Pulses -Surging, Minute, Tight, Leisurely, Hollow and Wiry Flashcards
A Flooding Pulse is also known as what kind of pulse?
Surging Pulse
What is the sensation of a Flooding Pulse?
Each beat comes with force, but recedes quickly and without strength
The next beat comes almost as soon as the previous one leaves, like waves on a beach as the tide comes in
What is the meaning of a Flooding pulse?
Normal in summertime
If felt in any other season, it indicates heat due to either Yin or Blood deficiency causing Yang to flare out of control because it is anchored
I can also indicate an Excess condition or Stagnation engendering fire
How to differentiate a flooding pulse?
Do not confuse with a full pulse
A flooding pulse will feel longer and more wiry than a full pulse
While a full pulse bounces up and down in place, a Flooding pulse impatiently pushes forward past the 3 pulse positions.
What does a flooding pulse in the cun position indicate?
Heart Fire Fire consuming the Lungs -Coughing up Blood -Asthma -Chest pain
What does a flooding pulse in the guan position indicate?
Liver-Fire with injury to Stomach fluids (jin) and weakness of the Spleen
What does a flooding pulse in the chi position indicate?
Damage to Kidney Yin and Jing with Empty Fire blazing
What is the sensation of a Minute pulse?
This is very thin, forceless pulse
It is so thin and forceless that you may not find it… once you do, you might lose it again.
What is the meaning of a minute pulse?
Deficiency of both Yin and Yang
-Extreme deficiency of both Qi and Blood
Yang Qi cannot consolidate the Exterior, leading to:
-Aversion to cold
-Excessive perspiration
-Fever
In men, extreme deficiency and taxation to Qi, Blood, Yin and Yang in men
-Chronic overwork or excessive sexual activity
In women, chronic uterine bleeding and vaginal discharge
-Injury can also be due to chronic work
Differentiation of a minute pulse?
Do not confuse with weak pulse
-While forceless and thin, a weak pulse can still be felt clearly at deep level
-A minute pulse is indistinctly felt no matter what level you press down to
A minute pulse does not miss a beat, unlike the hasty, knotted or intermittent pulses
What does a minute pulse in the cun position indicate?
Lung Qi Deficiency
-Difficulty breathing
Deficiency of the Heart leading to palpitations
What does a minute pulse in the guan position indicate?
Deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach
-Abdominal distension and fullness
What does a minute pulse in the chi position indicate?
Deficiency of Jing and Kidney-Yang
- Aversion to cold
- Whole body pain
- Jaundice
- Diabetes
What is the sensation of a tight pulse?
The tight pulse feels like a tightly stretched rope, and seems to vibrate left to right
-It pushes back on and tries to get around the pressure from your fingers
The pulsations come and go with force
It edges are not as defined as a wiry pulse
What is the meaning of a tight pulse?
Invasion of Exterior Cold constricting the flow of Qi and Blood in the channels
- Coughing and asthma if Cold has invaded the Lungs
- Epilepsy if Cold has attacked the Liver
- Abdominal pain and vomiting if Cold has invaded the Spleen
- Whole body aches and pains; Cold-bi
How do you differentiate a tight pulse?
Unlike the wiry pulse, a tight pulse vibrates left to right under pressure, as if trying to escape palpation
-A tight pulse does not have as well-defined edges as a wiry pulse
A full pulse dips below the level of palpability with each beat and does not vibrate
Floating and Tight =
Exterior Cold
Sunken and Tight =
Cold lodged at the interior
A tight pulse in the cun position indicates
Exterior Cold obstructing the chest if felt on the left
Cold injuring the Interior if felt on the right (LU 9 is the Hui-meeting point of the 100 vessels)
A tight pulse in the guan position indicates
Cold obstructing the Middle Jiao causing abdominal pain
A tight pulse in the chi position indicates
Running piglet qi
Whole-body aches and pain
Hernia pain
What is the sensation of a leisurely pulse
4 beats per respiration
This pulse can be combined with other pulse images, but by itself, should be neither too tight or forceful, nor slack and weak
What is the meaning of a leisurely pulse
Abundance of Shen-Qi… prognosis good
No matter what other pulse image may be combined with it, a leisurely pulse indicates that the foundation of Shen - what keeps Shen rooted in the body – ST and KD qi, are functioning, and that KD qi is abundant
Leisurely and floating =
Invasion of Wind with deficient Ying and excessive Wei Qi
Leisurely-Floating-Forceful =
Wind-Damp above, causing neck stiffness and pain
Leisurely-Sinking-Forceful =
Wind-Damp below wiht Bi-obstruction
Leisurely and Sunken =
Dampness
Leisurely and Thin =
Spleen and Stomach deficiency
What does a Leisurely-Floating pulse in the cun position indicate?
