Pulse Notes Flashcards
Floating
usually excess condition- like an external invasion, but if the blood or jinye cannot root the pulse it floats to the surface- A floating and soft pulse is called Empty.
Sinking/Deep
Need to push all the way to the deep level to feel. A very deep pulse is called HIDDEN. A thin and soft deep pulse is called WEAK. A wiry, big and strong pulse is called FIRM. Sinking/Deep indicates that it is internal.
Slow:
beats 3 beats per respiration. Indicates COLD
Rapid:
beats 6 beats per respiration. Indicates HEAT
Slippery
Like a greasy round ball which slides under the fingers. Indicates dampness, phlegm, food stagnation, or pregnancy.
Choppy
Life knife being scraped over bamboo. Has a root which differentiates it from scattered- can be felt at the superficial and deep levels which differentiates it from minute. Blood stagnation- which can come from blood xu or perverse cold
Empty
on first palpation feels full and big, but gives away easily with pressure-feeling soft and weak. The hollow pulse will feel floating and big and more like an onion with empty in the center. Shows up when the zheng qi is damaged- shen disturbance with blood xu- fright, palps, perpiration. Could be summer heat damaging the yuan qi, yin xu creating heat damaging yuan qi, or overall blood or yang xu.
Full:
Can be felt both superficially and deep with big strong beats. Indicates excess condition and accumulation.
Long:
Extends beyond the three positions. Indicates strong health.
Short
A deficient pulse- unable to fill all three positions. Kid yang xu, qi and blood xu.
Flooding
Rough and big with beats that rise strongly and fade as the recede (like a wave at the beach). Caused by heat causing the yang to rise- likely an underlying yin or blood deficiency or damage to jinye(body fluids).
Minute
Weaker than a thin pulse- at times you can’t feel it. This is caused more by a failure of the yang qi. Both qi and blood deficient due to yang being deficient.
Tight
Rises and falls with strength and vibrates to the left and right. Not as strong as a full pulse, and a wiry puse has no vibration and is more wiry. Indicates COLD.
Leisurely
Exactly 4 beats per respiration, normal in every respect like a thread on a loom which has been tightened and relaxed like a willow branch. Indicates health and abundance of shen.
Hollow
A pulse which feels floating, big and soft under slight pressure but without substance in the center. Leather feels more strong and wiry but empty inside. Usually appears after bleeding.
