Library

[Floating Pulse] The Floating pulse belongs to Yang. It is superficial, located at the skin and hair level, resembling wood floating on water. It is abundant upon light palpation (lifting) but deficient upon heavy pressure (pressing).

The Floating pulse indicates Yang syndromes and Exterior diseases. [If appearing in the three autumn months in accordance with the season, it signifies health; however, if appearing in chronic illnesses, it is alarming.] The Slow pulse indicates Wind, the Rapid pulse indicates Heat, and the Tight pulse indicates Cold causing constraint. A Floating pulse that is forceful often indicates Wind-Heat [this represents an Exterior Excess pattern]. A Floating pulse that is forceless indicates an Exterior Deficiency pattern, resulting from Blood deficiency.

At the Cun position, a Floating pulse causes headache, dizziness, and internal Wind, or the accumulation of Wind-Phlegm in the chest. At the Guan position, it indicates Spleen Earth weakness combined with Liver Wood hyperactivity. At the Chi position, it indicates obstruction in urination and defecation in the Lower Jiao.

A Floating and vigorous pulse is Hong (Surging); a Floating and soft-large pulse is Xu (Deficient); a Floating and fine-soft pulse is Ru (Soggy); a Floating, Xian (Wiry), and Kou (Scallion-stem) pulse is Ge (Hollow/Drum-skin); a Floating pulse without root is San (Scattered); a Floating pulse with an empty center is Kou (Scallion-stem).

[Sinking Pulse] The Sinking pulse belongs to Yin. It is deep, located at the sinews and bones, resembling a stone sinking into water. It is abundant upon heavy pressure but deficient upon light palpation.

The Sinking pulse indicates Water retention in Yin meridians. A Rapid pulse indicates Heat, a Slow pulse indicates Cold, and a Slippery pulse indicates Phlegm. A Sinking pulse that is forceless indicates Interior Deficiency, characterized by deficiency and Qi stagnation. A Sinking pulse that is forceful indicates Interior Excess, characterized by accumulation and Cold coagulation.

At the Cun position, a Sinking pulse indicates Phlegm stagnation and Water retention in the chest [also indicating Blood disorders]. At the Guan position, it indicates pain due to Middle Jiao Cold obstruction. At the Chi position, it indicates turbid urine, spermatorrhea, diarrhea, and dysentery, as well as Kidney deficiency affecting the waist and Lower Yuan.

A Sinking and fine-soft pulse is Ruo (Weak); a Sinking and wiry-taut pulse is Lao (Firm); a Sinking pulse adhering to the bone is Fu (Hidden).

[Slow Pulse] The Slow pulse belongs to Yin. Its image represents insufficiency; it moves slowly, beating three times per respiration cycle.

The Slow pulse indicates Zang organ diseases or excessive Phlegm; careful examination can reveal chronic accumulations or masses. A Slow pulse that is forceful indicates Cold pain; a Slow pulse that is forceless indicates definite Deficiency-Cold.

At the Cun position, a Slow pulse indicates Upper Jiao Cold. At the Guan position, it indicates Middle Jiao Cold causing unbearable pain. At the Chi position, it indicates Kidney deficiency, heaviness in the waist and legs, incontinence, or hernia pulling to the testicles.

A Slow pulse that is not smooth is Se (Choppy); a Slow pulse with intermittent pauses is Jie (Knotted).

[Rapid Pulse] The Rapid pulse belongs to Yang. Its image represents excess; it beats six times per respiration cycle, moving excessively fast.

The Rapid pulse is Yang and indicates Heat. Treatment should focus on Ministerial Fire and Sovereign Fire. [Yang Rapid corresponds to Sovereign Fire, Yin Rapid corresponds to Ministerial Fire.] Excess patterns require cooling purgation [due to Excess Fire]; Deficiency patterns require tonification [due to forceless Deficient Fire]. However, Lung diseases in late autumn should fear the Rapid pulse [as the Lung is a Metal organ susceptible to thief pathogens, and Autumn is a destructive season for Metal].

