Pulse Diagnosis

© 2004 William R. Morris, OMD, MSEd, LAc

Pulse Diagnosis Using the Elemental Compass Method

The "elemental compass method" is exciting because it is effective, powerful, and easily
grasped. It can lead directly to the root imbalance by palpation of the four directions and
the center.

Roots

Classical: The Yellow Emperor's Classic is a timeless body of wisdom from which this
method is extracted. In the chapter called "The Golden Cabinet of Collected Truths," the
basic correspondences of the five phases are laid out in detail. The elemental compass
method, however, is hidden between the lines.

In other discussions from the Yellow Emperor's Classic, the Emperor faces south and the
influences of heaven and earth are allotted to the human being. The compass directions
provide reference points through which the influences of heaven and earth enter the
human being. This set of influences is absolute and remains steadfast, such that east and
west do not change from wrist to wrist. Rather, the left side is always east and the right
side of each position is always west, regardless of where the person moves.

Contemporary: The late great Dr. John H.F. Shen often shared the importance of rolling
the fingers or "searching" in each of the directions. For this, he used a body image on the
radial artery. In practice, Dr. Shen rolled in specific directions for different body parts,
and not in every direction. This could be called a "holographic pulse model" in which the
various parts of the body are viewed through the pulse.

In contrast, the elemental compass method uses the correspondences of the five phases
rather than anatomical structures. The advantage of this method is that it allows one to
evaluate the influences when sensations are palpated in any direction. In addition, one
can select immediate acupuncture point correspondences, thus arriving at specific
methods of intervention. While influenced by Dr. Shen's methods, this work is distinctly
different and is a direct interpretation of "The Golden Cabinet of Collected Truths."

Assessment Using the Elemental Compass Method

Performing this diagnostic procedure is like using a joystick from a video game. To
identify this obstruction, place the finger in the center of the position, then palpate in the
four cardinal directions - distal, proximal, left and right - plus center. Identification of the
area that has the dominant signal, or is most congested and full, will reveal the element
that is influencing the viscera. It is important to "follow" the sensation of the primary
position so that one is not feeling sensations from an adjacent position.

© 2004 William R. Morris, OMD, MSEd, LAc

What follows is perceived from the patient's point of view:

1. North (water) is represented by the proximal portion of each position.

2. Fire (south) is found in the distal portion of each position.
3. Wood (east) is found in the left portion of each position.
4. Metal (west) is found in the right aspect of each position.
5. Earth is in the center of the position.

Treatment

If the qi is depressed, it may be freed by focusing treatment in the area where the
stagnation is taking place. This method of treatment is especially useful if one does not
wish to transfer qi from one organ to another. The principle is to balance the qi within the
organ itself.

In a previous edition of Acupuncture Today,1 the night-time wei qi cycle was discussed
(the article can be reviewed at AcupunctureToday.com). This treatment strategy works
particularly well for freeing the flow of qi if it is stagnant along the wei qi cycle. For
instance, if the night-time wei qi is not flowing well along the controlling cycle, and the
pulse is strong in the spleen and weak in the kidney, then focus treatment on the spleen
before attempting to supplement the kidney.

This approach is based on the "doctrine of correspondences" as referred to by Unschuld.2

Use the point that corresponds to the element with no concern for supplementing or
reducing - there is no direct manipulation of the qi. Acupuncture tends to be homeostatic,
therefore even treatment calls forth the qi to correct itself within the area of imbalance.
By needling the elemental point that is more full or congested in the elemental compass
model, the body's innate sensibility is directed to the area of imbalance, and a natural
correction of the qi takes place. Treatments are then developed to include other features
of the case.

© 2004 William R. Morris, OMD, MSEd, LAc

This method does not necessarily lead to a direct biomedical conclusion. However, it
does present a system for gaining insight into the deeper imbalances from a view of the
elemental influences. That said, the findings often reveal the immediate medical concerns
of the patient, especially after identifying the organ with the most significant amount of
stagnation or heat. In addition, these findings can lead one directly to an effective
intervention.

Once the location of the center of the impulse is identified, select the elemental point on
the channel that relates to the position. For instance, if the liver (left middle) position has
a sensation of fullness, slipperiness or forcefulness in the distal portion, use the fire point
on the liver channel, Liver 2. Then go back to the pulse immediately and observe the
change in the primary pulse position. If the pulse regains balance and even distribution,
this indicates a useful point on the channel. This method assures an immediate positive
influence on the corresponding organ. However, such a method must be employed in the
context of a full diagnosis, such that it is used to target effective intervention and
determine efficacy to a certain extent.

© 2004 William R. Morris, OMD, MSEd, LAc

Case Study

A 45-year-old male patient had insomnia for two years, with frequent waking through the
night. In addition, he had abdominal bloating after meals and fatigue, with a tendency to
overeat. The tongue had tooth marks and was dry, with a yellow coat in the center. The
TCM diagnosis was spleen qi vacuity with stomach heat. However, treatment based on
boosting the spleen qi and clearing stomach heat did not resolve the insomnia.

Frequent waking is associated with the flow of wei qi because it tends to be rapidly
oscillating. Comparing pulses along the controlling cycle revealed a strong right middle
position and a weak right proximal position. This indicates a possible blockage in the
flow of wei qi from earth to water. Application of the elemental compass model to the
spleen position in the right middle revealed a dominant and more full sensation in the
distal aspect of the spleen position. This is a disturbance in the fire component of the
spleen. In this case, I needled the fire point on the channel, Spleen 2, and built the rest of
the treatment from that perspective. This was accomplished by adding the mu point of the
spleen, Liver 13, and the earth point on the small intestine channel, Small Intestine 8.
That night, the patient slept the best he had for two years.

Epilogue

The elemental compass method places a compass image over the pulse so that the
correspondences of the five phases are then laid out on the pulse in a map-like fashion on
each pulse position. This work is the synthesis of personal transmission, clinical
observation, and analysis of classical passages from the Yellow Emperor's Classic. This
method should be used in the context of a fully developed diagnosis and treatment plan. It
is a portion of a forthcoming book on pulse diagnosis and treatment. I invite you to
explore this map with an open mind and determine for yourself whether this has clinical
relevance for you.

If you are interested in exploring this work in person, training is available. Please contact
me for more information.

References

1. http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/archives2002/may/05morris.html.
2. Unschuld P. Nan Jing, University of California Press.

© 2004 William R. Morris, OMD, MSEd, LAc

© 2004 William R. Morris, OMD, MSEd, LAc