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Da8"Mai9Regularly Interrupted Pulse

Main diseases: This pulse mainly indicates fiight palpitations and qi


chaos. It also mainly indicates visceral qi debility and diminution.

Signs 8,Symptoms Corroborating the Pulse


As stated in the Introduction, in TCM, no one sign or symptom always
means any one thing. What a sign or a symptom means in a given patient
is always determined by the constellation of other signs a d symptoms with
which it appears. In teams of the pulse, Cao Bao-heng, Chancellor of the
Royal Academy, in his Preface to the Mai Jing (Pulse Classic) says:

The pulse manifestations are difficult to differentiate, and apart from this,
there is the conflusing problem that several different kinds of pulse images
may appear simultaneously,while several different categories of disease may
exhibit the same type of pulse. Relying merely on the feeling under the finger
cannot flully expose that which is covert and hidden [in the body]... Cross-
referencing all of these [i.e., the interrelationships between sound, color,
form, and pulse] in order to determine life and death unfailingly leads to
correct diagnosis without a single mista

This underscores the fact that pulse images should only be interpreted
within .the context of other signs and symptoms gathered by other of the
four examinations. Therefore, the following list discusses the typical
corroborating signs and symptoms for various indications of the main pulse
images. If one assigns a certain meaning to a particular pulse image but
then cannot substantiate that hypothesis by the presence of the typical
corroborating signs and symptoms, then the practitioner knows they need
to think again about their interpretation of the pulse.

I . F BMai9
~ Floating P u k e

When a floating pulse indicates an exterior pattern, the corroborating


symptoms will be a short disease course, dislike of cold, fever, headache,

Gao Bao-heng, "Preface", Mai Jing (Pulse Classic), People's Health & ItIygiene Press,
Beijing, i982, p. I
body pain, stiff neck, stuffed nose, cough, wheezing, thin, white tongue fur,
etc.

2. &%7jMai,Slow Pulse

When a slow pulse indicates a cold pattern, the corroborating symptoms are
dislike of cold, a somber, white facial complexion, loose stools, clear, long
urination, a pale tongue with a white, moist fur, etc.

3. ShuMai,b p i d Pulse

A rapid pulse indicates heat patterns. The corroborating symptoms of heat


are fever, thirst, a red face, red lips, constipation, a red tongue with yellow
fur, etc.

4. Xu Mai, Vacuous Pulse; Xi Mai, Fine Pulse; Xuan Mai, Soft Pulse;
Ruo Mai,Weak Pulse
All these pulses indicate vacuity patterns. Vacuity is corroborated by
lassitude of the spirit, lack of strength, bodily fatigue, a faded, white facial
color, an emaciated body, weak breathing and disinclination to speak, heart
palpitations, sl~ortiiess of breath, loss of sleep, impaired memory,
spontaneous sweating, night sweats, seminal emission, urinary incon-
tinence, aching and pain which desires pressure, a pale tongue with no or
scant fur, etc.

5. ShiMai,Replete Pulse

A replete pulse indicates repletion patterns. These are corroborated by


symptoms such as essence spirit hyperactivity and vigor, a high (i.e., loud),
husky voice, chest and abdominal distention and fullness, aching and pain
resisting pressure, constipation, tenesmus, inhibited urination, thick, slimy
fur, etc.

6 . Fujin Mai, Floating,Eght Pulse

A floating, tight pulse indicates exterior cold patterns. Corroborating signs


and symptoms include dislike of cold, fever, no sweating, headache, stiff
neck, joint aching and pain, thin, white tongue fur, etc.
7 . F LHuan
~ Mai, FBoating, Relaxed Pulse

A floating, relaxed pulse indicates exterior vacuity patterns. Corroborating


signs and symptoms include fever, dislike of wind, stuffL nose, spon-
taneous sweating, a pale tongue with white fur, etc.

$. Fu Shu Mai, Float'ang, Rapid Pulse

A floating, rapid pulse indicates an exterior heat pattern. Corroborating


signs and symptoms include fever, slight dislike of cold, thirst, yellow
urine, slight sweating, thin, yellow tongue fur, etc.

