七情之脉。内伤五志。喜则脉缓。悲短忧涩。思结恐沉。惊动怒急。七脉宜先。审而处
治。
妇人之脉。以血为本。血旺易胎。气旺难孕。少阴动甚。谓之有子。尺脉滑利。妊娠可
喜。
滑疾不散。胎必三月。但疾不散。五月可别。左疾为男。右疾为女。女腹如箕。男腹如斧。
欲产之脉。其至离经。水下乃产。未下勿惊。新产之脉。缓滑为吉。实大弦牢。有证则逆。
岐伯曰∶凡人形瘦脉大。胸中多气死。形盛脉细。少气不足以息者危。形气相得者生。
三五
不调者病。人有强弱盛衰之不一。而脉实应焉。脉有阴阳虚实之不同。而病实应焉。脉病形
证相应而不相反。每万举而万全少有乖张良工不能施其巧矣。故脉之于病。有宜有不宜。为
医不可以不辨也。左有病而右痛。右有病而左痛。上病下痛。下病上痛。此为逆。死不可治
。腹胀脉浮大生。沉小死。壮热脉浮大有力生。无力及沉微小死。癫痫脉亦然。谵语洪大生
。厥逆微小死。暴忤脉实大生。虚弱伏细死。中毒洪大紧急生。微细不齐危。
头痛浮大安。短涩危。吐血发热洪大生。细微死。不发热细少生。洪大危。伤寒发热后脉沉静者生。洪
躁危。自汗脉虚细安。躁盛危。厥逆沉涩生浮大危。诸失血小弱生。洪大危。久病脉细软
生
。洪大危。泻利微细弱生。浮大危。滞下洪大数或缓生。微小弱危。产后微小生。洪大数危
。胎前忌微小涩。咳嗽浮大缓生。沉弦小危。细疾结代死。中风口噤浮迟身静者生。洪数搏
指
气粗者死。上气喘急。面目俱浮脉浮滑手足温者生。脉涩小肢厥者死。疮疽洪大生。沉细危
。既
溃脉静安。溃后洪大危。阳病得阴脉。阴病得阳脉。皆死。消渴诸疽数大生。虚细死。霍乱
浮洪生。虚细死。诸水浮缓生。数疾死。沉迟小死。痿痹紧急或中病脉坚。外病脉涩。汗出
脉盛。虚劳心数。风家脾缓。人瘦脉大而喘。形盛脉微短气。更有伤寒厥利而脉不至。脉微
厥冷烦躁。脉迟而反消食。与夫人短脉长。人长脉短。人滑脉涩。人涩脉滑。皆死脉也。
The pulses associated with the Seven Emotions (Joy, Anger, Worry, Thought, Sorrow, Fear, Fright) stem from internal injury to the Five Zhi (Spiritual Activities). Joy causes the pulse to be slow and loose; sorrow makes it short; worry makes it choppy; excessive thought causes knotting; fear causes sinking; fright causes agitation; anger causes rapidity. These seven types of pulses should be carefully examined first, followed by appropriate treatment.
In women, the pulse is rooted in Blood. Abundant Blood facilitates conception, while abundant Qi makes pregnancy difficult. When the Shaoyin pulse (referring to the Chi position on the wrist, corresponding to the Kidney/Heart) beats vigorously, it indicates pregnancy. A slippery and smooth pulse at the Chi position is a auspicious sign of gestation.
A pulse that is slippery and rapid without scattering suggests the fetus is three months old. If only rapid without scattering, the gender can be distinguished at five months. A rapid pulse on the left side indicates a male fetus; on the right side, a female fetus. The abdomen of a woman carrying a female resembles a wide basket (Ji), while that of a man resembles an axe handle (Fu).
The pulse before delivery deviates from the regular pattern (Li Jing Mai). Delivery occurs after the waters break; do not panic if the waters have not yet broken. After fresh delivery, a slow and smooth pulse is auspicious. A solid, large, wiry, or deep-firm pulse accompanied by symptoms indicates a adverse prognosis (Ni).
