浮脉之状，在皮肤轻手得之，重按则似有若无。王于秋，主肺，主风，主虚乏短气。秋
得之为顺，春得之为贼邪，冬得之为虚邪，夏得之为实邪，又为微邪，其病不治自愈。纯浮
为感风，浮弦为虚劳，浮紧为风寒，浮芤为衄血，浮滑为风痰，浮洪为风气壅滞，浮微为气
不足，浮缓为风虚，四肢不随，浮涩为伤肺咯血、嗽血，浮迟为伤惫，浮弱为虚损，浮濡为
气血俱不足。又看见于何部位，以脏腑经络推之，余皆仿此消息。
沉脉之状，取于肌肉之下得之。主脏病，沉滞伏匿。在寸为心肺郁伏，悲忧不乐。在关
为肝脾不利，中满善噫 胀。湿胜则肿满溏泄，食不化，支膈， 胁满，善恐。在尺则为石
水，腹肿硬，以指弹之壳壳然有声，小便涩。沉紧为肠间积寒痛，沉涩结为五气积聚成形，
沉数或疾为骨蒸，沉滑为肾消、骨枯、善渴、小便数。纯沉为肿重，足膝不利，不得履地，
得之于阴湿之气。沉而微，五脏气衰，骨痿不能起。
迟脉之状，往来极迟，一息三至。为阴盛阳虚之候，若手足厥不回者死。五脏气短，不
能朝于气口，肺肾俱衰也。《太素脉诀》作肺肾俱绝。陈无择《三因方》云∶迟者应动极缓
与人迎相应，则湿寒凝滞，与气口相应，则虚冷沉积，为寒为痛。迟而涩为症瘕咽酸。
数脉之状，往来急数，一息六至。为阳盛阴微之候。寸脉见之为热，为躁，为烦。左关
为目赤头痛烦满，右关为口臭胃烦呕逆。尺中见为小便黄赤，大便闭涩。与人迎相应为热，
与气口相应或为疮。
洪脉之状，大而隐指。若大而散漫，是谓气衰。大而浮，风客于卫，咳出青黄脓如弹丸
大，若不出则伤肺。下利得脉大，利益甚。霍乱得之吉。又其脉主夏，属心。
虚脉之状，浮大无力，迟而且柔，又如蜘蛛丝。此阳气衰少，阴气独居，为多汗亡阳，
形气萧索，其人不寿。
散脉之状，浮而无力，至数不齐，涣漫不收，更甚于虚，或来多去少，按之如无。此气
血俱虚，根本脱离之候。左寸软散，为阳虚不敛。右寸见之，为气耗汗出。肝脉软散，色泽
者，当病溢饮。脾脉得之，色不泽，当病足 肿。尺脉见散，为精气衰耗。又产妇得之生，
孕妇得之死。
芤脉之状，如浮而大，于指面之下，其形中断，又如流水不相续，或如泻漆之形，断而
倒收，又似弦而软。（《太素脉诀》云∶芤脉之状，中空弦散。）主吐血，呕血，衄血，男子
失精，妇人胞漏，半产，血崩。又曰，其状弦大，弦则为减，大则为芤，弦芤相搏，此名为
革，金刑木而伤肝也。芤而滑，呕吐，甚则亡血。芤而数，阳陷阴中，血妄行。芤而急，风
冷
濡脉之状，极软弱，如以指按水中绵，如有如无。（《太素脉诀》云∶诸部脉形，按之极
小。）为阴阳俱不足，湿冷雾露之气所伤。为病，头重如以湿热之物裹首；大筋软短，小筋
弛长，为痿弱骨不能立；又为亡津液，精神不收；（《十便良方》云∶精神干急或偏枯，血脉
痹
微脉之状，极微，或似有似无。为气血不足，为虚惫，亡血，亡汗，小便数或白浊。若
微数为阴虚，客阳内热，谷气少也。若在尺部，肾脂枯，髓不满骨。若在左关则肝虚血不足
目视 ，筋缓弱。若在右关则虚滑泄注，谷不化，肠鸣及浆粥不入胃。若在右寸，则为
损背寒，口中如含霜雪，咳嗽肌疏，不可以风，短气。若在左寸，为心虚恍惚，忧思不乐
多恐，如人将捕之。若六部俱微，则阳不及四肢，足胫冷，手足厥，常欲汤火暖之。陈无
《三因方》云∶微者，极细而软，似有若无。与人迎相应，则风暑自汗。与气口相应，则
阳脱泄。入里，病脉微，为虚，为弱，为衄，为呕，为泄，为亡汗，为拘急。微弱为少气
为中寒。
革脉之状，浑浑革至如涌泉，谓出而不返也。为阴气隔阳，又为溢脉。盖自尺而出，上
于鱼际，亦谓之离经，无根本也。又覆脉之状，自寸口下退，过而入尺，皆必死之脉也。
伏脉之状，重于沉，指下寻之方得，盖时见时隐也。（《太素脉诀》云∶伏脉之状，其形
沉伏，隐隐其位。）此阴阳之气相伏也，或阴中伏阳，阳中伏阴。脉疾为伏阳内热，身虽寒
而
脉实者有伏气在内，涩者有动气，在左则左病，在右则右病，在脐则居脐上下，居脐上为逆
居脐下为从。
牢脉之状，如弦而实，寻之则散。（《太素脉诀》云∶指下寻之不动。）为五劳六极七伤
之
实脉之状，举按有力，重按隐指 然。气不利，亦主伏阳在内，蒸热劳倦，胃气壅塞
