Pathological Pulses Flashcards
Pulse Character
The pulse distinctly felt on the heaven level
Superficial Pulse (Floating Pulse)
During pregnancy the mother’s pulse often becomes…
Slippery and Rapid
Compared to a male pulse, the female pulse will be…
Thinner, weaker and slightly faster
A female pulse will typically be weaker in which pulse positions?
Resistance to pressure indicates…
Excess
Thin pulse indicates…
Yin or Blood deficiency
Slow pulse indicates…
Cold
A superficial (floating) pulse indicates…
Exterior syndrome
Deficiency syndrome
A rapid pulse indicates…
Heat
A choppy pulse indicates…
Pain or deficiency (blood or qi)
Thready / Thin Pulse (characteristics)
Pulse feels fine but very distinct and clear without interruption of rhythm when pushing on the pulse.
A deep pulse indicates…
Interior syndrome
The strength of this pulse decreases slightly in the deeper levels but without feeling empty.
(characteristic)
Superficial (Floating) Pulse
This pulse is located next to the bone, it can barly be felt by light touching or moderate force. It is distinct only by pressing down to the bones and tendons.
Deep Pulse
A deficient pulse indicates…
Deficiency syndrome
A fast pulse indicates…
Heat Syndrome
Excess pulse indicates…
Excess syndrome (strong pathogen)
A large (big) pulse indicates…
Excess heat
Deficiency
(Vessel is wide)
A thready / thin pulse indicates…
Deficiency: Qì Blood or/and Yin
Excess: dampness
A long pulse indicates…
Liver Yang rising
Excessive interior heat
Normal (young person or summer time)
A short pulse indicates…
Qì disorder (stagnation or deficiencient)
Short Pulse (characteristics)
The pulse cannot be felt in all three positions. The pulse is absent in the Cun and/or Chi positions.
Slippery / rolling pulse indicates…
Food stagnation (greasy food + diary)
Phlegm or dampness
Excess heat
A choppy / hesitant pulse indicates…
Excess: stagnation of Qì and Blood, food, phlegm
Deficiency: blood or essence or threatened miscarriage
A surging pulse indicates…
Excess heat in the Qi level (Yang Ming level)
An abrupt/running pulse indicates…
Excess syndrome
1. Excessive heat (rapid)
2. Stagnation (qi, blood, phlegm of food)
Deficiency of Zhang Fu
A knotted pulse indicates…
Excess yin
1. Stagnation (qì, phlegm and blood)
2. Cold
3. Tumor mass
Vital Qì deficiency (yuan qì)
What is the main difference between the abrupt pulse and knotted pulse?
Both have irregularly missed beats but abrupt is rapid (>90bpm), while knotted is slow (<60bpm)
What does intermittent pulse indicate?
Deficiency: declining Zang Qi
Excess: 1. Wind syndrome
2. Pain
3. Disorders due to emotional fire and fright
What does soft/soggy pulse indicate?
Dampness
Deficiency of Qì, Blood and Yin
What is the main difference between a soft/soggy pulse and weak/frail pulse?
The soft/soggy pulse is superficial whereas the weak/frail pulse is deep.
What does a weak/ frail pulse indicate?
Qì and Blood deficiency
What does a hollow pulse indicate?
Loss of blood
Yin depletion
(Yin collapse)
pulse is also known as scallion stalk
What does a leather pulse indicate?
Blood loss, essence exhaustion
Abortion and metrorrhagia & metrostaxis
What is the difference between a hollow and leather pulse upon palpation?
A hollow pulse is slack (center like a scallion stick) when touched lightly, hollow when seeking whereas a leather pulse is string taut when tougher lightly (hollow when pressing deep)
What does a scattered pulse indicate?
Exhaustion of Qi, Zang Fu organs failure
