四促者。阳也。指下寻之极数。并居寸口曰促。渐加则死。渐退则生。
促者。阳也。坎之象也。夫促而取象于坎。何也坎。陷也。一阳而陷于二阴
之中也。促者数。而并于寸口中。有一止也。故取象于坎也。人身之阴阳
和。则脉道往来和缓。今曰指下寻之极数。是阳已盛矣。并居寸口。是阳
已盛而驱策其阴血。如人疾趋。时复一蹶也。所谓渐加则死者。阳愈亢
而阴愈竭。乃乘危而着鞭。则其死也必矣。若能渐退。则阴阳和合。有既
济之功。故曰渐退则生。
按脉经云。促脉来去数。时一止复来。
又按黎氏曰。阳邪上忤。故有偏盛。其脉按之有余。举之洪数。不游三关。
并居寸口。虽盛疾。必时一止而复来。谓之促。令人三焦不和。气逆而厥。
上盛下虚。上溢下绝。其候渐进者死。渐退者生。又刘守真曰。促脉者。阳
也。数而时一止也。主聚积气痞忧思所成。亦或热剧失下。则令脉促。下
之则平也。
促脉前来已出关。常居寸口血成斑。忽然渐退人生也。或若加时命在天。
关。阴阳之交也。已出关则尽溢于寸口矣。并居寸口。则阳并于上阳盛
则烈其阴血。而斑疹生焉。洁古曰。升多而不降。前曲后倨。如操带钩曰
死。渐退者。以阳得阴则解。加进之者。独阳脱阴。故知命在天也。池氏曰。
促脉急而数。其脉溢。关至寸口。乃水火相乘。而风壅血气衰。故发血斑。
其脉渐加溢进即死。退居本位即生。
按脉经云。寸口脉促上击者。曰肩背痛。
促脉属于阳脉。手指按压寻取时，脉搏跳动极其快速，且脉气聚集在寸口部位，这就是促脉。如果脉象逐渐加重则预后不良（主死），如果脉象逐渐减轻则预后良好（主生）。
促脉属于阳脉，是坎卦的意象。为什么促脉取象于坎卦呢？“坎”意为陷落，即一个阳爻陷落在两个阴爻中间。促脉的特点是数急，并且聚集在寸口，其中偶尔有一次停顿。因此取象于坎卦。人体内的阴阳调和，脉道的往来就会和缓从容。现在说手指按压寻取时脉搏极快，说明阳气已经亢盛；脉气聚集在寸口，说明阳气亢盛而驱策阴血，就像人急速奔跑时，偶尔会跌倒一样。所谓“逐渐加重则死”，是因为阳气越亢奋，阴液就越枯竭，这如同在危险时刻还要挥鞭加速，那么死亡是必然的。如果能够逐渐减退，则阴阳调和，起到既济（水火相交、阴阳平衡）的功效，所以说“逐渐减退则生”。
按《脉经》记载：促脉来去急促，时常出现一次停顿后又继续跳动。
又按黎氏所说：阳邪上逆，所以有偏盛的现象，其脉按之有余，举之洪大数急，不游走于三部九关，而是聚集在寸口。虽然盛大疾速，但必定偶尔停顿后又恢复跳动，称为促脉。这会导致三焦不和，气机逆乱而发生厥证，表现为上盛下虚，上部气血溢满而下部气血断绝。其征候如果是逐渐加重的则死，逐渐减退的则生。
另外刘守真说：促脉属于阳脉，特点是数急而偶尔停顿。主要主病为积聚、气痞以及忧思所成的病症。或者是热邪剧烈未能及时攻下，也会导致脉促，经过攻下治疗后脉象即可平复。
促脉向前冲出已越过关部，常停留在寸口，导致血液瘀滞形成斑疹。如果脉象忽然逐渐减退，病人就能生存；如果脉象若再加重，生命就悬于一线了。
关部是阴阳交汇的地方。脉气已出关则完全溢满于寸口。脉气并聚在寸口，则是阳气并于上部，阳气亢盛则会灼伤阴血，从而产生斑疹。洁古说：升发过多而降敛不足，脉象前曲后倨，像握着带钩一样僵硬，主死。脉象逐渐减退，是因为阳气得到阴液的制约而得以缓解；脉象加进，则是独阳脱离阴液，所以知道生命危在旦夕。池氏说：促脉急而数，脉气溢出，从关部至寸口，这是水火相乘，风邪壅滞，血气衰败，所以发生血斑。脉象逐渐加重溢出则死，退回本位则生。
按《脉经》记载：寸口脉促且向上冲击的，主肩背痛。
Cu (Hasty) Pulse belongs to Yang. When palpated with finger pressure, the pulse beats extremely rapidly, and the pulse qi gathers at the Cun (Inch) position; this is called Cu (Hasty) Pulse. If the pulse condition gradually worsens, death ensues; if it gradually improves, life is preserved.