为内痈。实数为三焦闭热，大便秘实。滑为癖饮症瘕留聚之病。实大为气盛闭塞。（《太素
诀》，）实大作实洪。实沉为脏腑气不通，带短（《太素脉诀》云∶实而短。）为宿谷不化。
弱脉之状，小而无力。为精不足，短气，表里俱衰，为暴下。阴并于阳，汗出不止者死
又为脚弱筋缓，足不能履地。恶寒，不可出风。
细脉之状，细细似线。（《太素脉诀》云∶其形细微。）阴气胜阳也。又为手足寒，气少，
惨惨不舒畅。又血不荣于四肢，谓寒则涩而不流行也。（《太素脉诀》云∶又主冷泄痢。）
缓脉之状，不迟不疾，一息四至，往来得中，实得土气。（《太素脉诀》云∶缓脉之状，
如柳叶也。）缓甚，为病四肢不收，受湿而痹。缓而沉，脾气滞，志意不舒展，气痞多噎。
缓而涩，肌肉不仁，津液不流行，荣卫失度，因以致风。缓而微，为消气。缓而滑，为热中
多食。缓而短，谷不化，为溏泄。缓而浮，为风 曳。陈无择《三因方》云∶缓者，浮大而
软
为弱为痹，为疼为不仁，为气不足，为眩晕。缓而滑为热中。缓而迟，虚寒相搏，食冷则咽
痛。
涩脉之状，往来极涩，如水不能流，或聚于指下，或绵绵如泻漆，断而倒收，又似止非
止。（《太素脉诀》云∶涩脉之状，如刀口到指，不离其所。）主男子亡血失精，妇人胎妊不
成，月候凝涩，或崩伤不止，五带，败血在腹，或血瘕成形，筋急寒痹。浮涩为肺病，咯血
咳嗽，虚劳。涩中时弦，为金木相克，胁下痛，不得卧者死。在左寸，为心痹寒栗，病积溲
血
结脉之状，大小不定，往来不拘，数至时一止。主气不流行，腹中症癖，气块成形。
或因大病后亡津液，亡血，或惊恐神散而精不收，或梦漏亡精，又多虑而心气耗也。若无是
因，则其人寿不过一二年。
代脉之状，其来如断绝，而相待其息以至时，搏而动。主血气亏损，或惊忧积甚，形气
不相得也。
滑脉之状，指下如水之流，或如转珠而滞碍。（《太素脉诀》云∶不缓、不洪、不实，如
珠之形。）主呕吐，主饮。滑而弦细者为支饮，咳逆倚息，面浮肿。滑而紧，停寒积饮吞酸，
肠间漉漉有声。滑而弦，留饮在胃，头痛而眩。滑而数，为中 ，甚则为 ，手足螈 搐
搦
盛
肺
紧脉之状，如按绳缴指，三部通度，与弦相似而有力，举按皆有余。主中寒腹痛切急。
在寸口，则中寒口噤，头痛恶寒，欲得覆被火炙。在关上，则胃冷吞酸，中脘脐腹痛，下利
筋寒，或转筋霍乱，咳呕胆汁。紧数为冷热痢，下脓血，或身热饮食如故，有痛处则结痈疽
在尺为寒疝痛。
促脉之状，自尺上寸口促急，有来无去。（《太素脉诀》作有来时止复来。）此荣卫无度
数，阴气促阳也。又肾气离经，升而不降，又为无阴而阳无以系也。若时气促数，上出寸口，
动脉之状，鼓动而暴于指下不常。气血相乘，搏击而动也。或鼓于阳，则一阳为钩，如
夏脉之盛。或鼓于阴，一阴为毛，如秋气之急切劲烈。鼓阳胜而急曰弦，阴缓而阳急也。鼓
阳至而绝曰石，阳辟而阴孤也。阴阳相过曰溜，气相鼓作而动也。
弦脉之状，如张弓弩弦，应指有力，重按则软弱。（《太素脉诀》云∶状如琴弦。）主春
气，主肝脏，主虚，主痰，主疟，主劳。弦而微，气不足，筋缓不荣。弦急似数非数，绵绵
之状，劳伤气促急，四肢煎厥。无首尾而促疾，虚劳不足。弦弱而疾，夜多盗汗。弦短而大，
荣卫劳伤，内急外缓。兼数则热，目视 ，血不足也。兼迟则寒，筋脉急挛。弦涩因失血
女子则月闭血瘕。弦紧为
虚寒里急，寒疝少腹痛，面青下利。弦迟而涩，出入无首尾，为
寒闭血少，筋干急，（《太素脉诀》作弦而急。）或偏枯血脉痹，得之风冷湿也。（《十便良方》
短脉之状，往来极短，不待息尽而回，或无首尾，但见于指面，亦不待气来而至。其人
短气息，或不能长息，又为大下脱气，又主久病。
长脉之状，往来指下，息随而尽，其有余，如操带物之长。（《太素脉诀》云∶长脉之状
往来至长。）禀赋气强，胜血而气拥，其人寿。若加大而数，为病阳盛内热，当利三焦。