Exterior Wind making the neck back and stiff
What does a Leisurely-Forceful pulse in the guan position indicate?
Headache and vertigo on the left
What does a Leisurely-Forceless pulse in the guan position indicate?
Deficiency of the Stomach on the right
What does a Leisurely Forceless pulse in the chi position indicate?
Diarrhea due to Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency
What does a Leisurely Choppy pulse in the chi position indicate?
Constipation due to deficiency jin and yeU
What does a Leisurely Weak pulse in the chi position indicate?
Weakness of the leg and foot due to qi deficiency and damp accumulation
What is the sensation of a hollow pulse?
Under light palpation, there is soft tension
Each beat is Floating and big
When pressed, a hollow pulse will still be felt at the edges of the fingers, but feels empty and forceless directly beneath them
-it’s like pressing on a scallion
What is the meaning of a hollow pulse?
it appears after heavy bleeding due to Fire pathology
-external fire causing internal defiency
If Yang channels have been injured by Fire: spitting up or vomiting blood; nosebleeds
If Yin channels have been injured by Fire; bloody stools; uterine bleeding
How do you differentiate a hollow pulse?
Do not confuse with an empty pulse
-both have floating, big beats, but the empty pulse is also slow
-when you press down on an empty pulse, it completely disappears; a hollow pulse you will continue to feel at the edges of your fingers
Do not confuse with the Drumskin (or Leather) pulse
-Both feel strong when palpated superficially
–The drumskin pulse feels wiry
–The hollow pulse is flat and without definitive edges
What does a hollow pulse at the cun position indicate?
Accumulation of blood in the chest
Heart-Blood Deficiency due to loss of Blood
-palpitations
-irritability
What does a hollow pulse in the guan position indicate?
Intestinal and stomach abscesses
Vomiting of Blood
What does a hollow pulse in the chi position indicate?
Bleeding from the lower orifices
- Blood in urine
- Bloody stools
- Bloody dysentery
- Uterine bleeding
What is the sensation of a wiry pulse?
Long, level and straight, this pulse feels like the string of a guitar
- Even between beat, the radial artery remains palpable
- The radial artery feels like a stretched steel wire, or like the string of an archers bow
What is the meaning of a wiry pulse?
Excessive Wood energy (normal for Wood body-types: tall and thin)
Liver-Qi Stagnation
Liver invading Spleen or Stomach
Liver-Yang rising causing tearful or bloodshot eyes
Pain
Phlegm diseases
How do you differentiate a wiry pulse?
Do not confuse with the tight pulse
-The tight pulse does not have definitive edges like the wiry pulse
-The tight pulse seems to vibrate left to right when pressed
Do not confuse with the Firm (Confined) pulse
-While wiry, long and strong, the firm pulse is felt only at a deep level – the level of tendon and bone
Wiry and Big =
Yang perverse Qi causing disease in the Liver and Gall Bladder
Wiry-Thin
Yin perverse Qi causing disease in the Liver and Gall Bladder
Wiry-Floating
Coughing; dyspnea; shallow respiration
Wiry-Sunken
Pain in the chest and ribs;; water accumulation under the ribs
Wiry-rapid
Excess Heat
Wiry-Slow
Excess Cold
Wiry-Thin
Spasms; stiffness; pain
Wiry-Soft
Mild Disease
Wiry-Hard
Severe Disease
Wiry w/Big Beats
Deficiency (Qi, Blood, etc.)
Wiry pulse on one hand only
Clear watery phlegm Lumps in the ribs and abdomen Pain in the ribs Inability to eat Belching
Wiry pulse on both hands
Abdominal pain Diarrhea Running piglet qi Hernia pain Cold limbs
Wiry pulse in the cun position?
Accumulation of phlegm in the chest and diaphragm
Headaches
Disease in the Upper Jiao
Wiry pulse in the guan position?
On the left, disease of the Liver and Gall Bladder causing alternating hot and cold symptoms
On the right, Excess cold in the stomach and spleen causing abdominal pain
Wiry pulse in the chi position?
Defiency and coldness in the Liver and Kidney
Testicular pain
Leg cramps
