Pulses

Question 1

Floating

Answer 1

HIgher than normal, felt at a light pressure

• Exterior condition, deficiency or weakness from prolonged illness

Question 2

Deep

Answer 2

Opposite of floating- felt at a heavy pressure

• Interior condition

Question 3

Slow

Answer 3

Under 60 BPM, 3 beats per practitioner’s respiration cycle

-Cold (strong= excess) weak= Yang deficiency

Question 4

Rapid

Answer 4

Over 90 BPM, 5 beats per practitioner’s respiration cycle

-Heat (strong= excess) weak- Yin deficiency

Question 5

Empty

Answer 5

Feels big, but empty on a slightly stronger pressure and is soft.

-Qi or Blood deficiency

Question 6

Full

Answer 6

Full, hard, long, forceful

-Excess

Question 7

Surging

Answer 7

Big, extends past pulse position, big wave!

-Excess Heat

Question 8

Thin

Answer 8

Fine, thread, thinner than normal

-Qi, Blood, or Yin deficiency d/t stress or overstrain

Question 9

Slippery

Answer 9

Smooth, rounded, as if it were oily, slides under the finger

-Phlegm and/or food stagnation, excess heat, dampness, retained fluid, pregnancy

Question 10

Choppy

Answer 10

Feels rough, jagged edge

-Blood, Jing deficiency if weak, Qi or Blood stasis if strong

Question 11

Wiry

Answer 11

Taught like a guitar string, thinner, more taught and harder than a tight pulse

-Pain, LV/GB disharmony, LV Yin deficiency or Yang excess, Phlegm, fluid retention

Question 12

Tight

Answer 12

Feels twisted like a thick rope

-Cold, pain, food accumulation

Question 13

Soggy

Answer 13

Superficial level, feels soft and only slightly floating

-dampness

Question 14

Weak

Answer 14

Can’t be felt on the superficial level, but only at the deep level, without force

-QI or Blood deficiency

Question 15

Hasty

Answer 15

Rapid and stops at irregular intervals

-Excess Yang heat, Qi or Blood stagnation, accumulation of food or Phlegm, collapse syndrome if its weak

Question 16

Knotted

Answer 16

Slow and stops at irregular intervals

-Excess Yin, accumulation of Qi, retention of cold Phlegm, Blood Stasis

Question 17

Long

Answer 17

Extends past the normal pulse position

-Heat pattern

Question 18

Short

Answer 18

Occupies shorter than normal space

-Severe Qi deficiency ( St. Qi deficiency)

Question 19

Minute

Answer 19

Extremely thin, small, and difficult to feel

-Severe deficiency of Qi or Blood

Question 20

Moderate

Answer 20

Four beats per respiration cycle, between 60-90 beats per minute

-Healthy

Question 21

Hollow

Answer 21

Empty in the middle position

-Hemorrhage or Blood loss

Question 22

Leather

Answer 22

Hard and tight at the superficial level and stretched like a drum, but feels completely empty at the deep level; large pulse- not thin

-Severe deficiency or KD Essence or KD Yin

Question 23

Confined

Answer 23

Felt only at the deep level and feels hard and wiry- wiry pulse at the deep level.

-Blood Stasis, interior cold (if slow) pain

Question 24

Scattered

Answer 24

Very small and relatively superficial

-Severe deficiency or Qi or Blood, KD Qi, serious condition

Question 25

Hidden

Answer 25

Extreme case of a deep pulse

• Severe Yang deficiency

Question 26

Moving

Answer 26

Round shape like a bean, short and trembles under the finger, slippery and rapid

-shock, anxiety, fright, pain

Question 27

Hurried

Answer 27

Very rapid, agitated, urgent

-Fire exhausting Yin

Question 28

Big

Answer 28

Broad in diameter and very distinct

-Suggests excess