At the Cun position, a Rapid pulse indicates sores in the throat, mouth, and tongue, hemoptysis, cough, and lung ulcers [Rapid and weak indicates Lung Flaccidity]. At the Guan position, it indicates Stomach Fire and Liver Fire. At the Chi position, formulas for nourishing Yin and descending Fire are indicated.

A Rapid and smooth pulse is Hua (Slippery); a Rapid and wiry-taut pulse is Jin (Tight); a Rapid pulse with intermittent pauses is Cu (Interrupted); a Rapid pulse like a bean is Dong (Agitated); a Rapid pulse reaching extremity is Ji (Hasty).

[Slippery Pulse] The Slippery pulse belongs to Yin within Yang. The Slippery pulse rotates smoothly, flowing freely, resembling pearls on a plate or dew on a lotus leaf.

The Slippery pulse is Yang but may indicate decline of Yuan Qi. Phlegm generates hundred diseases, and improper diet causes disasters. Upward, it causes vomiting and regurgitation; downward, it causes blood stasis. In women, if the menstrual cycle is regular and a Slippery pulse appears, pregnancy is certain.

At the Cun position, a Slippery pulse indicates Phlegm in the diaphragm causing vomiting, acid regurgitation, stiff tongue, or cough. At the Guan position, it indicates retained food and Heat in the Liver and Spleen. At the Chi position, observe diarrhea, dysentery, and strangury. [Slippery pulse indicates Phlegm-fluids: Floating-Slippery indicates Wind-Phlegm, Deep-Slippery indicates Food-Phlegm, Slippery-Rapid indicates Phlegm-Fire, Slippery-Short indicates retained food.]

[Choppy Pulse] The Choppy pulse belongs to Yin. The Choppy pulse is stagnant and rough, like a knife scraping bamboo. It exhibits Slowness, Fineness, and Shortness, all three indicating Deficiency.

The Choppy pulse results from Blood deficiency or Essence injury, manifesting as reverse stomachache, loss of Yang, profuse sweating, Blood Bi caused by Cold-Damp invading the Ying level, and amenorrhea in women unless pregnant. [Pregnancy involves fetal pathology due to lack of blood to nourish the fetus; non-pregnancy implies blood exhaustion.]

At the Cun position, a Choppy pulse indicates Heart deficiency and chest pain. At the Guan position, it indicates Stomach deficiency and flank distension. At the Chi position, it indicates injury to both Essence and Blood, intestinal constipation, strangury, or lower bleeding. [The Choppy pulse indicates diseases of Blood and Essence deficiency.]

The Lung, as an organ, has much Qi and little Blood; thus, a Choppy pulse is appropriate. The Kidney, as an organ, exclusively governs Essence and Blood; a Sinking-Choppy pulse at the Left Chi indicates Blood and Essence deficiency, leading to difficulty conceiving, applicable to both men and women.

[Deficient Pulse] The Deficient pulse combines four characteristics: Floating, Large, Slow, and Soft. Upon searching and pressing, it is barely visible.

A Deficient pulse with body heat indicates Summerheat injury. Spontaneous sweating [at Right Cun], palpitations [at Left Cun], and frequent fright/panic occur. Yin deficiency after sweating requires early treatment; nourishing Ying and tonifying Qi should not be delayed.

Blood failing to nourish the Heart manifests as a Deficient pulse at the Cun position. Abdominal distension and difficulty digesting food occur at the Guan position. [Long-term deficiency at Left Guan indicates Blood failing to nourish sinews, signifying Liver injury]. Bone-steaming, flaccidity, Bi syndrome, and Essence/Blood injury appear at the Shenmen positions [Chi pulses]. [Left Chi indicates Water deficiency, Right Chi indicates Fire deficiency].

The Deficient pulse differs from the Scattered pulse: upon pressing, the Deficient pulse remains soft but perceptible, whereas the Scattered pulse disappears completely. The Deficient pulse differs from the Soggy pulse: the Deficient pulse is Slow, Large, and forceless, while the Soggy pulse is Fine and forceless. The Deficient pulse differs from the Scallion-stem pulse: the Deficient pulse becomes softer with deeper pressure, while the Scallion-stem pulse is still perceptible upon heavy pressure. Qi belongs to Yang and dominates the Floating layer; Blood belongs to Yin and dominates the Sinking layer. If the Floating layer is large and the Sinking layer is empty, it indicates Blood deficiency.

