Classical Chinese Medicine - Song of the Twenty Eight Pulses

The pulse represents the vessels where Qi and Blood dwell; they are like tunnels that flow with each inhalation and exhalation. The pulse is modeled after the rivers
of the earth and thus represents a home for the blood. They unite with the Heart and dwell at the level of the skin. The pulse is supplied with energy from the Kidney
and is supplemented by energy from the Stomach. The pulse is considered Yin within Yang, rooted in the Wei (Protective) and Ying (Constructive) levels. The Ying
level represents all the Yin and Blood, while the Wei level represents all the Yang and Qi. The Ying moves internally within the vessels, while the Wei moves
externally outside the vessels. The pulse cannot move by itself; it only follows the Qi as it arrives. When the Qi stirs, the pulse responds, forming a Yin/Yang
relationship. Qi is like the push; Blood is like the pull. Blood connects to the vessels, Qi connects to the breath. As they ascend and descend, circulation in the body
results. Within each of the twelve major channels there is a pulse; however, only the hand Tai Yin meridian is chosen to measure them all. This meridian connects
to the Lung, opens to the throat, and is the great meeting point of all the vessels, controlling the ebb and flow of respiration. During one inhalation and one exhalation,
the pulse should arrive four times in normalcy. Over the course of one day and one night, the pulse should arrive 13,500 times. During one inhalation and one
exhalation, the pulse should move six cun in length. Over the course of one day and one night, the pulse should move 810 zhang in length.

浮 FÚ can feel it without pressing down much, at the surface, like
wood ‘floating’ on top of water; represents exterior disorders
沉 CHÉN must press down to feel it, at the ‘depth,’ like a stone dropped
in water; represents interior disorders
遲 CHÍ this pulse 'arrives late' (3 arrivals per respiration), meaning it
takes a while to feel; represents cold conditions
數 SHÙO this movement 'arrives often' (6 arrivals per respiration)
meaning that there is something interfering with the Heart,
which normally beats steadily; represents heat conditions
虛 XŪ feels like an empty valley and corresponds to a deficient or
‘empty’ condition (such as blood), causing weakness in the
body
實 SHÍ this solid, forceful movement represents an excess or ‘full’
condition, usually caused by an individual being uptight and
holding back emotions
滑 HUÁ the ‘slippery’ pulse is like feeling a pearl; it indicates mucous in
the body layers and symbolizes dampness or phlegm
弦 XIÁN corresponds to the act of tying up the strings of a musical
instrument, often referred to as 'wiry;' it corresponds to Liver
and Gall Bladder diseases
芤 KŌU the ‘hollow’ pulse is similar to a leek or green onion in that
the sides can be felt but the inside is empty; the deeper you
go, the more you lose it, signifying that blood is draining out
of the body - an emergency condition that can become very
dangerous
革 GÉ feels like the tough skin of an Ox stretched over a drum,
giving it a tympanic, dry feeling; it corresponds to
deteriorating/withering conditions with blood/jing depletion
牢 LÁO can be imagined as if the person is in prison or locked up in
some way; it is difficult to read and signifies completed
excess turning into deficiency, a serious condition
濡 RÚ feels ‘soft,’ like a bubble floating on top of water; it results
from Spleen Qi deficiency and Dampness
弱 RUÒ the ‘weak’ pulse feels as if it is on the verge of expiring; it
results from the depletion of Wei/Ying levels

散 SÀN this pulse is ‘scattered’ in that it resembles a fishnet lying in

澀 SÈ this pulse feels like a tart fruit in that it is sticky to the fingers;
the radical in the top right corner refers to two rusty knives,
which cut roughly (e.g., ‘choppy’), referring to blood stagnation
長 CHÁNG feels ‘longer’ than the three finger positions upon measurement;
it signifies a normal or excessive condition, and is not as bad
as its counterpart Duan [短]
短 DUǍN feels ‘shorter’ than the three finger positions upon
measurement; it signifies a deficient condition, and is worse
than its counterpart Chang [長]
洪 HÓNG feels like a powerful lake with lots of ‘flooding’ water, signifying
Fire blazing at its fullest; blood also can be 'shooting out,' like if
the carotid artery was bleeding at Ren Ying [人迎]
微 WĒI can be interpreted as light, faint, or ‘minute,’ feeling worn out; it
means that the energy is still alive but is slowly dying
the water, with no pulling together; it is felt in emergency
situations
細 XÌ the small or ’thin’ pulse feels like a silk thread; it is caused
by blood deficiency
伏 FÚ the ‘hidden’ pulse feels like something is lurking in the very
deep; it corresponds to interior cold conditions
動 DÒNG this pulse is likened to a traveling scenario, in that it will be
throbbing with blood seeming to pound outward with no
head or tail, like a ‘spinning bean;’ it often results from
Yin/Yang imbalances
促 CÙ feels abrupt and hasty, like when someone stumbles on the
ground while ‘hurrying;’ it results from extreme Yang and
Fire pressuring a Yin collapse

緊 JǏN feels as if the patient is tied up with wires around their chest, 結 JIÉ this pulse is ‘irregularly intermittent’ in that it stops once and
resulting in a constrained or ‘tight’ feeling that makes it difficult then comes again; it results from extreme Yin pressuring a
to breathe; it appears during excess cold syndromes Yang collapse, with Qi and blood stagnation

緩 HUǍN the opposite of Jin [ 緊 ] in that it is ‘moderate,’ or loose; 代 DÀI this pulse is ‘regularly intermittent’ in that its stirring has
although slow, it is an even, simultaneous slowness; it signifies stops in it; it is due to a debilitating weakness of Yuan and
a normal condition or weakness of the middle burner Zang Qi

疾 JÍ the swift or ‘racing’ pulse feels agitated to the touch; it

indicates excessive Yang with exhausted Yin