Chapter 7.7: Very old practical wisdom from TCM. Diagnoses imbalances both during and before illness manifests. The pulse tells us about Blood, Energy and Body Fluid in the three warmers and in organs and tissues.
Pulse Diagnosis Guide
Three fingers on radial artery (Cun, Guan, Chi):
Left Hand
Distal: SI / Heart
Middle: GB / Liver
Proximal: UB / Kidney (Water)
Right Hand
Distal: LI / Lung
Middle: St / Spleen
Proximal: UB / Kidney (Mingmen)
Slow Pulse
BPM: 60 or less
Cold or Yin dominant state. Could also show Heart Yang and Qi deficiency. (Note: athletes may have slow pulse from training — Heart Qi deficiency from over-exertion.)
Best time: early morning, empty stomach, no coffee or black tea. Normal: 72 beats/min, 4 beats per breathing cycle. Left hand stronger in men (Yang), right in women. Check after meal — Stomach pulse may be full.
How to Take the Pulse
Use index, middle, and ring fingers to palpate the pulse at the radial artery. Imagine the fullness under each finger gives information about energy status in the three warmers. Under normal circumstances, all three positions should have the same fullness.
Therapist's fingers at right angles to patient's wrist. Middle finger on prominence of styloid of radius. Index finger between wristfold and middle finger. Ring finger same distance proximally.
The Two Kidney Pulses
The Kidney has two different functions with two different Mother Elements. The Water Kidney (right wrist) governs water and physical energy. The Life Gate / Mingmen Kidney (left wrist) governs reproduction and fertility.
Water Kidney
Aspects: Urination, Dryness, Oedema, Bones, joints, Head hair, Hearing, Physical energy, Physical endurance, Backache, Knee pain, Fear of Water
Nourished by: Lung – Large Intestine
Life Gate (Ming Men) Kidney
Aspects: Fertility, Libido, Menstruation, Puberty, Prostate, Uterus, Pregnancy, Sexual power, Fear of contact
Nourished by: Spleen – Stomach
Confirming Your Diagnosis
The author uses pulse mainly to confirm diagnosis. Not only can you test if your diagnosis was correct, you could check the pulse after treatment to see if the treatment has balanced the energy correctly — the pulse should have changed!
Clinical Example
Normal Imbalances
Best time: early morning before breakfast. Empty stomach, no coffee/tea. Factors that influence: recent meal (middle pulse full), coffee (upper seems stronger), beta-blockers and other medications. Men tend to have stronger left hand (Yang). Women tend to have stronger right hand. 'The wife is always right!'"
What did your pulse feel like — floating, deep, slow, rapid, thin, full? Which warmer (upper, middle, lower) had the strongest pulse?