Qibo stated: Generally, if a person is emaciated but the pulse is large, with excessive Qi stagnation in the chest, death will ensue. If a person is robust but the pulse is thin, with insufficient Qi to breathe, the condition is critical. Survival is indicated when the physical form and Qi are harmonious. Disease arises when the pulse is irregular (three-five discordance). Humans vary in strength and decline, which the pulse reflects accurately. Pulses differ in Yin-Yang and Deficiency-Excess, corresponding to diseases. When the pulse, disease, physical form, and symptoms correspond without contradiction, every treatment succeeds completely. Any deviation renders even a skilled physician ineffective. Therefore, one must distinguish whether the pulse is suitable or unsuitable for the disease. Pain on the left when the disease is on the right, pain on the right when the disease is on the left, pain below when the disease is above, and pain above when the disease is below—these are termed "Reverse" (Ni) patterns, which are incurable and fatal. Abdominal distension with a floating and large pulse indicates survival; a sinking and small pulse indicates death. High fever with a floating, large, and forceful pulse indicates survival; lack of force, or sinking/small pulse indicates death. Epilepsy follows the same principle. Delirium with a洪大 (Hong Da, Surging-Large) pulse indicates survival; Jue Ni (Cold Extremities) with a small pulse indicates death. Sudden violent anger with a solid and large pulse indicates survival; weak, hidden, and fine pulse indicates death. Poisoning with a洪大 and urgent pulse indicates survival; micro-fine and irregular pulse indicates danger.
Headache with a floating and large pulse indicates safety; short and choppy pulse indicates danger. Hematemesis with fever and a洪大 pulse indicates survival; fine pulse indicates death. Hematemesis without fever and a fine, sparse pulse indicates survival;洪大 pulse indicates danger. After Shang Han (Cold Damage) fever subsides, a calm pulse indicates survival;洪躁 (Surging-Irritable) pulse indicates danger. Spontaneous sweating with a deficient and fine pulse indicates safety; vigorous/restless pulse indicates danger. Jue Ni with a sinking and choppy pulse indicates survival; floating pulse indicates danger. All blood loss conditions with a small and weak pulse indicate survival;洪大 pulse indicates danger. Chronic illness with a fine and soft pulse indicates survival;洪大 pulse indicates danger. Diarrhea/dysentery with a micro-fine and weak pulse indicates survival; floating pulse indicates danger. Dysentery (Zhi Xia) with a洪大, rapid, or slow pulse indicates survival; micro-small and weak pulse indicates danger. Postpartum with a micro pulse indicates survival;洪大 and rapid pulse indicates danger. During pregnancy, micro, small, and choppy pulses are contraindicated. Cough with a floating, large, and slow pulse indicates survival; sinking, wiry, and small pulse indicates danger; fine, rapid, Ji Dai (Knotted-Regularly Intermittent) pulse indicates death. Stroke with locked jaw, floating and slow pulse, and still body indicates survival;洪数 (Surging-Rapid) pulse beating against the finger and coarse breathing indicates death. Upper jiao asthma with急促 (rapid) breathing, swollen face and eyes, floating and slippery pulse, and warm hands and feet indicates survival;涩小 (Choppy-Small) pulse and cold extremities indicate death. Carbuncles and sores with a洪大 pulse indicate survival; sinking and fine pulse indicates danger. After ulceration, a quiet pulse indicates safety;洪大 pulse after ulceration indicates danger. Yang disease presenting with Yin pulse, or Yin disease presenting with Yang pulse, both result in death. Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst) and various sores with rapid and large pulses indicate survival; deficient and fine pulses indicate death. Huo Luan (Colic-Cholera) with a floating and洪 pulse indicates survival; deficient and fine pulse indicates death. Various edema conditions with floating and slow pulses indicate survival; rapid and疾 (hurried) pulses indicate death; sinking, slow, and small pulses indicate death. Wei Bi (Atrophy-Fibrosis) with urgent or firm pulses matching the disease course, or external diseases with choppy pulses, suggest poor outcomes. Sweating with a vigorous pulse suggests poor outcome. Xu Lao (Deficiency Consumption) with a rapid pulse. Wind disorders with a slow spleen pulse. Emaciated persons with large pulses and panting indicate poor outcomes. Robust persons with micro pulses and shortness of breath indicate poor outcomes. Additionally, Shang Han with Jue Li (cold extremities and diarrhea) and absent pulse, micro pulse with cold extremities and irritability, slow pulse with apparent appetite, as well as short person with long pulse, long person with short pulse, smooth person with choppy pulse, and choppy person with smooth pulse—all these are death pulses.