[Excess Pulse] The Excess pulse belongs to Yang. The Excess pulse is forceful, large, long, and firm, responding strongly to touch, consistent across all three positions.

The Excess pulse is Yang, formed by Fire stagnation, manifesting as mania, delirium, frequent vomiting, Yang toxicity, or food injury, accompanied by constipation or Qi pain.

At the Cun position, an Excess pulse indicates Wind-Heat, sore throat, stiff tongue, and Qi filling the chest. At the Guan position, it indicates Stomach Heat and Middle Jiao fullness [Excess at Right Guan may indicate Liver Fire causing flank pain]. At the Chi position, it indicates unrelenting pain in the waist and intestines.

The Excess pulse differs from the Tight pulse: the Tight pulse is tense and uncomfortable, wide and full but not soft. The Excess pulse differs from the Firm pulse: the Firm pulse appears only in the Sinking layer, while the Excess pulse appears in all three layers.

[Long Pulse] The Long pulse belongs to Yang. The Long pulse is distant, with both ends even, going straight up and down, like tracing a long bamboo pole.

The Long pulse is distant and uniform in size; if abnormal, it resembles a pulled rope. Unless it is intestinal toxin or mania, it indicates deep Yangming Heat. [The Long pulse indicates Excess syndromes.]

The Classic states: "Long means Qi is regulated." One must know that a Long and harmonious pulse is a Normal pulse, while a Long and hard/full pulse is a Pathological pulse. The head and tail correspond, unlike other pulses that are uneven. All Excess, Firm, Wiry, and Tight pulses accompany the Long pulse; thus, the Long pulse indicates Excess syndromes.

[Short Pulse] The Short pulse belongs to Yin. The Short pulse is Choppy and Small, with both ends drooping and the middle protruding, failing to fill the pulse position.

The Short pulse is found by searching all three positions. Short and Slippery-Rapid indicates alcohol damaging the Spirit. Floating indicates Blood stagnation; Sinking indicates Pi (fullness/blockage). Cun indicates headache; Chi indicates abdominal pain.

The Classic states: "Short means Qi disease." Since Qi belongs to Yang and is abundant, a turbid Short pulse indicates Qi decline. The Short pulse is not severed at both ends, but rather droops at the ends and protrudes in the middle, remaining connected. The Classic states: "Short means Qi disease"; the Short pulse indicates Insufficiency syndromes.

[Surging Pulse] The Surging pulse belongs to Yang. The Surging pulse is extremely large, resembling floodwater, coming vigorously and departing weakly, overflowing the fingers.

The Surging pulse indicates Yang Excess and corresponding Blood deficiency. Blazing Ministerial Fire indicates Heat diseases. Fullness and stomach reversal require early treatment; Yin deficiency with diarrhea/dysentery is worrying.

At the Cun position, a Surging pulse indicates Heart Fire blazing in the Upper Jiao. When the Lung pulse is Surging, Metal cannot withstand it. Liver Fire and Stomach Heat are observed at the Guan position. Kidney deficiency and Yin Fire are seen at the Chi position.

[Micro Pulse] The Micro pulse belongs to Yin. The Micro pulse is extremely fine and extremely soft, seeming present yet absent, on the verge of disappearing but not gone.

When Qi and Blood are micro, the pulse is micro. Chills [Yang micro], fever [Yin micro], and profuse sweating occur. In men, it indicates extreme fatigue and various deficiency conditions; in women, it indicates metrorrhagia and leukorrhea.

At the Cun position, a Micro pulse indicates shortness of breath or heart fright. At the Guan position, a Micro pulse indicates chest fullness. At the Chi position, it indicates weak Essence and Blood, chills, resolving jaundice, and painful groaning. [The Micro pulse indicates chronic deficiency and weak Blood; thus, Yang micro causes chills, Yin micro causes fever.]

