What causes a weak pulse? Different pulse conditions represent different diseases

Taking the pulse is an important means of diagnosing patients in traditional Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine can judge a person's illness based on his pulse. Different pulse patterns represent different diseases. Let us take a closer look at it below.

(1) Floating pulse

There are six types of floating pulse: floating, surging, moist, scattered, wiry, and leathery. Because the pulse is shallow and can be felt by floating sensation, it is classified into one category.

Floating pulse

[Pulse]: It can be felt with light touch, and becomes slightly less tense when pressed hard but is not empty; it feels loose when lifted but still has some pulse, like a piece of wood floating on water.

【Main diseases】Exterior syndrome and deficiency syndrome.

[Pulse Principle] Floating pulse is superficial, reflecting that pathogenic factors are in the meridians and muscles. When pathogenic factors attack the skin and muscles, Wei Yang rises up to resist, and the pulse Qi beats externally. The pulse responds to the finger and is therefore floating and strong. When the body is weak due to internal injuries and long-term illness, the Yang Qi cannot be hidden and floats to the outside. Sometimes a floating pulse is seen, which is large and weak.

Hongmai

[Pulse] The pulse is very strong, like surging waves, rising and falling.

【Main disease】Internal heat syndrome

[Pulse Theory] The formation of a surging pulse is caused by excess Yang Qi, stagnation of Qi and hyperactivity of fire, and internal heat, which causes the meridians to expand, Qi to flourish, and blood to surge, resulting in a surging pulse. If a surging pulse occurs due to long-term illness, qi deficiency, fatigue, blood loss, prolonged diarrhea, etc., it is a dangerous symptom of deficiency of the body's health and excess of evil, or it may be due to depletion of yin fluid, hyperactivity of yang, or loss of false yang. At this time, the floating action is vigorous and strong, while the sinking action is weak and lifeless.

Wet pulse

[Pulse] Floating, thin and soft, like silk in water.

【Main disease】Deficiency syndrome, dampness syndrome

[Pulse Principle] Ru pulse is the main cause of all kinds of deficiencies. If both essence and blood are damaged, the Yin deficiency cannot maintain the Yang, so the pulse is floating and soft. If the essence and blood are not sufficient, the pulse is thin. If it is due to Qi deficiency and Yang decline, the empty Yang cannot be restrained, so the pulse is also floating and soft. Floating, thin and soft, is called Ru pulse. If dampness blocks the meridians, a wet pulse will also be seen.

Scattered pulse

[Pulse] Floating, scattered and rootless, with irregular pulse rates. Like scattered poplar catkins.

【Main disease】Dispersion of vital energy

[Pulse theory] Scattered pulse indicates that the vital energy is dispersing and the qi of the internal organs is about to be exhausted, which is a critical symptom. Due to heart failure, yin and yang cannot be restrained, and yang qi is dispersed, so the pulse is floating and not tight. It cannot be felt if you press it with a little force, and it has no root. Yin is weak and yang is consumed, and the heart qi cannot maintain blood circulation, so the pulse is sometimes fast and sometimes slow, and the number of beats is irregular.

Pi pulse

[Pulse] Floating, large and hollow, like pressing on a scallion tube.

【Main disease】Blood loss, Yin damage

[Pulse theory] Pi pulse is often seen in symptoms of blood loss and damage to Yin. Therefore, the appearance of Pi pulse is related to the loss of Yin-blood and the loss of blood filling of blood vessels. Due to sudden excessive blood loss, the amount of blood suddenly decreases, the nutrient blood is insufficient, and the pulse cannot be filled, or the body fluid is severely damaged and the blood cannot be filled. When blood loss and Yin is damaged, the Yang Qi has nowhere to attach to and floats outside, thus forming a floating, large, hollow Pi pulse.

Leather vein

[Pulse] Floating and beating against the finger, hollow inside and hard outside, like pressing on the skin of a drum.

【Main diseases】Blood loss, sperm loss, miscarriage, and vaginal discharge.

[Pulse Principle] The leather pulse is a combination of string and wiry pulse. Due to the deficiency of essence and blood inside, the Qi has nowhere to attach and floats outside, like the contraction of the Yin and cold Qi, resulting in the appearance of being strong outside but hollow inside.

(2) Deep pulse

There are four types of pulses: deep, hidden, weak and firm. The pulse is deeper and can only be felt by pressing hard, so they are classified into the same category.

Deep pulse

[Pulse] It does not respond when pressed lightly, but it responds when pressed hard, like a stone sinking to the bottom of the water.

【Main disease】Internal symptoms. It can also be seen in normal people without any disease.

[Pulse theory] If the pathogenic factors are inside the body, the vital energy is fighting against each other inside, and the qi and blood are trapped inside, the pulse will be deep and strong, which is a sign of interior excess. If the internal organs are weak, the yang energy is declining, the qi and blood are insufficient, and they are unable to control and circulate the qi to the surface, then the pulse will be deep and weak, which is a sign of interior deficiency.

Hidden pulse

[Pulse] It can be felt by pushing the tendons and pressing the bones with heavy hands. In severe cases, the pulse may be hidden and invisible.

[Main diseases] Evil obstruction, syncope, extreme pain.

[Pulse theory] Hidden pulse occurs when evil Qi is hidden inside the body and the pulse Qi cannot circulate freely, making the pulse channel latent and inconspicuous. Hidden pulse also occurs when Yang Qi is weak and about to die and cannot stimulate the blood vessels. The former is more common in cases of sudden illness caused by real evil, while the latter is more common in cases of long-term illness leading to decline in symptoms.

Weak pulse

[Pulse] Extremely soft, deep and fine.

【Main disease】Deficiency of Qi, blood, Yin and Yang.

[Pulse theory] Yin blood is insufficient and cannot fill the meridians. Yang is weak and has little Qi, so it is unable to stimulate and promote blood circulation. Therefore, the pulse is deep, thin and soft, forming a weak pulse.

Prison Pulse

[Pulse] It feels deep, solid, long, stringy and firm when pressed.

[Main disease] Yin and cold condensation, internal solidity and hard accumulation.

[Pulse Theory] The formation of a firm pulse is due to the firmness of the pathogenic Qi, the accumulation of Yin and cold inside, and the sinking of Yang Qi below. Therefore, the pulse is deep, solid, large, long, firm and immovable. The firm pulse indicates that there is a distinction between qi and blood. Visible lumps and tumors are in the blood, while invisible lumps and tumors are in the qi. If a firm pulse is seen in symptoms such as blood loss, yin deficiency, etc., it is a dangerous sign of sudden death of yin blood.