浮脉的形态，在皮肤表层轻取即可触及，重按时似乎有又似乎无。它对应秋季，主肺，主风邪，主虚乏和短气。秋季出现此脉为顺，春季出现为贼邪（致病邪气），冬季出现为虚邪，夏季出现为实邪，同时也属于微邪，其病症可不治自愈。纯浮脉是感受风邪所致，浮弦脉是虚劳病，浮紧脉是风寒侵袭，浮芤脉是鼻出血，浮滑脉是风痰，浮洪脉是风气壅滞，浮微脉是气不足，浮缓脉是风虚导致四肢不能随意运动，浮涩脉是伤肺导致的咯血、咳血，浮迟脉是身体极度疲惫，浮弱脉是虚损，浮濡脉是气血俱不足。此外还要观察脉象出现在哪个部位，以此推断脏腑经络的病变，其余情况都依此类推斟酌判断。
沉脉的形态，需要在肌肉深层才能触及。它主脏病，表现为沉滞伏匿。在寸部出现，表示心肺郁伏，情绪悲忧不乐。在关部出现，表示肝脾不利，腹部胀满且容易嗳气。湿气偏胜则出现肿胀、腹泻、食物不消化、胸膈支撑感、胁肋胀满、容易恐惧。在尺部出现则是石水病，腹部肿胀坚硬，用手指敲击发出壳壳的声音，小便涩滞。沉紧脉是肠间积寒疼痛，沉涩结脉是五气积聚成形，沉数或疾脉是骨蒸潮热，沉滑脉是肾消、骨枯、口渴、小便频数。纯沉脉是水肿沉重，足膝不利，无法踩地，这是由阴湿之气所致。沉而微脉，表示五脏气衰，骨痿不能起身。
迟脉的形态，脉搏往来极慢，一呼一吸之间跳动三次。这是阴盛阳虚的征候，如果手足厥冷不回暖则预后不良。五脏气短，不能上达于气口，说明肺肾俱衰。《太素脉诀》认为是肺肾俱绝。陈无择在《三因方》中说：迟脉若与人迎脉相应，则动势极缓，是湿寒凝滞；若与气口脉相应，则是虚冷沉积，表现为寒证和痛证。迟而涩脉是症瘕咽酸。
数脉的形态，脉搏往来急快，一呼一吸之间跳动六次。这是阳盛阴微的征候。寸部出现数脉是热证、躁动、烦闷。左关出现是目赤头痛、烦满，右关出现是口臭、胃烦、呕逆。尺中出现是小便黄赤、大便闭涩。与人迎脉相应是热证，与气口脉相应可能是疮疡。
洪脉的形态，脉体大而按之隐指。如果脉大且散漫，这叫气衰。脉大且浮，是风邪客于卫分，咳嗽出青黄色脓液如弹丸大小，如果不排出则会伤肺。下利病得大脉，腹泻会更严重。霍乱病得此脉为吉兆。另外此脉主夏季，属心。
虚脉的形态，浮大无力，迟而且柔，又像蜘蛛丝一样细软。这是阳气衰少，阴气独居，表现为多汗亡阳，形体气息萧索，这样的人寿命不长。
散脉的形态，浮而无力，至数不齐，涣散漫延不收摄，比虚脉更甚，或者来多去少，按之好像没有。这是气血俱虚，根本脱离的征候。左寸脉软散，是阳虚不收敛。右寸出现，是气耗汗出。肝脉软散且色泽润泽，应当患溢饮病。脾脉出现此脉，面色不润泽，应当患足肿病。尺脉出现散脉，是精气衰耗。产妇出现此脉能生，孕妇出现此脉则死。
芤脉的形态，像浮大脉，在指面之下，脉形中间中断，又像流水不相连续，或者像泻漆的形状，断而后倒收，又似弦脉但柔软。（《太素脉诀》说：芤脉的形态，中空而弦散。）主吐血、呕血、鼻出血，男子失精，妇人胞漏、半产、血崩。又说，其状弦大，弦则为减，大则为芤，弦芤相搏，这名叫革脉，是金刑木而伤肝。芤而滑脉，主呕吐，甚则亡血。芤而数脉，是阳陷阴中，血液妄行。芤而急脉，是风冷。
濡脉的形态，极软弱，像用手指按在水中的棉花上，若有若无。（《太素脉诀》说：各部脉形，按之极小。）这是阴阳俱不足，被湿冷雾露之气所伤。患病后，头重得像用湿热之物包裹头部；大筋软短，小筋弛长，导致痿弱骨立不能站立；又表现为亡津液，精神不收摄。（《十便良方》说：精神干枯急躁或偏枯，血脉痹阻。）
微脉的形态，极微弱，有时似有似无。这是气血不足，虚惫，亡血，亡汗，小便频数或白浊。如果微而数，是阴虚，客阳内热，谷气少。如果在尺部，是肾脂枯竭，髓不满骨。如果在左关，是肝虚血不足，视物模糊，筋缓弱。如果在右关，是虚滑泄注，食物不消化，肠鸣及浆粥不入胃。如果在右寸，则是损伤背部寒冷，口中如含霜雪，咳嗽肌疏，不耐受风，短气。如果在左寸，是心虚恍惚，忧思不乐，多恐，像被人追捕一样。如果六部脉都微，则阳气不及四肢，足胫冷，手足厥冷，常想用汤火温暖。陈无择《三因方》说：微脉，极细而软，似有若无。与人迎脉相应，是风暑自汗。与气口脉相应，是阳脱泄。入里，病脉微，是虚、是弱、是衄血、是呕吐、是泄泻、是亡汗、是拘急。微弱脉是少气、是中寒。
革脉的形态，浑浑革至如涌泉，谓出而不返也。这是阴气隔阳，也称为溢脉。大概从尺部而出，上行至鱼际，也称为离经脉，没有根本。还有覆脉的形态，从寸口下退，过而入尺，都是必死的脉象。