Light palpation feeling empty indicates Yang Qi decline; heavy palpation feeling near-extinction indicates Yin Qi extinction. The Micro pulse is vague, while the Fine pulse is distinct; thus, the Fine pulse is slightly larger than the Micro pulse.

[Fine Pulse] The Fine pulse belongs to Yin. The Fine pulse is straight and soft, continuous and thin, resembling a silk thread, more distinct than the Micro pulse.

The Fine pulse, continuous and thin, indicates decline of Blood and Qi, various deficiencies, labor injuries, and emotional disharmony. If not Dampness invading the waist and Kidneys, it indicates Essence injury and sweating.

At the Cun position, a Fine pulse indicates frequent vomiting [Left Cun Fine indicates palpitations and insomnia]. Entering the Guan position indicates abdominal distension and Stomach deficiency [Left Guan Fine indicates Liver Yin exhaustion]. Meeting the Fine pulse at the Chi position indicates cold in the Dantian [Right Chi]. Diarrhea, dysentery, and spermatorrhea are called Yin collapse [Left Chi].

The Fine pulse indicates Blood scarcity and Qi decline; thus, patients with hematemesis/hematochezia who have a Deep-Fine pulse survive. Those overworked also have a Fine pulse.

[Soggy Pulse] The Soggy pulse belongs to Yang within Yin. The Soggy pulse is Fine and Soft, appearing in the Floating layer, visible upon lifting but empty upon pressing.

The Soggy pulse indicates Blood loss and Yin deficiency. The Sea of Marrow and Dantian are secretly depleted. Night sweats soak the bones like rain. Blood collapse or Spleen dampness infiltration occurs.

At the Cun position, a Soggy pulse indicates Yang micro and spontaneous sweating [Left Cun Soggy indicates forgetfulness and fright]. At the Guan position, it addresses Blood deficiency [Right Guan Soggy indicates Spleen deficiency with Damp infiltration]. At the Chi position, it indicates severe Essence/Blood deficiency and Cold; warming and tonifying True Yin can restore health.

The Soggy pulse's floating softness resembles the Deficient pulse, but the Deficient pulse is large while the Soggy is small. The Soggy pulse's fineness resembles the Weak pulse, but the Weak is in the Sinking layer while the Soggy is in the Floating layer. The Soggy pulse's rootlessness resembles the Scattered pulse, but the Scattered pulse goes from Floating-Large to Deep-Extinction, while the Soggy pulse goes from Floating-Small to invisible. From large to nothing is fully ominous; from small to nothing is half auspicious/half ominous. The Soggy pulse indicates Blood deficiency and Damp injury.

[Weak Pulse] The Weak pulse belongs to Yin. The Weak pulse is Fine and Small, appearing in the Sinking layer, absent upon lifting but obtained upon pressing.

The Weak pulse indicates Yin deficiency and Yang Qi decline, chills, fever, sinew/bone flaccidity, frequent fright/sweating, and mental depletion. Tonifying Qi and regulating Ying requires urgent treatment.

At the Cun position, a Weak pulse indicates Yang deficiency. At the Guan position, it indicates Stomach weakness and Spleen decline. To seek Yang sinking [Right Chi] and Yin deficiency [Left Chi], one must examine the Shenmen positions. [The Weak pulse indicates Qi deficiency syndromes; Yang sinks into Yin, causing chills and fever. The Weak pulse governs sinews, the Deep pulse governs bones. Qi deficiency leads to Weak pulse: Cun Weak is Yang deficiency, Chi Weak is Yin deficiency, Guan Weak is Stomach deficiency.]

[Tight Pulse] The Tight pulse belongs to Yin within Yang. The Tight pulse is forceful, flicking left and right, like twisted ropes or cut tight strings.

The Tight pulse governs various pains due to Cold, wheezing/cough, wind-epilepsy, and vomiting cold Phlegm. Floating-Tight Exterior Cold requires release via sweating; Tight-Deep Cold requires warming and dispersing for natural relief.

