体象 促为急促，数时一止；如趋而蹶，进则必死。
主病 促因火亢，亦因物停。左寸见促，心火炎炎。右寸见促，肺鸣咯咯。促见左关，血滞为殃。
促居右关，脾宫食滞。左尺逢之，遗滑堪忧。右尺逢之，灼热为定。
【按】促之为义，于急促之中时见一歇止，为阳盛之象也。黎氏曰∶“如蹶之趣，徐疾不常”，深得其
义。王叔和云∶“促脉来去数，时一止，复来”，亦颇明快。夫人身之气血，贯注于经脉之间者，刻刻流行，绵
绵不息，凡一昼夜当五十营，不应数者，名曰狂生。其应于脉之至数者，如鼓应桴，罔或有忒也。脏气乖违，
则稽留凝泣，阻其营运之机，因而歇止者，其症为轻。若真元衰惫，则阳弛阴涸，失其揆度之常，因而歇止
者，其症为重。然促脉之故，得于脏气乖违者，十之六七；得于真元衰惫者，十之二三。或因气滞，或因血
凝，或因痰停，或因食壅，或外因六气，或内因七情，皆能阻遏其营运之机，故虽当往来急数之时，忽见一止
耳。如止数渐稀，则为病瘥；止数渐增，则为病剧。伪诀但言“并居寸口”，已非促脉之义；且不言时止，尤
为 矣。
燕都王湛六，以脾泄求治，神疲色瘁。诊得促脉，或十四五至得一
止，或十七八至得一止，余谓其原医者曰∶“法在不治。”而医者争之曰∶“此非代脉，不过促耳，何先生之
轻命耶？”余曰，“是真元败坏，阴阳交穷，而促脉呈形，与稽留凝泣而见促者，不相侔也。”医者唯唯。
居一月，果殁。
【脉象特征】促脉的形态表现为脉搏急促，在快速跳动中偶尔出现一次停顿；就像人奔跑时突然跌倒，继续前行则必然导致死亡。
【主病分析】促脉多因火邪亢盛所致，也可见于饮食或痰湿等病理产物停滞。左寸部出现促脉，提示心火炽盛。右寸部出现促脉，提示肺中有痰鸣音（咯咯声）。促脉出现在左关部，提示血行瘀滞为患。促脉出现在右关部，提示脾胃有食积停滞。左尺部遇到促脉，提示遗精、滑泄令人担忧。右尺部遇到促脉，提示下焦灼热是确定的征象。
【按语】促脉的含义，是在急促的脉象中偶尔见到一次歇止，这是阳热亢盛的征象。黎氏说：“像跌倒时的匆忙，快慢不恒定”，深刻揭示了其义理。王叔和说：“促脉来去迅速，时常有一次停顿，随后又恢复跳动”，也说得很清楚明白。人体气血在经脉之间贯注流动，时刻运行，连绵不断，凡是一昼夜循环五十周次，如果不按时数运行，就称为妄行无度。反映在脉搏至数上，应当像鼓槌击打鼓面那样应和准确，没有丝毫差错。如果脏气违逆失调，就会导致气血稽留凝涩，阻碍其运行的机制，因而出现歇止，这种病症较轻。如果是真元衰败疲惫，导致阳气弛缓、阴液枯竭，失去了正常的调控法则，因而出现歇止，这种病症较重。然而促脉的原因，由于脏气违逆失调导致的占十分之六七；由于真元衰败导致的占十分之二三。或者因为气机阻滞，或者因为血液凝滞，或者因为痰饮停聚，或者因为食物壅塞，或者是外感六淫邪气，或者是内伤七情，都能阻碍气血运行的机制，所以虽然在往来急数的过程中，忽然见到一次停顿罢了。如果停顿的次数逐渐减少，说明病情好转；如果停顿的次数逐渐增加，说明病情加重。伪诀只说“并居寸口”，这不符合促脉的本义；而且不说“时有停顿”，更是荒谬了。
燕京的王湛六，因脾虚泄泻求治，精神疲倦，面色憔悴。诊得促脉，有时十四五次搏动才出现一次停顿，有时十七八次搏动才出现一次停顿。我对他的原主治医生说：“此法属于不治之症。”但医生争辩说：“这不是代脉，不过是促脉而已，为什么先生如此轻视生命？”我说：“这是真元败坏，阴阳之气穷尽，而促脉显现形态，这与因气血稽留凝涩而出现的促脉，是完全不同的。”医生只好唯唯诺诺。过了一个月，果然去世。
[Characteristics of Pulse Image] The image of the Cu (Hasty) pulse is characterized by rapidity with occasional pauses; it resembles running and then stumbling, where continuing forward leads inevitably to death.
[Manifested Diseases] The Cu pulse arises from hyperactive Fire or from the stagnation of pathogenic factors such as food or phlegm. When seen at the Left Cun position, it indicates blazing Heart Fire. When seen at the Right Cun position, it indicates rattling sounds in the Lungs (phlegm-rattle). When seen at the Left Guan position, it indicates disaster due to blood stasis. When located at the Right Guan position, it indicates food stagnation in the Spleen palace. Encountered at the Left Chi position, it causes worry regarding spermatorrhea and seminal emission. Encountered at the Right Chi position, it definitively indicates burning heat.
[Commentary] The meaning of the Cu pulse lies in the occasional pause amidst a rapid rhythm, which is a sign of Yang excess. Mr. Li stated: "Like stumbling while hurrying, with irregular speed," which deeply captures its essence. Wang Shuhe said: "The Cu pulse comes and goes rapidly, pausing occasionally before resuming," which is also quite clear. The Qi and Blood in the human body circulate through the meridians constantly, flowing continuously without cessation. In one day and night, they should complete fifty circuits; if they do not follow this count, it is called reckless generation. Regarding the pulse rate, it should correspond accurately like a drumstick striking a drum, without any deviation. If the Zang-organ Qi is disordered, stagnation and coagulation occur, obstructing the mechanism of circulation, resulting in pauses; this condition is mild. However, if the True Yuan (Original Qi) is exhausted, leading to the relaxation of Yang and depletion of Yin, losing its normal regulatory measure, resulting in pauses; this condition is severe. Nevertheless, the cause of the Cu pulse stems from disordered Zang-organ Qi in six or seven out of ten cases, and from exhausted True Yuan in two or three out of ten cases. It may be due to Qi stagnation, Blood coagulation, Phlegm retention, Food obstruction, external Six Excesses, or internal Seven Emotions, all of which can obstruct the mechanism of circulation. Thus, even during a rapid and frequent rhythm, an occasional pause appears. If the frequency of pauses gradually decreases, the illness improves; if the frequency of pauses gradually increases, the illness worsens. The spurious prescription merely states "located together at the Cun position," which does not fit the meaning of the Cu pulse; furthermore, failing to mention the "occasional pause" is particularly absurd.
Wang Zhankiu of Yanjing sought treatment for Spleen diarrhea, presenting with mental fatigue and emaciated complexion. The Cu pulse was detected, with a pause occurring after every 14 or 15 beats, or after every 17 or 18 beats. I told his original physician: "According to the method, this is incurable." But the physician argued: "This is not the Dai (Intermittent) pulse, but merely the Cu pulse; why does your Honor disregard life so lightly?" I replied: "This is the ruin of True Yuan and the exhaustion of Yin and Yang, manifesting as the Cu pulse, which is incomparable to the Cu pulse caused by stagnation and coagulation." The physician could only agree. One month later, he indeed died.