伏脉的形态，比沉脉更深，指下寻找才能触及，大概是时见时隐。（《太素脉诀》说：伏脉的形态，其形沉伏，隐隐其位。）这是阴阳之气相伏，或者是阴中伏阳，阳中伏阴。脉疾为伏阳内热，身虽寒而……脉实者有伏气在内，涩者有动气，在左则左病，在右则右病，在脐则居脐上下，居脐上为逆，居脐下为从。
牢脉的形态，像弦脉而实，寻之则散。（《太素脉诀》说：指下寻之不动。）这是五劳六极七伤之……
实脉的形态，举按有力，重按隐指然。气不利，也主伏阳在内，蒸热劳倦，胃气壅塞为内痈。实数为三焦闭热，大便秘实。滑为癖饮症瘕留聚之病。实大为气盛闭塞。（《太素脉诀》，）实大作实洪。实沉为脏腑气不通，带短（《太素脉诀》说：实而短。）为宿谷不化。
弱脉的形态，小而无力。这是精不足，短气，表里俱衰，为暴下。阴并于阳，汗出不止者死。又为脚弱筋缓，足不能履地。恶寒，不可出风。
细脉的形态，细细似线。（《太素脉诀》说：其形细微。）这是阴气胜阳。又表现为手足寒，气少，惨惨不舒畅。又血不荣于四肢，谓寒则涩而不流行也。（《太素脉诀》说：又主冷泄痢。）
缓脉的形态，不迟不疾，一息四至，往来得中，实得土气。（《太素脉诀》说：缓脉的形态，如柳叶也。）缓甚，为病四肢不收，受湿而痹。缓而沉，脾气滞，志意不舒展，气痞多噎。缓而涩，肌肉不仁，津液不流行，营卫失度，因以致风。缓而微，为消气。缓而滑，为热中多食。缓而短，谷不化，为溏泄。缓而浮，为风曳。陈无择《三因方》说：缓者，浮大而软……为弱为痹，为疼为不仁，为气不足，为眩晕。缓而滑为热中。缓而迟，虚寒相搏，食冷则咽痛。
涩脉的形态，往来极涩，如水不能流，或聚于指下，或绵绵如泻漆，断而倒收，又似止非止。（《太素脉诀》说：涩脉的形态，如刀口到指，不离其所。）主男子亡血失精，妇人胎妊不成，月候凝涩，或崩伤不止，五带，败血在腹，或血瘕成形，筋急寒痹。浮涩为肺病，咯血咳嗽，虚劳。涩中时弦，为金木相克，胁下痛，不得卧者死。在左寸，为心痹寒栗，病积溲血……
结脉的形态，大小不定，往来不拘，数至时一止。主气不流行，腹中症癖，气块成形。或因大病后亡津液，亡血，或惊恐神散而精不收，或梦漏亡精，又多虑而心气耗也。如果没有这些原因，则其人寿不过一二年。
代脉的形态，其来如断绝，而相待其息以至时，搏而动。主血气亏损，或惊忧积甚，形气不相得也。
滑脉的形态，指下如水之流，或如转珠而滞碍。（《太素脉诀》说：不缓、不洪、不实，如珠之形。）主呕吐，主饮。滑而弦细者为支饮，咳逆倚息，面浮肿。滑而紧，停寒积饮吞酸，肠间漉漉有声。滑而弦，留饮在胃，头痛而眩。滑而数，为中……甚则为……手足螈搐搦……盛……肺……
紧脉的形态，如按绳缴指，三部通度，与弦相似而有力，举按皆有余。主中寒腹痛切急。在寸口，则中寒口噤，头痛恶寒，欲得覆被火炙。在关上，则胃冷吞酸，中脘脐腹痛，下利筋寒，或转筋霍乱，咳呕胆汁。紧数为冷热痢，下脓血，或身热饮食如故，有痛处则结痈疽。在尺为寒疝痛。
促脉的形态，自尺上寸口促急，有来无去。（《太素脉诀》作有来时止复来。）这是营卫无度数，阴气促阳也。又肾气离经，升而不降，又为无阴而阳无以系也。若时气促数，上出寸口……
动脉的形态，鼓动而暴于指下不常。气血相乘，搏击而动也。或鼓于阳，则一阳为钩，如夏脉之盛。或鼓于阴，一阴为毛，如秋气之急切劲烈。鼓阳胜而急曰弦，阴缓而阳急也。鼓阳至而绝曰石，阳辟而阴孤也。阴阳相过曰溜，气相鼓作而动也。
弦脉的形态，如张弓弩弦，应指有力，重按则软弱。（《太素脉诀》说：状如琴弦。）主春气，主肝脏，主虚，主痰，主疟，主劳。弦而微，气不足，筋缓不荣。弦急似数非数，绵绵之状，劳伤气促急，四肢煎厥。无首尾而促疾，虚劳不足。弦弱而疾，夜多盗汗。弦短而大，营卫劳伤，内急外缓。兼数则热，目视……血不足也。兼迟则寒，筋脉急挛。弦涩因失血……女子则月闭血瘕。弦紧为……虚寒里急，寒疝少腹痛，面青下利。弦迟而涩，出入无首尾，为……寒闭血少，筋干急，（《太素脉诀》作弦而急。）或偏枯血脉痹，得之风冷湿也。（《十便良方》……
短脉的形态，往来极短，不待息尽而回，或无首尾，但见于指面，亦不待气来而至。其人短气息，或不能长息，又为大下脱气，又主久病。
