Pulse Qualities

Question 1

Deep

Answer 1

Can only be felt with heavy pressure at Organ Depth near the bone

Question 2

Slow

Answer 2

3 beats per breath of the practitioner (or less)

Question 3

Rapid

Answer 3

More than 5 beats per breath of the practitioner

Question 4

Empty

Answer 4

Feels rather big and soft, but upon more pressure it disappears (noticed a lot on Liver)

Question 5

Full

Answer 5

Feels rather hard and long

Question 6

Slippery

Answer 6

Feels smooth, rounded, and slippery to the touch as if oily. It slides under the fingers.

Question 7

Choppy

Answer 7

TCM: Changes rate and quality quickly. (Like scraping bamboo with a knife)

*Contemporary: Feels rough under the fingers like a jagged edge

Question 8

Long

Answer 8

Feels longer than normal

Question 9

Short

Answer 9

Feels shorter than normal

Question 10

Overflowing

Answer 10

Feels big, beyond pulse position, and superficial

Question 11

Fine/Thin

Answer 11

Thinner than normal

Question 12

Minute

Answer 12

Same as fine but more so, extremely thin, small, and hard to feel

Question 13

Tight

Answer 13

Feels twisted like a thick rope

Question 14

Wiry/String-taut

Answer 14

Feels taut like a guitar string and thinner than tight;it really hits the fingers

Question 15

Slowed-down

Answer 15

Normal pulse, 4 beats per breath of the practitioner

Question 16

Hollow

Answer 16

Felt at superficial level, absent at blood level (middle depth), and felt again deeply

Question 17

Leather

Answer 17

Feels hard & tight at the superficial level & stretched like a drum, but completely empty at the deep level

Question 18

Firm

Answer 18

Felt only at the deep level and it feels hard & wiry

Question 19

Weak Floating/Soft

Answer 19

Only felt at the superficial level, very soft, only slightly floating and disappears deeper

Question 20

Weak

Answer 20

Only felt at the deep level and is also soft

Question 21

Scattered

Answer 21

Feels very small & is relatively superficial, feels broken into small dots

Question 22

Hidden

Answer 22

Feels hidden beneath the bone, very deep and difficult to feel

Question 23

Moving

Answer 23

Has a round shape like a bean. It is short and trembles under the finger (spinning bean), feel shaky

Question 24

Hasty

Answer 24

Rapid and stops at irregular intervals

Question 25

Knotted

Answer 25

Slow and stops at irregular intervals

Question 26

Intermittent

Answer 26

Stops at regular intervals

Question 27

Hurried

Answer 27

Very rapid, also feels agitated and urgent

Question 28

Thready

Answer 28

Feels like fine thread

Question 29

Rolling

Answer 29

Feels smooth and flowing

Question 30

Floating/Superficial

Answer 30

Felt with very light pressure