The Body Gossips
Pulse examination is considered one of the cornerstones of Classical TCM diagnosis. The ancient texts attributed superior skill to the physicians able to discern subtleties in the pulse, that were missed by others.
Why is Pulse Diagnosis Important to a TCM Practitioner?
Pulse examination, as essential to diagnosis, is recorded in TCM recorded history as early as the 5th century BC.
Bian Que was immortalised as half-man, half-god who practised as a physician, paediatrician and gynaecologist around 500BC. He was especially skilled at pulse diagnosis, enhancing his ability to detect illnesses in the internal organs. He reputedly revived a prince of Guo - declared dead and about to be buried - through use of acupuncture, moxibustion and hot herbal compresses.
Bian Que could bring people back to life!
But his ethics prevented him accepting the label of miracle-worker, saying that in truth the prince had not really been dead in the first place.
The Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic differentiates between a practitioner with superior skills (Shang Gong) and one with lesser ability (Cu Gong). Essentially, a practitioner with superior skills knows any treatment must consider the patient's spirit (Shen), above and beyond any diagnosis of the physical condition. For example, a deficient pulse at specific positions on the wrists can give insight into the quality of a patient’s sleep.
During needling, a Shang Gong observes the (changing) flow of Qi and not just the physical reaction at the site of the needle. After physical manipulation, the pulse instantly mirrors the changing flow of Qi.
What’s the Idea Behind Pulse Diagnosis?
The pulse reflects the state of Qi in the internal organs. The three deeper positions on each wrist represent a particular organ system - Heart, Liver, Kidney on the left wrist, Lung, Spleen, Triple Warmer on the right.
The superficial pulse at each of these locations reflects the state of the partner organs - Small Intestine, Gall Bladder, Bladder, Large Intestine etc
The Body Gossips?
The pulse can sometimes disguise the state of internal organs, giving qualities inconsistent with symptoms the patient is reporting. Very experienced practitioners look through the pulse to gain an accurate diagnosis. A less skilled practitioner can be misled by an initial pulse diagnosis, but will gain a more accurate picture after any physical Qi blockages are addressed by manipulation.
The true state of Qi is revealed after manipulation . The body gossips by showing an unexpected quality at pulse location(s) which guide the practitioner to initially address these blockages.