At the Cun position, distinguish between Renying [Left] and Qikou [Right] [take one cun anterior to the Guan]. At the Guan position, it indicates deep heart/abdominal pain [Left Guan Floating-Tight indicates Cold Damage, Right Guan Floating-Tight indicates Food Injury]. At the Chi position, a Tight pulse indicates Yin Cold, definitely Ben Tun (fleeing tumor) or Hernia pain. [Tight indicates Cold and Pain; Renying Tight indicates Cold injury, Qikou Tight indicates Food injury.]

The Tight pulse's tautness and urgency resemble the Wiry pulse, but is more taut and twists like a rope. [Zhong E Floating-Tight and Cough Deep-Tight both indicate death.]

[Relaxed Pulse] The Relaxed pulse belongs to Yin. The Relaxed pulse has four beats per respiration, moving harmoniously, like a gentle breeze on felt or willows in early spring.

The Relaxed pulse indicates Ying decline and Wei excess, or Wind, Dampness, or Spleen deficiency. Upward it causes neck stiffness; downward it causes flaccidity/Bi. Differentiate by Floating/Deep, Large/Small.

At the Cun position, a Relaxed pulse indicates Wind pathogen causing neck/back constraint. At the Guan position, it indicates Wind vertigo and Stomach deficiency. At the Shenmen position, it indicates loose stools or Wind constipation, or staggering gait. [Floating-Relaxed is Wind, Deep-Relaxed is Damp, Relaxed-Large is Qi deficiency, Relaxed-Fine is Damp-Bi, Relaxed-Choppy is Spleen deficiency, Relaxed-Weak is Qi deficiency.]

A Relaxed pulse that is harmonious, neither Floating nor Deep, neither Large nor Small, neither Rapid nor Slow, responsive and neutral, joyful and leisurely, is the True Stomach Qi pulse. All pulses must contain Relaxedness, called Stomach Qi. Spring pulse slightly Wiry, Summer pulse slightly Surging, Autumn pulse slightly Hairy, Winter pulse slightly Solid are all Normal pulses. Only obtaining the Zang pulse alone, such as purely Wiry, Surging, Hairy, or Stone-like, without Stomach Qi to harmonize, reveals the True Zang pulse, indicating death. Thus, "With Stomach Qi there is life; without Stomach Qi there is death." Therefore, the Relaxed pulse does not indicate disease itself; only by examining accompanying pulses can disease be diagnosed.

[Wiry Pulse] The Wiry pulse belongs to Yin within Yang. The Wiry pulse resembles a lute string, light, void, slippery, straight, long, and prominent under the finger.

The Wiry pulse corresponds to the East Liver/Gallbladder meridians, indicating fluid retention, Phlegm, Cold/Heat, and Malaria. Differentiate by Floating/Deep, Slow/Rapid; Single/Double indicates severity.

At the Cun position, a Wiry pulse indicates headache and diaphragmatic Phlegm [Left Cun Heart pain]. Cold/Heat masses are observed at Left Guan. Right Guan indicates Stomach Cold and heart/abdominal pain. Chi position indicates Yin hernia and leg cramps.

The Wiry pulse is the image of early spring, when weather is still cold, like a slightly tightened string. The Long pulse is the image of late spring, pure Yang without cold, like a straight tree trunk.

Wiry and soft indicates mild disease; Wiry and hard indicates severe disease. Both Guans Wiry is called Double Wiry; if unable to eat, Wood attacks Earth, Earth is ruined, and it is incurable.

[Agitated Pulse] The Agitated pulse belongs to Yang. The Agitated pulse has no head or tail, shape like a bean, trembling, always accompanying Slippery and Rapid qualities.

The Agitated pulse governs pain and fright. Sweating due to Yang agitation [anterior to Guan is Yang], Heat due to Yin agitation [posterior to Guan is Yin], or diarrhea/dysentery and cramps. Men suffer essence loss; women suffer uterine bleeding.

The Classic states: "If the woman's Hand-Shaoyin Agitated pulse is pronounced, she is pregnant." The Agitated pulse droops at both ends and protrudes in the middle, resembling the Short pulse, but the Short pulse is Yin, not Rapid/Hard/Slippery, whereas the Agitated pulse is Yang, and is Rapid, Hard, and Slippery.

