Pulses Flashcards
“higher” than normal, less perceptible at middle and deep levels
floating
distinct only at third level with heavy pressure
sinking or deep
a slow pulse has fewer than how many beats per respiration?
slow
a rapid pulse has more than how many beats per respiration?
five
what does a floating pulse signify?
an external pernicious influence, classified as yang
if a floating pulse also has no strength what does that indicate?
deficient yin
what does a sinking pulse indicate?
an internal disharmony or obstruction, yin
what does a slow pulse indicate?
sign of cold or insufficient qi, yin
what does a rapid pulse indicate?
heat is accelerating the movement of blood, yang
fine thread very distinct and clear
thin pulse
what does a thin pulse indicate?
blood is deficient +/- deficient qi, yin
broad in diameter and very distinct
big pulse
what does a big pulse suggest?
excess
when is a big pulse commonly felt?
when heat is present in the stomach or intestines, yang
big without strength, feels weak and soft like a balloon partially filled with water
empty pulse
what does an empty pulse signify?
deficient qi and blood, yin
big, strong, pounding and hard
full pulse
what is a full pulse a sign of?
excess, yang
extremely fluid, smooth
slippery pulse
what does a slippery pulse indicate?
excess, usually dampness or mucus
uneven and rough, sometimes irregular in strength and fullness
choppy pulse
what is a choppy pulse a sign of?
deficient blood, deficient jing, or congealed blood
taut feeling, strong, rebounds against pressure at all levels
wiry
what does a wiry pulse indicate?
stagnation in the body, usually related to liver and gallbladder, yang
strong, seems to bounce from side to side, fuller and more elastic, vibrating and urgent, seems faster than it is
tight pulse
what does a tight pulse indicate?
excess, cold, stagnation
what does a short pulse indicate?
often deficient qi, yin
what does a long pulse indicate?
excess, yang
slow, IRREGULAR pulse, skips beats irregularly
knotted pulse
what does a knotted pulse indicate?
deficient qi, blood, or jing, cold obstructing qi and blood, often sign of heart not ruling blood properly
what is the difference between a hurried and knotted pulse?
the speed! hurried pulses are irregular and rapid
what does a hurried pulse indicate?
heat agitating the qi and blood
usually skips more beats than the previous two pulses, REGULAR pattern
intermittent pulse
what pulses are sometimes congenital and may not be considered signs of disharmony?
knotted, hurried, and intermittent
what does an intermittent pulse indicate?
usually associated with the heart (serious disharmony) or signal exhausted state of all organs
surges with strength of big pulse, leaves fingers with less strength
flooded pulse
what does a flooded pulse indicate?
heat has injured fluids and yin of the body
extremely fine and soft, lacks clarity of thin pulse, barely perceptible, seems to about disappear
minute pulse
what does a minute pulse indicate?
extreme deficiency, yin
soft, weak, somewhat thin
frail pulse
what does a frail pulse indicate?
more extreme deficient qi condition (qi can’t raise pulse), yin
combination of thin, empty, and floating pulses, extremely soft, less clear than thin pulse, perceptible only in superficial position
soggy pulse
what does a soggy pulse indicate?
sign of deficient blood or jing, sometimes dampness, yin
combination of wiry and floating pulse with aspects of empty pulse
leather pulse
what does a leather pulse indicate?
sign of deficient blood or jing, yin
extreme form of sinking pulse, must apply intense pressure to feel
hidden pulse
if a hidden pulse is strong what does that indicate?
cold obstructing the meridians
if a hidden pulse is weak what does that indicate?
deficient yang (can’t raise pulse)
opposite of leather pulse, form of hidden pulse, very deep and wiry, usually long and strong
confined pulse
what does a confined pulse indicate?
obstruction due to cold
combination of short, tight, slippery and rapid pulses, felt only in one position
spinning bean or moving pulse
what does a spinning bean pulse indicate?
extreme condition, usually occurs with heart palpitations, intense fright, fever, or pain
solid on outside but completely empty within, also often floating
hollow pulse
what does a hollow pulse indicate?
deficient blood, seen after great loss of blood
floating, big, weak, larger and more distinct than empty pulse, tends to be felt primarily as it recedes
scattered pulse
what does a scattered pulse indicate?
serious disharmony- kidney yang exhausted and “floating away”
