左寸涩缓，少阴血虚。右寸浮缓，风邪所居。左关浮缓，肝风内鼓。右关沉缓，
土弱湿侵。左尺缓涩，精宫不及。右尺缓细，真阳衰极。
【按】缓脉以宽舒和缓为义，与紧脉正相反也。在卦为坤，在五行为土，在时令为四季之末，在人身为
足太阴脾。若阳寸阴尺，上下同等，浮大而软，无有偏胜者，和平之脉也。故曰，缓而和匀，不浮不沉，不大
不小，不疾不徐，意气欣欣，悠悠扬扬，难以名状者，此真胃气脉也。又云，土为万物之母，中气调和，则
百疾不生。又一切脉中皆须挟缓，谓之胃气；但得本脏之脉，无胃气以和之，则真脏脉见，与之短期。又曰，有
胃气则生，无胃气则死，缓之于脉大矣哉！是故缓脉不主疾病，惟考其兼见之脉，乃可断其为病耳。岐伯曰∶“
脾者土也，孤脏以灌四旁者也。善者不可见，恶者可见。其来如水之流者，此为太过，病在外；如乌之
喙，此谓不及，病在中。太过则令人四肢沉重；不及则令人九窍壅塞不通。”王叔和《脉经》云∶“脾旺之
时，其脉大，阿阿而缓，名曰平脉。反得弦细而长者，是肝之乘脾，木之克土，为贼邪，死不治。反得浮涩而短，
是肺之乘脾，子之扶母，为实邪，虽病自愈。反得洪大而散者，是心之乘脾，母之归子，为虚邪，虽病易治。
反得沉濡而滑者，是肾之乘脾，水之凌土，为微邪，虽病即瘥。”高阳生伪诀以缓脉主脾热、口臭、反胃、齿痛、
梦鬼诸症，出自杜撰，与缓脉无涉也。
[Body and Image] The slow pulse (Huan Mai) beats four times per respiration, moving with a calm and even rhythm; its form is like a gentle breeze brushing against willow branches, resembling the swaying of willows in early spring.
[Combined Pulses and Disease Manifestations] The slow pulse represents Stomach Qi (Wei Qi) and does not primarily indicate disease on its own. Only by examining combined pulses can one diagnose the condition. A floating-slow pulse indicates wind pathogen injuring the exterior; a deep-slow pulse indicates cold-dampness invading internally. A large-slow pulse indicates deficiency due to severe wind; a thin-slow pulse indicates damp-bi syndrome. A coarse-slow pulse indicates weak Spleen Qi; a weak-slow pulse indicates Qi deficiency. A coarse-slow pulse at the left Cun position indicates Blood deficiency of the Shaoyin channel. A floating-slow pulse at the right Cun position indicates the residence of wind pathogen. A floating-slow pulse at the left Guan position indicates internal stirring of Liver Wind. A deep-slow pulse at the right Guan position indicates weakness of Earth (Spleen) and invasion by dampness. A slow-coarse pulse at the left Chi position indicates insufficiency of the Essence Palace (Kidney). A slow-thin pulse at the right Chi position indicates extreme decline of True Yang.
[Commentary] The slow pulse signifies breadth, comfort, and moderation, which is exactly opposite to the tight pulse (Jin Mai). In the Eight Trigrams, it corresponds to Kun; in the Five Elements, it belongs to Earth; in seasonal timing, it corresponds to the end of each season (Late Summer); in the human body, it corresponds to the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. If the Yang Cun and Yin Chi positions are equal in strength, appearing floating, large, and soft without any excess or deficiency, this is a harmonious pulse. Therefore, it is said that when the slow pulse is even and balanced, neither floating nor deep, neither large nor small, neither rapid nor sluggish, with a spirit of vitality and leisurely ease that is difficult to describe, this is the true Stomach Qi pulse. It is also stated that Earth is the mother of all things; if the Middle Jiao Qi is harmonized, hundred diseases will not arise. Furthermore, all types of pulses must contain the element of slowness, which is called Stomach Qi; if only the pulse of the Zang organ itself is seen without the harmonizing influence of Stomach Qi, the True Zang pulse will appear, indicating a short life expectancy. It is also said: "With Stomach Qi, there is life; without Stomach Qi, there is death." Thus, the significance of the slow pulse in pulse diagnosis is profound! Therefore, the slow pulse itself does not indicate disease; only by investigating the combined pulses can one determine the pathology. Qibo stated: "The Spleen belongs to Earth, an isolated Zang organ that irrigates the four directions. When functioning well, its signs are not visible; when malfunctioning, signs become apparent. If the pulse comes flowing like water, this indicates Excess, and the disease is external; if the pulse feels hard like a bird's beak, this indicates Deficiency, and the disease is internal. Excess causes heaviness in the four limbs; Deficiency causes obstruction and blockage of the nine orifices." Wang Shuhe in the *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic) stated: "During the time when the Spleen is prosperous, the pulse is large, gentle, and slow, named as the Normal Pulse. If instead a string-taut, thin, and long pulse is obtained, this is the Liver Wood overacting on Spleen Earth, Wood overcoming Earth, known as 'Thief Evil' (Zei Xie), which is fatal and untreatable. If instead a floating, coarse, and short pulse is obtained, this is the Lung Metal overacting on Spleen Earth, Child supporting Mother, known as 'Solid Evil' (Shi Xie); although ill, recovery will occur spontaneously. If instead a surging, large, and scattered pulse is obtained, this is the Heart Fire overacting on Spleen Earth, Mother returning to Child, known as 'Deficient Evil' (Xu Xie); although ill, it is easy to treat. If instead a deep, soft, and slippery pulse is obtained, this is the Kidney Water overacting on Spleen Earth, Water flooding Earth, known as 'Minor Evil' (Wei Xie); although ill, it will heal quickly." Gao Yangsheng's pseudo-apocryphal verses claim that the slow pulse governs symptoms such as Spleen heat, bad breath, regurgitation, toothache, and dreaming of ghosts; these are fabricated and unrelated to the slow pulse.