The Importance of the Beat: Checking Your Pulse for a Diagnosis

Chinese medicine will always use natural observations in order to determine which parts of the body may be off in their energy. By observing the external functions of the body, they can make assessments on how this affects the internal structure. From here, they will be able to decide on how to change the energy flow.

One of the most important areas of observation for Chinese medicine diagnosis is the pulse. The different pulses of the body are so important to Chinese medicine, that they are considered an art by learning how to use them appropriately. Usually, only the most trained practitioners can find how to use the pulse properly.

The reason why the pulse is important to the observations is because Chinese medicine has found connections between the pulse and every area of the body. In Western medicine, there is an understanding that the pulse of the heart is located in the wrist and also the neck. In Chinese medicine, there are also pulses for the kidney, liver, and other body areas.

Not only do all of the internal organs have specific pulses in different areas of the body, but these also have different depths. This means that a reading of a pulse can be heard in 'layers' in each position. Typically, each pulse will have three different depths that can be observed. These can be found in nine different areas when the diagnosis is being made from pulse.

If a practitioner is looking for a diagnosis for a pulse, they will look for several attributes. If you are in Chinese medicine, you will most likely know about twenty-eight different characteristics to look for. These may be related to how the pulse sounds, the rate it is beating at, and other factors such as this. The characteristics that are determined will also help to draw conclusions about which areas of the body are off of their regular energy flow.

If you are moving into Chinese medicine, expect your pulses to be checked. This is one of the main considerations in Chinese medicine, and is never over looked in the diagnosis. The art of checking the pulse in Chinese medicine is one of the main foundations for understanding how the internal Qi of someone is functioning.