长脉的形态，往来指下，息随而尽，其有余，如操带物之长。（《太素脉诀》说：长脉的形态……往来至长。）禀赋气强，胜血而气拥，其人寿。若加大而数，为病阳盛内热，当利三焦。
The floating pulse (Fú Mài, Floating Pulse) is felt lightly on the skin surface; with heavy pressure, it seems present yet absent. It corresponds to autumn, governs the Lung (Fei Zang), wind pathogens, and deficiency with shortness of breath. Its appearance in autumn is favorable; in spring, it indicates a pathogenic factor (Zei Xie); in winter, a deficient pathogen (Xu Xie); in summer, an excess pathogen (Shi Xie), also considered a minor pathogen (Wei Xie), where the disease may resolve spontaneously without treatment. A purely floating pulse indicates wind invasion; floating and wiry (Xian Mai, Wiry Pulse) indicates consumptive disease (Xu Lao); floating and tight (Jin Mai, Tight Pulse) indicates wind-cold; floating and scallion-stalk (Kou Mai, Scallion-Stalk Pulse) indicates epistaxis; floating and slippery (Hua Mai, Slippery Pulse) indicates wind-phlegm; floating and surging (Hong Mai, Surging Pulse) indicates stagnation of wind-qi; floating and faint (Wei Mai, Faint Pulse) indicates qi deficiency; floating and slow/relaxed (Huan Mai, Slow/Relaxed Pulse) indicates wind-deficiency leading to immobility of the four limbs; floating and choppy (Se Mai, Choppy Pulse) indicates lung injury with hemoptysis or coughing blood; floating and delayed (Chi Mai, Delayed Pulse) indicates extreme exhaustion; floating and weak (Ruo Mai, Weak Pulse) indicates deficiency and damage; floating and soft (Ru Mai, Soft Pulse) indicates joint deficiency of qi and blood. Furthermore, observe the location of the pulse to deduce zang-fu and meridian pathology; other cases follow this principle for analysis.
