Pulses - Drumskin, Confined, Soft and Weak Flashcards
What is the sensation of a Drumskin or Leather pulse?
The Drumskin or Leather pulse feels wiry under light pressure, but hollow under deeper pressure – like pressing on the skin of a drum
It is a combination of Wiry and Hollow/Scallion pulses
What is the meaning of a Drumskin/Leather pulse?
- Deficiency of Blood and Cold due to vacuity
- Continuous uterine bleeding due to miscarriage
- In Males, deficiency of Ying-Qi (nocturnal emissions and frequent ejaculation leading to deficiency of Ying-Qi)
How to differentiate between Hollow/Scallion and Drumskin/Leather pulses?
Both Hollow/Scallion and Drumskin/Leather feel strong superficially and weak at the deep level – The Drumskin pulse however feels wiry at the superficial level
How to differentiate between Drumskin and Firm/Confined Pulse?
Firm/Confined is Wiry at the deep level
Drumskin is wiry at the superficial level
What is the sensation of a Firm/Confined pulse?
The Confined pulse is a long, strong pulse that is slightly wiry and can only be palpated with deep pressure.
What does a Firm/Confined pulse mean?
-External Cold lodged at the Interior
-Cold contracts and constricts the channels, giving rise to:
Heart and Chest Pain
Liver Qi Stagnation and Wood invading Earth
Abdominal Pain
Hindrance of Spleen’s ability to transform and transport
Accumulations and concentrations such as nodules, lumps, hernias and tumors
-If the Confined pulse appears in a condition where there’s Yin and/or Blood Deficiency, the Cold pathogen is extremely strong – prognosis not good
How to differentiate between Drumskin pulse and Confined?
The Drumskin pulse is Floating, Wiry and forceless – indicating severe deficiency generating cold
The Confined pulse is Deep and Wiry and strong – indicating an excess condition where Exterior Cold has lodged itself at the Interior
What is the sensation of a Soft or Soggy Pulse?
This pulse is floating and very thin, with faint forceless beats
It feels like a thread floating on water, or like edges of a soap bubble
With deeper palpation, the pulse disappears
What is the meaning of a Soft/Soggy pulse?
If this pulse appears after childbirth or severe disease, it means that Qi and Blood of the body have been damaged
With reinforcing techniques this condition can be rectified.
If this pulse appears in a person without symptoms of a severe disease, it indicates that the root of Pre- and Post-Heaven Qi – the KD and SP, Jing and Blood – are very deficient and on the verge of failure. This must be treated quickly in order to prevent further development
Also indicates damaged Blood and severe deficiency of Jing;
symptoms include: Night Sweats, steaming bone fever, excess uterine bleeding, bleeding from the nose or mouth, deficiency in the Sea of Marrow and Lower Dan Tien/Jiao
Can also indicate SP Deficiency with Damp accumulation – This is especially true if patient has soft stools
How to treat Soft pulses?
To effectively treat a syndrome presenting with Soft pulses, one must warm and supplement Yin
How to differentiate Soft and Weak pulses?
Soft and Weak pulses are exact opposites
Soft pulse is floating, very thin, and forceless
Weak pulse is sunken, very thin, and forceless
A Soft pulse disappears on pressure
A Thin pulse tends to be deeper and does not entirely disappear
A minute pulse is barely palpable it is so forceless and thin
What does a Soft pulse in the Cun position indicate?
Yang Deficiency
Exterior is not consolidated
Spontaneous perspiration that is profuse
What does a Soft pulse in the Guan position indicate?
Deficiency of the SP and ST
What does a Soft pulse in the Chi position indicate?
Blood Deficiency
Jing Deficiency
Severe Cold
What is the sensation of a Weak pulse?
This is a very thin, sunken and forceless pulse – to feel it, you must press to the deep level
