Pulse diagnosis
Pulse diagnosis is a traditional technique primarily used in Asian acupuncture and herbal medicine to assess an individual's health status. This diagnostic method involves palpating the pulse at specific points on the body, such as the wrist or neck, to gather information about the state of various organs and bodily systems. Practitioners analyze the pulse for characteristics such as speed, strength, and quality to determine conditions like excess, deficiency, heat, or cold syndromes. In contrast to Western medicine, which typically focuses on cardiovascular health, pulse diagnosis in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) aims to provide a holistic view of a person's overall well-being.
While pulse diagnosis is often used alongside other diagnostic methods, ongoing research seeks to enhance its objectivity and reliability. Although some aspects of pulse diagnosis have been shown to be measurable and reproducible, challenges remain in quantifying its subjective elements. For individuals interested in this practice, it is advisable to consult certified practitioners trained in traditional Asian medicine. Notably, pulse diagnosis is a noninvasive procedure with no known side effects, making it a safe option for those exploring alternative health assessments.
Pulse diagnosis
DEFINITION: A technique used in Asian acupuncture and herbal medicine to assess a person’s state of health.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USES: Disease etiology, nature, and prognosis
OTHER PROPOSED USE: Ensuring proper insertion of acupuncture needles
Overview
The pulse represents the arterial palpation of the heartbeat by trained fingertips. A pulse is taken at a site on the body that allows an artery to be compressed against a bone, such as at the neck (carotid artery), at the wrist (radial artery), and at the inside of the elbow (brachial artery).
In modern medicine, a human pulse is a convenient tactile method to determine systolic blood pressure. Stethoscope and blood pressure-cuff measurements reveal a person’s pulse rate and possible irregularities in the heart. In contrast to pulse diagnosis in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), pulse diagnosis in Western medicine is used to determine conditions of the heart and major vessels only; it is not used to determine a person’s overall state of health.
Mechanism of Action
In Chinese medicine, the pulse determines if a syndrome is hot or cold in nature or is caused by an excess or deficiency, and it determines which of the humors—qi, moisture, or blood—and which organ systems are affected. The strengths and weaknesses and the different qualities and speed of the pulse are used to assess a person diagnostically. Chinese medical diagnosis generally uses the wrist pulse, looking at six different pulses in each wrist, each corresponding to specific organs of the body.
The Chinese method of taking a pulse is based on touching the wrist with three levels of pressure: superficial palpation (almost no pressure; detects bounding of the pulse up to the skin surface), intermediate palpation (light pressure; reveals basic pulse forms), and deep palpation (firm pressure; indicates how the pulse can emerge from the physical constraint).
Uses and Applications
Traditional Chinese practitioners use pulse diagnosis to indicate hot and cold conditions, internal inflammation, stagnation, excesses, and deficiencies. They also use pulse diagnosis to locate these conditions.
However, pulse diagnosis is generally used in conjunction with other diagnostic methods.
Scientific Evidence
Investigations of pulse diagnosis indicate that certain features, such as pulse speed, are objective and repeatable. However, other features range in level of reliability. Rigorous, double-blind studies of pulse diagnosis are difficult to conduct because diagnostic variables and disease subcategories are often subjective. There are ongoing attempts to more clearly define pulse forms and make pulse diagnosis objective (for example, by developing medical equipment that can detect and record pulse forms and by developing statistical analyses of pulse types by disease).
Choosing a Practitioner
A medical doctor’s taking of a person’s pulse is not equivalent to pulse diagnosis in CAM. Pulse diagnosis in CAM is performed by practitioners in traditional Asian medicine. One should choose a practitioner who is certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and who is licensed by the state in which they practice.
Safety Issues
Pulse diagnosis is noninvasive and has no known side effects.
Bibliography
“Brief Overview of Chinese Tongue and Pulse Diagnosis.” Carolina Clinic of Natural Medicine, carolinanaturalmedicine.com/about/oriental-medicine/brief-overview-of-chinese-tongue-and-pulse-diagnosis/. Accessed 20 Sept. 2024.
Dharmananda, Subhuti. “The Significance of Traditional Pulse Diagnosis in the Modern Practice of Chinese Medicine.” Institute for Traditional Medicine, www.itmonline.org/arts/pulse.htm. Accessed 15 Aug. 2023. Song, Shuna, and Zhensu She. "A New Interpretation of TCM Pulse Diagnosis Based on Quantum Physical Model of the Human Body." Digital Chinese Medicine, vol. 5, no. 4, 2022, pp. 360-366. ScienceDirect, doi.org/10.1016/j.dcmed.2022.12.009. Accessed 20 Sept. 2024.
"Traditional Chinese Medicine: What You Need To Know." National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 16 Aug. 2023, www.nccih.nih.gov/health/traditional-chinese-medicine-what-you-need-to-know. Accessed 20 Sept. 2024.
Walsh, Sean, and Emma King. Pulse Diagnosis: A Clinical Guide. Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier, 2007.
Wiseman, Nigel, and Andy Ellis. Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine: Zhong Yi Xue Ji Chu. Rev. ed. Brookline, Mass.: Paradigm, 1997.