The deep pulse (Chen Mai, Deep Pulse) is obtained below the muscle layer. It governs zang organ diseases, characterized by stagnation and concealment. At the cun position, it indicates depression and concealment of the Heart and Lung, manifesting as sorrow and unhappiness. At the guan position, it indicates disharmony of the Liver and Spleen, abdominal fullness, and frequent belching. Excess dampness leads to edema, loose stools, indigestion, chest oppression, hypochondriac fullness, and timidity. At the chi position, it indicates Stone Water (Shi Shui), with hard abdominal swelling that sounds hollow when tapped, and dysuria. Deep and tight indicates cold accumulation and pain in the intestines; deep, choppy, and knotted indicates formation of accumulations from five qi; deep and rapid or hurried indicates bone-steaming tidal fever; deep and slippery indicates Kidney Xiao (Kidney Wasting-Thirst), withered bones, excessive thirst, and polyuria. A purely deep pulse indicates heavy edema, difficulty in the feet and knees, inability to walk, caused by yin-damp qi. Deep and faint indicates decline of the five zang qi, bone痿 (bone atrophy) preventing rising.
The delayed pulse (Chi Mai, Delayed Pulse) moves extremely slowly, beating three times per respiration cycle. It is a sign of yin excess and yang deficiency; if extremities remain cold and do not warm, death ensues. Shortness of qi of the five zang organs, failing to reach the Qi Kou (radial artery), indicates simultaneous decline of the Lung and Kidney. *Tai Su Mai Jue* states simultaneous extinction of Lung and Kidney. Chen Wuyue in *San Yin Fang* says: If Chi corresponds with Ren Ying (carotid), movement is extremely slow, indicating stagnation of damp-cold; if it corresponds with Qi Kou, it indicates deposition of deficiency-cold, manifesting as cold and pain. Delayed and choppy indicates mass formations and sour regurgitation.
The rapid pulse (Shu Mai, Rapid Pulse) moves urgently and quickly, beating six times per respiration cycle. It is a sign of yang excess and yin deficiency. Appearance at the cun position indicates heat, restlessness, and vexation. Left guan indicates red eyes, headache, vexation, and fullness; right guan indicates foul mouth odor, stomach vexation, and vomiting/regurgitation. Chi position indicates yellow-red urine and constipation. Correspondence with Ren Ying indicates heat; correspondence with Qi Kou may indicate sores.
The surging pulse (Hong Mai, Surging Pulse) is large and presses into the finger. If large and diffuse, it signifies qi decline. Large and floating indicates wind lodging in the Wei level, coughing up green-yellow pus like a bullet; if not expelled, it injures the Lung. In diarrhea, a large pulse worsens the condition. In Huoluan (cholera-like syndrome), it is auspicious. This pulse governs summer and belongs to the Heart.
The deficient pulse (Xu Mai, Deficient Pulse) is floating, large, and powerless, slow and soft, resembling a spider's thread. This indicates scarcity of yang qi and dominance of yin qi, manifesting as profuse sweating and loss of yang, withering of form and qi, indicating a short lifespan.
The scattered pulse (San Mai, Scattered Pulse) is floating and powerless, irregular in rhythm, diffuse and unrestrained, worse than deficient; coming much more than going, feeling absent upon pressure. This indicates joint deficiency of qi and blood, detachment of the root. Soft and scattered at left cun indicates yang deficiency failing to consolidate. At right cun, it indicates qi consumption and sweating. Liver pulse soft and scattered with lustrous color indicates Yi Yin (overflowing water retention). Spleen pulse indicates foot edema if color is dull. Chi pulse scattered indicates depletion of essence and qi. For parturient women, it indicates birth; for pregnant women, death.
The scallion-stalk pulse (Kou Mai, Scallion-Stalk Pulse) is floating and large, but interrupted beneath the fingertip, resembling discontinuous flowing water or pouring lacquer that breaks and reverses, appearing wiry yet soft. (*Tai Su Mai Jue*: "Empty in the center, wiry and scattered.") It governs hematemesis, hemoptysis, epistaxis, seminal emission in men, uterine bleeding, miscarriage, and metrorrhagia in women. Also described as wiry and large; wiry implies reduction, large implies Kou. Wiry and Kou interacting creates the Leverage Pulse (Ge Mai), where Metal penalizes Wood, injuring the Liver. Kou and slippery indicates vomiting, potentially blood loss. Kou and rapid indicates yang sinking into yin, with reckless blood movement. Kou and urgent indicates wind-cold.
The soft pulse (Ru Mai, Soft Pulse) is extremely weak and soft, like pressing cotton in water, seemingly present yet absent. (*Tai Su Mai Jue*: "All positions feel extremely small upon pressure.") It indicates joint insufficiency of yin and yang, injured by damp-cold fog/mist. Symptoms include heaviness of the head as if wrapped in hot/damp cloth; large tendons soft and short, small tendons lax and long, leading to flaccidity and inability to stand; loss of body fluids and uncollected spirit. (*Shi Bian Liang Fang*: "Dry and irritable spirit or hemiplegia, bi-syndrome of blood vessels.")
