Pulse diagnosis (脈診) is one of the most important diagnostic methods in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The practitioner uses three fingertips placed on the patient's wrist to read pulse characteristics, which reflect the condition of internal organs and the flow of Qi and blood.
TCM identifies over 28 different pulse qualities. A floating pulse (浮脈) indicates external conditions, a deep pulse (沉脈) suggests internal issues, a rapid pulse (數脈) indicates heat in the body, and a slow pulse (遲脈) indicates cold. Practitioners analyze these characteristics alongside other symptoms.
Pulse-taking positions are divided into three points on each wrist: Cun (寸), Guan (關), and Chi (尺). Each position reflects different organs. For example, the left wrist Cun position reflects the heart, Guan reflects the liver, and Chi reflects the kidney. This allows practitioners to assess the health of various organs.
Pulse diagnosis is typically used alongside other examinations following the Four Methods: observation (望), listening (聞), inquiry (問), and palpation (切). The practitioner observes the face and tongue, listens to the voice, asks about symptoms, and feels the pulse to achieve accurate and comprehensive diagnosis.
At Hua Yi Tang Clinic, our practitioners begin every consultation with pulse diagnosis to assess the patient's condition. This helps understand the root cause of illness and plan appropriate treatment, whether acupuncture, herbal medicine, or other therapies.