Cu (Hasty) Pulse belongs to Yang and represents the image of Kan (Water/Abysmal). Why does Cu (Hasty) Pulse take its image from Kan? "Kan" means陷陷 (sinking/falling); it signifies one Yang line sinking between two Yin lines. The characteristic of Cu (Hasty) Pulse is rapidity, gathering at the Cun (Inch) position, with an occasional pause. Hence, it takes the image of Kan. When Yin and Yang in the human body are harmonious, the pulse flow is gentle and moderate. Now, stating that palpation reveals extreme rapidity indicates that Yang Qi is already hyperactive. Gathering at the Cun (Inch) position indicates that hyperactive Yang drives the Yin Blood, similar to a person running fast who occasionally stumbles. The statement "gradually worsening leads to death" occurs because as Yang becomes more hyperactive, Yin fluids become more depleted; this is like whipping a horse while it is in danger, making death inevitable. If it can gradually recede, Yin and Yang harmonize, achieving the功 of Ji Ji (Completion/After Completion), hence "gradually receding leads to life."
According to the *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic): Cu (Hasty) Pulse comes and goes rapidly, occasionally pausing before resuming.
Furthermore, according to Mr. Li: Yang pathogenic factors rebel upwards, causing excess. The pulse feels abundant upon pressing and is surging and rapid upon lifting, not wandering through the three Guan (Cinnabar) positions but gathering at the Cun (Inch) position. Although vigorous and rapid, it must occasionally pause and resume, which is termed Cu (Hasty) Pulse. This causes disharmony of the San Jiao (Triple Burner), rebellious Qi leading to Jue (Fainting/Cold Extremities), manifesting as excess above and deficiency below, overflow above and cutoff below. Prognosis: progressive worsening leads to death; gradual improvement leads to life.
Additionally, Liu Shouzhen stated: Cu (Hasty) Pulse is Yang in nature, characterized by rapidity with occasional pauses. It primarily indicates accumulations, Qi stagnation/blockage, and conditions formed by worry and overthinking. It may also result from severe heat failing to be purged timely, causing Cu (Hasty) Pulse; after purgation, the pulse returns to normal.
The Cu (Hasty) Pulse advances past the Guan (Bar) position, often residing at the Cun (Inch) position, causing blood stasis and forming macules/rashes. If the pulse suddenly recedes gradually, the patient lives; if it progresses further, life hangs in the balance.
The Guan (Bar) position is the intersection of Yin and Yang. Having passed the Guan, the pulse fully overflows into the Cun (Inch) position. Gathering at the Cun (Inch) position means Yang merges into the upper part; hyperactive Yang scorches Yin Blood, generating macules/rashes. Jieguo stated: Excessive ascending without descending, where the pulse is curved forward and stiff backward, like holding a hooked belt, indicates death. Gradual recession occurs because Yang finds relief through Yin; progression indicates solitary Yang detaching from Yin, thus knowing life is at stake. Chi Shi stated: Cu (Hasty) Pulse is urgent and rapid, overflowing from the Guan to the Cun position; this is Water and Fire multiplying each other, Wind stagnating, and Blood/Qi declining, leading to blood macules. Progressive overflow leads to death; returning to its original position leads to life.
According to the *Mai Jing*: When the Cun (Inch) position pulse is Cu (Hasty) and strikes upward, it indicates shoulder and back pain.