The faint pulse (Wei Mai, Faint Pulse) is extremely faint, sometimes seeming present yet absent. It indicates insufficiency of qi and blood, deficiency and exhaustion, blood loss, sweat loss, polyuria, or turbid white urine. Faint and rapid indicates yin deficiency with internal heat from guest-yang and insufficient grain qi. At chi position, it indicates dried kidney marrow and empty bones. At left guan, liver deficiency and blood insufficiency causing blurred vision and weak tendons. At right guan, deficiency with slippery diarrhea, indigestion, borborygmus, and inability to retain gruel/stomach contents. At right cun, it indicates back injury/cold, sensation of frost/snow in mouth, cough, sparse muscles, intolerance to wind, and shortness of breath. At left cun, heart deficiency with trance, worry, sadness, fear, feeling hunted. If all six positions are faint, yang fails to reach limbs, causing cold calves and extremities, preferring warmth. *San Yin Fang*: Extremely thin and soft, seemingly present yet absent. Correspondence with Ren Ying indicates wind-heat spontaneous sweating; with Qi Kou indicates yang collapse and leakage. Interior faint pulse indicates deficiency, weakness, epistaxis, vomiting, diarrhea, sweat loss, and spasms. Faint and weak indicates shortness of qi and interior cold.
The leverage pulse (Ge Mai, Leverage Pulse) is turbulent and urgent like a gushing spring, exiting without returning. It indicates yin isolating yang, also called Overflowing Pulse. Emerging from chi and ascending to Yu Ji, it is also called Jing-Li (departing from the channel), lacking a root. The Reverse Pulse (Fu Mai) descends from cun past chi; both are fatal pulses.
The hidden pulse (Fu Mai, Hidden Pulse) is deeper than deep, requiring search to detect, appearing intermittently. (*Tai Su Mai Jue*: "Sinking and concealed, faintly located.") It indicates mutual concealment of yin and yang qi, or yang hidden in yin/yin hidden in yang. Hurried hidden pulse indicates internal heat from hidden yang, cold body... Excess pulse with hidden qi inside; choppy pulse with moving qi; left side indicates left pathology, right side right pathology, umbilical area above/below umbilicus; above is adverse, below is favorable.
The firm pulse (Lao Mai, Firm Pulse) is wiry and solid, scattering upon search. (*Tai Su Mai Jue*: "Unmoving under fingers.") It relates to five labors, six extremes, and seven injuries...
The excess pulse (Shi Mai, Excess Pulse) is forceful upon lifting and pressing, pressing into the finger. Qi obstruction, also indicating hidden yang inside, steaming heat, fatigue, stomach qi stagnation leading to internal abscess. Excess and rapid indicates closure-heat of San Jiao and constipation. Slippery indicates phlegm-fluid, masses, and stagnation. Excess and large indicates qi abundance and blockage. (*Tai Su Mai Jue*), Excess and large acts like Excess-Surging. Excess and deep indicates obstruction of zang-fu qi; short (*Tai Su Mai Jue*: "Excess and short") indicates undigested food.
The weak pulse (Ruo Mai, Weak Pulse) is small and powerless. It indicates essence insufficiency, shortness of breath, exterior-interior decline, and sudden diarrhea. Yin merging into yang with incessant sweating indicates death. Also indicates weak legs, lax tendons, inability to walk, aversion to cold, intolerance to wind.
The fine pulse (Xi Mai, Fine Pulse) is thin like a thread. (*Tai Su Mai Jue*: "Form is minute.") Indicates yin excess over yang. Also cold extremities, scant qi, distress and discomfort. Blood failing to nourish four limbs, stasis due to cold. (*Tai Su Mai Jue*: "Also governs cold dysentery.")
The slow/relaxed pulse (Huan Mai, Slow/Relaxed Pulse) is neither slow nor fast, beating four times per respiration, balanced, obtaining Earth qi. (*Tai Su Mai Jue*: "Like willow leaves.") Extreme slowness indicates limbs unable to grasp, damp-bi. Slow and deep indicates Spleen qi stagnation, depressed mood, qi痞 (blockage) and frequent choking. Slow and choppy indicates insensitivity of muscles, stagnant fluids, disharmony of Ying and Wei, leading to wind. Slow and faint indicates qi consumption. Slow and slippery indicates interior heat with polyphagia. Slow and short indicates indigestion and loose stools. Slow and floating indicates wind dragging. *San Yin Fang*: Floating, large, and soft... indicates weakness, bi, pain, insensitivity, qi deficiency, dizziness. Slow and slippery indicates interior heat. Slow and delayed indicates deficiency-cold interaction, sore throat after eating cold.
The choppy pulse (Se Mai, Choppy Pulse) moves extremely roughly, like stagnant water, gathering under fingers, or continuous like pouring lacquer breaking and reversing, seeming to stop but not stopping. (*Tai Su Mai Jue*: "Like a knife edge touching the finger, staying in place.") Governs blood loss and seminal emission in men, infertility, irregular menses, metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, retained blood in abdomen, blood masses, tendon urgency, cold-bi. Floating and choppy indicates lung disease, hemoptysis, cough, consumptive disease. Choppy with occasional wiry indicates Metal-Wood conflict, hypochondriac pain, inability to lie down (fatal). At left cun, Heart Bi with chills, accumulation, bloody urine...
