Question | Answer |
Superficial/floating pulse generally means | External problem |
XS type Superficial/floating pulse means | OPI invasion |
DEF type Superficial/floating pulse means | Floating Yang, general deficiency |
Deep/sinking pulse generally means | Internal problem |
XS type Deep/sinking pulse means | Internal cold, Qi or Blood stagnation |
DEF type Deep/sinking pulse means | Qi a/o Blood deficiency |
Fast/rapid pulse generally means | Heat |
XS type Fast/rapid pulse means | Full Heat |
DEF type Fast/rapid pulse means | Any Deficiency
Yang (Floating)
Yin (Deep) |
Slow pulse generally means | Cold |
XS type Slow pulse means | Excess Cold |
DEF type Slow pulse means | Yang Deficiency, Qi Deficiency in blood |
Empty/deficient pulse generally means | Deficiency of Qi a/o Blood |
SLOW type Full/Excess pulse means | Excess Cold & Strong Vital Qi |
FAST type Full/Excess pulse means | Excess Heat & Strong Vital Qi |
Thin/thready pulse generally means | Deficiency of Qi & Blood or Yin & Blood |
Thin/thready & STRONG pulse means | Damp/ Phlegm obstruction of Qi & Blood
Pain/ Cold Attack |
Wide/big pulse generally means | Excess (Strong Patho)/ Deficiency |
EMPTY Wide/big pulse means | Deficiency of Qi (SP) a/o Blood |
DISTINCT Wide/big pulse means | Excess Heat in Yang Ming (ST/LI), pulse is rapid too |
Slippery/rolling pulse generally means | Excess |
Slippery/rolling pulse specifically means | Phlegm/Excess Damp
Food Stagnation
Pregnancy
Phlegm/ Fluid Retention |
Wiry pulse generally means | Stagnation (Qi) |
Wiry pulse specifically means | LV/GB disorder (Yang rising, Qi Stag)
Pain/ Stagnation Food/ Phlegm/ Fluid |
Tight pulse generally means | Excess |
Tight pulse specifically means | Excess cold
Stagnation b/c Cold/Phlegm
Pain (interior, Cold type) |
Flooding/surging pulse generally means | Heat/Excess |
Flooding/surging pulse specifically means | Excess Heat injuring Fluids or Yin
Imminent Qi collapse (floating)
Deficiency Heat |
Soft/soggy pulse generally means | Deficiency |
Soft/soggy pulse specifically means | Pathogenic Damp
Any Deficiency (Blood, Essence, Yin) |
Weak/frail pulse generally means | Deficiency |
Weak/frail pulse specifically means | Deficiency of Qi, Blood or Yang |
Difference between a soft/soggy and a weak/frail pulse is | Depth, soft is more superficial, weak is deep |
Minute/ Faint pulse generally means | Deficiency |
Minute/ Faint pulse specifically means | Severe Def. of Qi, Blood
Yang Collapse |
Minute/ Faint pulse is felt at which level | Any level, heavy pressure will push through it |
Long pulse generally means | Excess |
Long pulse specifically means | Strong vitality,
Tight/wiry means Excess (heat) |
Short pulse generally means | Deficiency |
XS Short pulse means | Stagnation/blockage |
DEF Short pulse means | Qi Deficiency |
Irregular/intermittent pulse generally means | Deficiency, regularly irregular (pattern of skipped beats) |
Irregular/intermittent pulse specifically means | Yin organ exhaustion, HT disharmony, Shock/trauma disorder |
Choppy/rough/hesitant pulse generally means | Deficiency/Stasis, irregular |
XS Choppy/rough/hesitant pulse means | Qi a/o Blood Stagnation
Food/ Phlegm Stag |
DEF Choppy/rough/hesitant pulse means | Blood & Jing Deficiency
Fluid loss after sweating/vomiting |
Swift/ Hasty/Abrupt/Hurried
pulse generally means | Heat agitating Qi & Blood, irregular |
XS Swift/ Hasty/Abrupt/Hurried pulse means | Hyper Yang Activity
Excess Heat/ Phlegm Heat |
DEF Swift/ Hasty/Abrupt/Hurried pulse means | Deficiency HT Fire/ HT Qi
Yin Deficiency
Possible imminent collapse (Yin)
Phthisis |
Knotted pulse generally means | Cold (Excess Yin)
irregular |
XS Knotted pulse means | Obstruction of Qi & Blood b/c Cold or Cold Phlegm
HT Blood Stasis |
DEF Knotted pulse means | HT Qi/ Blood Deficiency
Blood Deficiency |
Leather pulse generally means | Deficiency |
Leather pulse specifically means | Severe KD Jing Deficiency
External Cold (Wei Qi response) |
Firm/prison pulse generally means | Internal Excess Cold |
Firm/prison pulse specifically means | Internal Excess Cold accumulation
(mass, hernia) |
Hollow pulse generally means | Deficiency |
Hollow pulse specifically means | Sudden Blood loss
Severe Yin Deficiency |
Scattered pulse generally means | Deficiency |
Scattered pulse specifically means | Severe Qi & Blood Deficiency
KD Yang floating away |
Hidden pulse generally means | Deficiency |
Hidden pulse specifically means | Extreme KD Yang Deficiency
L.O.C.
Severe Pain/ Stagnation |
Moving/”Spinning Bean” pulse specifically means | shock/anxiety/trauma/Pain |
Moderate Pulse Means | Sp Qi deficiency
Wind/ Damp Attack |
SLOW Pulse Generally Means | Cold Syndrome
Internal Heat (Forceful)
Abd Mass |
Rapid Intermittent (Running) Pulse | Hyper Yang/ Excess Heat
Blood/ Phlegm/ Qi Stagnation
Rebellion |