[Interrupted Pulse] The Interrupted pulse belongs to Yang. The Interrupted pulse is hurried, pausing occasionally during Rapid beats, like running and stumbling; progression leads to death.

The Interrupted pulse treats Fire diseases [Left Cun Heart Fire, Right Cun Lung Fire]. Analyze Qi, Blood, Phlegm, Food, and Fluids [Right Guan Food stagnation, Left Guan Blood stagnation]. Frequent wheezing/cough indicates Phlegm accumulation; mania, macules, or toxic abscesses may occur.

[Knotted Pulse] The Knotted pulse belongs to Yin. The Knotted pulse is condensed, pausing occasionally during Slow beats, moving slowly and substituting, capturing the essence.

The Knotted pulse is Slow with occasional pauses; Turbid Yin prevails, threatening Yang loss. Floating indicates Qi stagnation; Sinking indicates accumulation. Sweat or purge methods must be chosen wisely.

The Knotted pulse arises from Qi and Blood coagulation, old Phlegm stagnation causing groaning. Internal accumulations/masses separate into carbuncles/abscesses; hernias/masses cause harm, belonging to Yin syndromes.

Floating layer Knotted is Yang Knotted; Sinking layer Knotted is Yin Knotted. Knotted and forceful square-shaped indicates accumulation; Knotted and forceless indicates true Qi decline, requiring warming and tonification.

[Substitute Pulse] The Substitute pulse belongs to Yin. The Substitute pulse is alternating, pausing at regular intervals, unable to return immediately, moving again after a long time.

The Substitute pulse originates from Zang Qi decline, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and Lower Yuan deficiency. Or it indicates vomiting/diarrhea Middle Jiao disease, or pregnancy in women for three months. Two beats then pause indicates 3-4 days; 3-4 beats then pause indicates 6-7 days; 5-6 beats then pause indicates 7-8 days. Deduce sequentially without error.

Cold Damage palpitations, Cholera confusion, severe trauma, and three-month pregnancy do not forbid the Substitute pulse. Severe pain often shows Substitute pulse; elderly with Substitute pulse survive, young with Substitute pulse die.

[Hollow/Drum-skin Pulse] The Hollow pulse belongs to Yin within Yang. The Hollow pulse is Large, Wiry, and Urgent, obtained upon light palpation, empty upon pressing, like a drum skin.

The Hollow pulse feels like pressing a drum skin; Kou and Xian combine indicating Cold and Deficiency. Women suffer miscarriage and metrorrhagia; men suffer Ying deficiency or nocturnal emissions.

Both Hollow and Firm pulses are Large and Wiry; Hollow is Floating, Firm is Deep; Hollow is Deficient, Firm is Excess; forms and symptoms differ. Three-position Hollow pulse: chronic illness leads to death, acute illness leads to survival.

[Firm Pulse] The Firm pulse belongs to Yang within Yin. The Firm pulse is in the Sinking layer, Large, Wiry, and Solid; Floating and Middle layers yield nothing.

Cold makes Firm and solid with Interior Excess. Abdominal/heart Cold pain due to Wood attacking Spleen. What harm do hernias/masses do? But avoid in Blood loss and Yin deficiency.

Both Firm and Hidden pulses are in the Sinking layer, but Hidden requires pushing sinews to bone to see form; Firm requires slight heavy pressure to feel full-force under fingers.

[Scattered Pulse] The Scattered pulse belongs to Yin. The Scattered pulse is Floating and Chaotic, having exterior but no interior, Middle layer gradually empty, extinct upon pressing. [Gradually heavier yields less, gradually lighter yields more.]

The Scattered pulse flies like scattered catkins, coming and going不定ly, difficult to align. Childbirth indicates life sign, fetus indicates abortion; chronic illness meeting this need not treat.

Left Cun palpitations, Right Cun sweating. Overflowing drink at Left Guan should be Soft-Scattered. Right Guan Soft-Scattered indicates edema. Scattered at both Chi positions indicates soul severance.