The knotted pulse (Jie Mai, Knotted Pulse) varies in size, irregular movement, pausing occasionally. Governs stagnant qi, abdominal masses, formed qi lumps. Caused by fluid/blood loss after severe illness, fright/scatter of spirit, nocturnal emissions, or excessive worry consuming Heart qi. Without cause, life expectancy is 1-2 years.
The alternating pulse (Dai Mai, Alternating Pulse) comes as if severed, waiting for breath to resume, beating and moving. Governs qi-blood deficiency, severe fright/worry, disharmony of form and qi.
The slippery pulse (Hua Mai, Slippery Pulse) flows like water under fingers, or like rolling pearls with slight obstruction. (*Tai Su Mai Jue*: "Neither slow, surging, nor excess, like pearls.") Governs vomiting and fluid retention. Slippery, wiry, and fine indicates Branch Fluid (Zhi Yin), coughing backward, leaning to breathe, facial edema. Slippery and tight indicates cold stagnation, fluid retention, sour regurgitation, intestinal rumbling. Slippery and wiry indicates retained fluid in stomach, headache, vertigo. Slippery and rapid indicates interior... severe cases involve convulsions/tremors... Flourishing... Lung...
The tight pulse (Jin Mai, Tight Pulse) feels like pressing a rope against the finger, spanning all three positions, similar to wiry but forceful, abundant upon lifting and pressing. Governs interior cold with cutting abdominal pain. At cun, interior cold with locked jaw, headache, aversion to cold, desire for blankets/fire. At guan, cold stomach with sour regurgitation, epigastric/umbilical pain, lower limb cold, or tetanus/Huoluan, coughing/vomiting bile. Tight and rapid indicates cold-heat dysentery with pus/blood, or fever with normal appetite, painful areas forming carbuncles. At chi, cold hernia pain.
The hurried pulse (Cu Mai, Hurried Pulse) is urgent from chi to cun, coming without going. (*Tai Su Mai Jue*: "Comes, stops, then comes again.") Indicates irregular Ying-Wei rhythms, yin urging yang. Kidney qi departing channel, ascending not descending, yin absence leaving yang unsupported. If seasonal qi is hurried/rapid, emerging above cun...
The arterial pulse (Dong Mai, Arterial Pulse) beats violently and irregularly under fingers. Qi and blood multiplying, striking and moving. Beating in yang makes one Yang the Hook, like summer pulse flourishing. Beating in yin makes one Yin the Feather, like autumn air urgent and strong. Yang beating winning and urgent is Wiry (Yin slow, Yang urgent). Yang beating reaching cessation is Stone (Yang repels, Yin isolated). Yin-Yang passing is Sliding (Qi鼓作 moving).
The wiry pulse (Xian Mai, Wiry Pulse) is like a drawn bowstring, forceful at touch, soft upon heavy pressure. (*Tai Su Mai Jue*: "Like a guqin string.") Governs Spring qi, Liver, deficiency, phlegm, malaria, labor. Wiry and faint indicates qi insufficiency, lax tendons not nourished. Wiry and urgent resembling rapid but not rapid, continuous, indicates labor-injury,急促 qi, four limbs boiling厥. No beginning/end, hurried, indicates deficiency-labor insufficiency. Wiry, weak, and rapid indicates night sweats. Wiry, short, and large indicates Ying-Wei labor injury, internal urgency external laxity. Combined with rapid indicates heat, blurred vision, blood insufficiency. Combined with delayed indicates cold, tendon/meridian spasm. Wiry and choppy due to blood loss... Women: amenorrhea, blood masses. Wiry and tight indicates... deficiency-cold interior urgency, cold hernia, lower abdominal pain, blue face, diarrhea. Wiry, delayed, and choppy, no beginning/end, indicates... cold blocking blood shortage, dry/tight tendons. (*Tai Su Mai Jue*: "Wiry and urgent.") Or hemiplegia, vessel bi, caused by wind-cold-damp. (*Shi Bian Liang Fang*...)
The short pulse (Duan Mai, Short Pulse) moves extremely short, returning before breath ends, or no beginning/end, visible only at fingertip, not waiting for qi arrival. Person has short breath, inability to take long breath, or qi collapse after severe purgation, governing chronic disease.
The long pulse (Chang Mai, Long Pulse) moves under fingers, ending with breath, surplus, like holding a belt strap long. (*Tai Su Mai Jue*: "Long pulse... comes and goes long.") Strong constitution, blood overcoming qi congestion, long life. If large and rapid, indicates yang excess interior heat, should drain San Jiao.