9. Chen ChiMai, Deep, Slow Pulse

A deep, slow pulse indicates interior cold patterns. Corroborating signs and
symptoms include bodily cold, chilled extremities, a somber, white facial
complexion, no thirst or thirst with a desire for hot drinks, thin, watery
phlegm, loose stools, long, clear urination, a pale tongue with white, glossy
fur, etc.
-- - - - -
1 0. Chen -9w Mail Beep, Rapid Pulse
--.--a

A deep, rapid pulse indicates interior heat patterns. Corroborating signs and
symptoms include a flushed red face, heart vexation, thirst, yellow, sticky
phlegm, constipation, short, scant, reddish yellow urination, a red tongue
with yellow fur, etc.

1 1 . Ruo Mai, Weak Pulse


A weak pulse indicates vacuity patterns. Corroborating signs and symptoms
include weak qi, disinclination to speak, reduced appetite, bodily fatigue,
dizziness, heart palpitations, a pale, tender tongue with thin, white fur, etc.

12. t h e n ShiMai, Deep, Replete Pulse

A deep, replete pulse indicates interior repletion patterns. Corroborating


signs and symptoms include chest and abdominal distention and fullness,
aching and pain which resists pressure, constipation, yellow, slimy tongue
h r , etc.
1 3. A7 Shu Mai, Fine, Rapid Pulse

A fine, rapid pulse indicates .yin vacuity patterns. Corroborating signs and
symptoms include afternoon tidal fever, both cheeks flushed red, heat in the
centers of the hands and feet (or heat in the hands, feet, and heart), heart
vexation and loss of sleep, dizziness and vertigo, a dry mouth and throat,
night sweats, dry, bound stools, short, yellow urination, a red tongue with
scant fur, etc.

1 4. Xuo Mai, Weak Pulse

A weak pulse indicates yang vacuity patterns. Corroborating signs and


symptoms include bodily cold with chilled extremities, a dim (or dusky),
pale face, fatigued spirit, lack of strength, spontaneous sweating, no thirst,
loose stools, long, clear urination, a pale tongue with white fur, etc.

15.Xu Mai, Vacuous Pulse

A vacuous pulse indicates qi vacuity patterns. Corroborating signs and


symptoms include shortness of breath, disinclination to speak, bodily
fatigue, lack of strength, dizziness and vertigo, a pale tongue with thin fur,
etc.

11 6.20Mai, Fine Pulse

A fine pulse indicates blood vacuity patterns. Corroborating signs and


symptoms include a pale, white, lusterless facial complexion or a sallow,
yellow color, pale, white lips, dizziness and blurred vision, heart
palpitations, loss of sleep, numbness of the hands and feet, a pale tongue,
etc.
TCM as a style bases its treatments on pattern discrimination. In TCM, there
are 10 methods of discriminating patterns. These are:

1. Eight principles pattern discrimination (ba gang bian zheng)


2. Five phase pattern discrimination (wu xing bian zheng)
3. Qi & blood pattern discrimination (qi xue bian zheng)
4. Fluids & humors pattern discrimination (jin ye bian zheng)
5. Viscera & bowel pattern discrimination (zangfu bian zheng)
6. Channel & network vessel pattern discrimination (jing luo bian zheng)
7 . Disease cause pattern discrimination (bingyin bian zheng)
8. Six aspect pattern discrimination (liufen bian zheng)
9. Four aspect pattern discrimination (sifen bian zheng)
10. Three buriiers pattern discrimination (sunjiao bian zheng)

Below are charts showing the relationships between several of these


methods of discriminating patterns and the most common main pulse
images associated with those patterns.
R-IESECRET
OFCHINESE
PULSEDIAGNOSIS

Eight Principles Pattern Discrimination 8. the Pulse

Qi & Blood Pattern Discrimination 8. t h e Pulse


P A ~ W &THE PULSEIMAGES
DISCRIMINATION

Six Aspect Pattern Discrimination & t h e Pulse


Defensive, Qi, Constructive & Blood Pattern Discrimination 8.
the Pulse

three heaters
I I
Viscera 8. Bowel Pattern Discrimination a3, the Pulse

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