凡 瘕、积聚、痰凝、水溢、 肿、痞满、喘促、咳逆、蓄血、停食、风热瘾疹、寒
湿筋骨
疼痛、心胃气痛,以及忧愁、抑郁、大怒、久思、久坐、夜深不寐,与夫因病过服凉泄,胃
气遏伏不通,妇人月闭、妊娠,脉皆常有停止,有停一二至者,有停二、三十至而复来者,
即仲景所谓厥脉也。又小儿脉多雀斗不匀,此其多寡疏密之数,举不足为吉凶之据也。详考
其辨,盖有四端;一察其不停之至,应指之有力无力,起伏之有势无势也。力与势盛,即为
有神;力与势衰,即为无神。一察其停至之顷,是在脉气下伏之后,其力不能外鼓而然者,
是为邪所遏,阳不能嘘也;若在脉气上来之后,其力不能内返,因从指下即散,如弦之绝,
而不见其下去者,是元根已离,阴不能吸,其余气游弋经络之中而将外脱也。一察其停至之
至,是于脉气下伏之后,全不能起,径少一至,是邪气内结也;若非全不能起,已至中途,
不能上挺,指下喘喘然摇摆而去者,是中气内陷不振,而将下脱也,稍迟即当变见虾游、鱼
翔之象矣。一察其既停之后,复来之至,将起未起之际,有努力上挣艰涩难起之意者,即知
其停是邪气所阻也;若起伏自然,如常流利,略无努挣艰涩之情,是其停为元根已离,其余
气徘徊于三焦胸腹之空中,进退无定,而将上脱也,稍迟即当变见雀啄、屋漏之象矣。更察
其脉之形,无论为紧敛,为洪大,但能通长匀浓,应指有力,高下停匀,或来微衰而去盛者
吉也;若应指少力,来盛去衰,及宽大中挟一细线,指下挺亘不移,或上驶如驰如射;又断
而累累如珠,及指下如参量线不能敛聚者,是中气败散,为痰所隔而不合,即所谓解索也。
故有偶停一二至,而即决其必死者,为其气败而不续也;有久停二三十至,而仍决其可治者
,为其气闭而内伏也。更察其证,有病之人必痰塞气逼,不得宣畅,神识昏迷,谵妄躁扰,
狂越可骇者,吉也;若气高不下,时时眩目,及神识清明而静者,凶也。无病之人,必胸膈
不清,肋胀腹痛,气闷不舒,心中惊惕,寐中肢掣,夜梦纷纭,及见恶物入暗洞者,吉也;
若四肢无力,稍动即喘,气高不能吸纳,胸中时时如饥而又不欲食,二便清利频数者,凶也
Generally speaking, in cases of *jia* (masses with fixed location), *ji ju* (accumulations and aggregations), phlegm coagulation, water overflow, edema, epigastric fullness and obstruction, panting and shortness of breath, cough with reversed qi, blood stasis, food retention, wind-heat urticaria, pain in sinews and bones due to cold-dampness, qi pain in the heart and stomach, as well as sorrow, depression, great anger, prolonged thinking, prolonged sitting, insomnia at night, and conditions where excessive use of cooling and purgative medicines for illness has suppressed and trapped Stomach Qi causing blockage, or in women with amenorrhea and pregnancy, the pulse often exhibits interruptions. There are instances of one or two missed beats, or interruptions of twenty to thirty beats before resuming. This is what Zhang Zhongjing referred to as "Jue Pulse" (Pulse of Reversal). Furthermore, children's pulses are often irregular like a sparrow pecking; the variation in frequency and density is insufficient basis for determining prognosis. A detailed examination of differentiation reveals four aspects: First, observe the pulse when it is not interrupted, assessing whether it is forceful or feeble upon palpation, and whether its rising and falling possesses momentum. Strong force and momentum indicate the presence of Shen (Spirit/Vitality); weak force and momentum indicate the absence of Shen. Second, observe the moment of interruption. If the pause occurs after the pulse qi sinks and lies hidden, because the force cannot outwardly鼓动 (surge), this indicates obstruction by pathogenic factors, with Yang Qi unable to exhale. If the pause occurs after the pulse qi rises, but the force fails to return inward, dissipating immediately under the fingers like a broken string without a descending phase, this indicates that the root of Yuan Qi (Original Qi) has detached, Yin Qi cannot inhale, and residual qi wanders within the meridians, impending external collapse. Third, observe the specific beat that is missed. If, after the pulse qi sinks, it completely fails to rise, directly missing one beat, this indicates internal knotting of pathogenic qi. If it does not completely fail to rise but reaches the midpoint and cannot thrust upward, feeling erratic and swaying under the fingers, this indicates sinking and failure of Middle Qi, impending downward collapse; shortly thereafter, it may transform into the appearance of "Shrimp Swimming" or "Fish Floating" pulses. Fourth, observe the returning beat after the pause. At the moment just before rising, if there is an effortful struggle and difficulty in rising, it indicates obstruction by pathogenic qi. If the rising and falling are natural and smooth, lacking any sense of forced struggle, it indicates that the pause results from detached Yuan Qi roots, with residual qi hovering in the void of the San Jiao (Triple Burner), chest, and abdomen, indecisive in movement, impending upward collapse; shortly thereafter, it may transform into the appearance of "Sparrow Pecking" or "House Leaking" pulses. Additionally, observe the pulse shape. Whether tight and constricted or large and surging, if it is continuous, uniform, thick, forceful upon palpation, even in height, or slightly weak on arrival but strong on departure, it is auspicious. If it is slightly weak upon palpation, strong on arrival and weak on departure, or contains a thin thread within a broad pulse, remaining rigid and immobile under the fingers, or rushing upward like running or shooting; or if it breaks and beads up like pearls, or feels like a measuring line that cannot gather, this indicates the dissipation of Middle Qi, blocked by phlegm preventing convergence, known as "Untying the Cord" pulse. Therefore, an occasional pause of one or two beats leading to a verdict of certain death is due to failed Qi failing to continue; a long pause of twenty to thirty beats still deemed treatable is due to closed Qi lying hidden internally. Further observe the symptoms: In patients, if there is phlegm obstruction and Qi compression preventing free flow, with unconsciousness, delirium, restlessness, and terrifying mania, this is auspicious. If Qi rises excessively without descending, frequent dizziness, yet consciousness remains clear and quiet, this is ominous. In healthy individuals (or those without severe disease), if there is unclear sensation in the chest and diaphragm, distending pain in the ribs and abdomen, stifling Qi, mental apprehension, limb twitching during sleep, vivid dreams, and seeing evil objects entering dark holes, this is auspicious. If there is weakness in the four limbs, panting upon slight exertion, excessive Qi rising unable to be inhaled, a constant hunger-like sensation in the chest without desire to eat, and frequent clear urination and defecation, this is ominous.