There are six points of interest when taking the pulse in Chinese medicine. The pulse is taken on the radial artery of both wrists. Each side is associated with a different grouping of organs. Each pulse point is found in a slightly different location.
The heart, liver and one kidney are found on the left side; and the lungs, spleen, and other kidney are associated with the right. Using this technique, the physician reads up to 28 different types of pulse, each indicating a different condition in the body. These different types of pulses are characterized by location, rate, shape and amplitude. A pulse, for example, can be superficial or deep, slow or rapid, deficient or excessive, rolling or hesitant, and so on. Typically a disease will create a pulse that exhibits several of these characteristics; this is considered a compound pulse, and is extremely significant. Determining its nature, then, can be an involved and difficult task. The skill must be mastered through training and years of practice.
Types of Pulses in Chinese Medicine
These are a few of the types of pulses that a Chinese practitioner would consider in an examination:
- Normal – Four pulses per breathing (from 60 - 90 times per minute), comes on forcefully and smoothly, and goes gradually and relaxed. The force is moderate (neither strong or weak) and the rhythm is regular without any significant changes. This would indicate that the pulse is teamed with the spirit of a normal pulse. The spirit of human being is stored in the heart which is controlling the blood as the "monarch of all organs." (Zicheng, p 63)
- Floating – The pulse can be felt by light touch for it is superficial and draws faint without any sense of pressing strongly "as floating wood on water" (Zicheng, p 61-73 65) This could indicate a deficiency in the essence of the blood. This may mean that the heart and lungs are not working efficiently to circulate the blood.
- Hidden – The pulse being found only with the heaviest of pressing toward the bone, in the deepest location, and not very forceful in nature. This can indicate a blockage in the circulating blood due to some pathogen. Basically a stagnation in the flow of Qi-blood.
- Slow – This is a pulse that is less than four beats per breath and would indicate a cold syndrome. This is a coagulation in the blood vessels and inhibits the flow or the circulation of blood through the system. The force of the pulses is just not strong enough for sufficient health, this syndrome can create a disease due to lack of flow.
- Rapid – This pulse is typically more than five beats per breath and has a regular rhythm. It is found typically with a normal touch, and can indicate a heat syndrome this usually activates they system to create a quicker and swifter blood flow, which can be stressful on the organs and create excess pressure in the vessels.
These are only a handful of pulse types, to give a good synopsis of the procedure and findings. This system is extremely complicated and has many facets to the methodology and diagnosis involved.
Application of Force to Take Pulse
Another aspect of the pulse taking in Chinese medicine is how to apply force to the patient. Pulse-taking can be divided into touching, searching and pressing according to the different forces of a practitioner's finder. Touching is defined as feeling with the finger lightly on the skin over the artery. Searching is considered using a moderate force until one can feel the artery in comparison to the muscle that surrounds it. An extremely firm touch to feel the pulse until the artery is apparent in contrast to the tendon or bone is considered pressing. In a clinical setting, these three types of manipulations are used in combination to judge a pulse and paired conditions effectively.
Pulse taking is an important process for the diagnosis of a disease or ailment. Only then can a practitioner know what path/direction to lead the patient back to health and longevity.
Sources:
Textbook for TCM Higher Education - Diagnostics of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Zicheng, Yu; Wuhan University Press; 1997; pp 61-73.
Wisdom of Tai Chi: Ancient Secrets to Health & Harmony; Fenton, Peter; Publications International, Ltd.; 1998; pp 164-166; p 165 (image)
Christen Peattie - Christen is a Holistic Health Practitoner, Homeopath, Herbalist, and Nutritionist; specializing in holistic nutrition, homeopathy, ...
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