The Scattered pulse is the diagnosis of Kidney extinction; the Substitute pulse is the diagnosis of Spleen extinction. The Kidney pulse is naturally Deep, but Scattered is undetectable upon pressing, extinguishing the先天 (Pre-heaven) origin. The Spleen pulse governs trust/timing, but Substitute pauses without missing its period, extinguishing the 后天 (Post-heaven) generation.

[Scallion-stem Pulse] The Scallion-stem pulse belongs to Yin within Yang. Kou is a plant name, resembling green onions, present in Floating and Sinking layers, but empty in the Middle layer.

The Kou shape is Floating, Large, and Soft like a scallion; pressing sides are full but center is empty. Fire invading Yang meridians causes upper bleeding; Heat soaking Yin collaterals causes lower red flow.

Cun Kou indicates blood loss in the chest. Meeting Kou at Guan indicates empty Blood organs. Seeing Kou at Chi indicates lower bleeding, red strangury, red dysentery, leakage, and metrorrhagia.

Ying flows within vessels; vessels take Blood as form. The Kou pulse is empty in the center, the image of blood loss.

[Hidden Pulse] The Hidden pulse belongs to Yin. The Hidden pulse is concealed, deeper than Sinking, requiring pushing sinews to bone to obtain form.

The Hidden pulse indicates Cholera with frequent vomiting. Abdominal pain is mostly due to retained food. Retained fluids and old Phlegm form accumulations. Disperse Cold and warm the Interior without delay.

Food stagnation in the chest causes Hidden pulse at both Cuns. Wanting to vomit but unable, constantly unsettled. Guan position abdominal pain is heavy and deep. Posterior Guan hernia pain breaks the abdomen.

Cold Damage wanting to vomit indicates Yang is about to resolve. Cold limbs and abdominal pain indicate Yin syndrome.

[Hasty Pulse] The Hasty pulse belongs to Yang. The Hasty pulse is urgent, the extreme of Rapid, beating seven to eight times per respiration, pulse flow thin and rapid.

The Hasty pulse indicates Yang extremity and Yin extinction. The pulse is called Li Jing (departing from the vessel), soul and spirit separate. Gradual progression to Hasty indicates Hyperactive Fire; death occurs within morning and evening.

Strange Pulses Sparrow-pecking comes four or five pecks continuously [pauses after 3-5 beats, then resumes, like a sparrow pecking food]. House-leak falls a drop after a short while [one beat after a long time, like water dripping from a leaking roof]. Striking stones come hard and scatter quickly [coming from between bones crackling, like fingers striking stones]. Falling fingers scatter like untying a rope [scattered like untied cords]. Fish-swimming seems present yet absent [floating suddenly sinks once, like fish swimming, seeming present yet absent]. Minnow-swimming suddenly leaps in stillness [still suddenly becomes vigorous, like a minnow leaping in still water]. Tell physicians to look carefully; seeing one of the six pulses, do not administer medicine.

True Zang Pulse When the True Zang pulse appears, the time of death is decided.

Liver disease shows Wiry pulse, Wiry and taut like touching a blade edge; True Liver pulse appears. Geng day worsens, Xin day dies, dying at Shen/You hours. Heart disease shows Surging pulse, Surging and turbulent like holding a belt hook; True Heart pulse appears. Ren day worsens, Gui day dies, dying at Hai/Zi hours. Spleen disease shows Soft pulse, coming like a leaking roof or flowing water, relaxed without pulsation; True Spleen pulse appears. Jia day worsens, Yi day dies, dying at Yin/Mao hours. Lung disease shows Choppy pulse, Choppy and light/short like wind blowing feathers; True Lung pulse appears. Bing day worsens, Ding day dies, dying at Wu/Si hours. Kidney disease shows Stone pulse, Stone and pounding like a sparrow pecking; True Kidney pulse appears. Wu day worsens, Ji day dies. Dies at Chen/Xu/Chou/Wei hours. Those who pass the time, Cang Gong said they can eat.