Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Pulse Diagnosis - Dr. Lia Andrews

PULSE DIAGNOSIS

The heart is a highly tuned instrument that reads electromagnetic waves. Different frequencies are read by the heart as emotions, just as visually they are read as colors. That is how Stephen Harrod Buhner describes it in perhaps the best explanation of the heart’s functioning to a Western audience.

Qi refers to the electromagnetic waves emanating from all life. Every cell in our body has Qi. Every organ system has Qi. Each person, animal, and plant emanates Qi that is the collective resonance of all their cells together.

The heart in Daoist philosophy and Chinese medicine is symbolized by the archetype of the emperor. The brain, and every other organ in the body are subjects of the heart.

When we feel the pulse, we are tapping in directly to all the electromagnetic waves of the body filtered through the heart. We are hearing the emperor speak.

The 6 Pulse Positions

There are 3 pulse positions on each wrist. Each position gives you information on the health of different organ systems. You will want to observe the pulse as a whole, as well as divided into position and depth to give you a complete picture.

How to Find the Pulse

You will use 3 fingers, 1 finger to feel each pulse position. These are your index, middle, and ring fingers. Line up the top crease of your middle finger with the bony part of your wrist closest to your hand. Then wrap your fingers around the wrist. See video here.

The Cun Position

This is the position closest to the wrist felt by your index finger. In a normal pulse it is the most superficial of the 3 positions. On the left it tells you the condition of the heart . On the right of the lungs.

The Guan Position

This is the central position felt by your middle finger. In a normal pulse it is medium in depth. On the left it tells you the condition of the liver. On the right of the spleen and digestion in general.

The Chi Position

This is the position furthest from the wrist a felt by your ring finger. In a normal pulse it is the deepest, but still strong and distinct. On the left it tells you the condition of kidney yin. On the right of kidney yang.

Qualities of the Pulse, and What They Mean

It takes Chinese medicine doctors a lifetime perhaps to master pulse diagnosis, but everyone can understand enough to help guide their own health. There are 29 official pulse types in Traditional Chinese Medicine, with endless combinations. Below I list the pulse types that are most common and relevant.

Normal

A normal pulse (ping mai) is smooth, even and forceful. The pulse is present at the Cun, Guan, and Chi positions and from superficial to deep. Its quality should not change very often or easily. There is a normal variation from person to person.

Depth

Superficial or Floating 浮脉 fú mài

Pulse is strong when barely touch the skin, but disappears with apply deeper pressure.

A superficial pulse most often indicates an exterior pathogen, i.e. the immune system is actively fighting off an invader attacking from the outside. The Defensive Qi of the body builds up at the borders to ward off the attack.

Less commonly deficiency syndromes where Yang Qi floats to the surface.

DEEP 沉脉 chén mài

The pulse can only be felt with stronger pressure.

A deep pulse indicates an interior pattern.

Speed

RAPID or FAST 数脉 shù mài

RAPID = 90 beats/min (5 beats/breath) or more

A rapid pulse pulse indicates Heat.

SLOW 遲脈迟脉 chí mài

Slow = 60 beats/minute (4 beats per breath) or less

A slow pulse indicates Cold.

Length

LONG 長脉 chǎng mài

Pulse is felt beyond the Cun position.

A long pulse indicates excess liver Yang, excess heat in the interior, or a strong pathogenic invasion.

SHORT 短脉 duān mài

The pulse can be felt at the Guan position but not at the Cun and/or Chi positions.

A short pulse indicates there is not enough Qi to move the blood, either due to Qi stagnation or Qi deficiency.

Strength

FULL or EXCESS 实脉 shí mài

The pulse is strong and forceful at Cun, Guan, and Chi positions.

A full pulse indicates an excess condition where both the Qi and blood of the body and the pathogen are strong, i.e. a big fight.

EMPTY or DEFICIENT 虚脉 xū mài

The pulse feels weak.

A deficient pulse indicates weakness in the body.

Quality

FINE OR THREADY 细脉 xì mài

The pulse feels fine like a thread but is distinct.

A thready pulse indicates Qi and blood deficiency, or yin deficiency. In yin deficiency, the pulse is typically fast and thready indicating heat + fluid deficiency.

WIRY or STRING-TAUT 弦脉 xuàn mài

The pulse feels tight and long like a guitar string.

A wiry pulse indicates that the liver Qi is not flowing smoothly due to imbalances in the liver and gallbladder organ systems, pain, or phlegm retention.

SLIPPERY or ROLLING 滑脉 huá mài

The pulse feels smooth, flowing, and uninhibited; like pearls rolling in a dish.

A slippery pulse indicates an accumulation of internal pathogenic factors such as phlegm-damp, food stagnation (indigestion), or excess heat. It is considered normal (ping mai) for women during pregnancy.

CHOPPY or ROUGH 涩脉 sè mài

The pulse feels rough and uneven, “like a knife scraping bamboo.” The opposite of a rolling pulse.

A choppy pulse indicates blood not flowing smoothly. This could be due to blood deficiency, blood stagnation, or Jing deficiency.

Beat Regularity

REGULAR IRREGULAR 代脉 dài mài

The pulse is relaxed and weak, stopping at regular intermittent intervals. These intervals may be strikingly long.

A regular irregular pulse indicates trauma or advanced heart disease. This pulse indicates a serious health condition.

KNOTTED (IRREGULAR IRREGULAR) 结脉 jié mài

The pulse is relaxed and slow, stopping at irregular intervals.

A knotted pulse indicates an excess Yin condition: Qi stagnation due to Yin excess, blood stagnation due to phlegm-damp, or blood stagnation. In Western terms , it indicates an irregular beat or palpitation stemming from the ventricle of the heart, but is less serious than a regular irregular pulse.

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Monday, January 22, 2018

Chinese New Year 2018 – Year of the Yang Earth Dog - Dr. Lia Andrews

It is Oben’s favorite year in the 12 year cycle of Chinese Astrology; the year of the dog.

General predictions……

Is this a good year for you?

Yes, as long as you position yourself well. Most astrologists would say 1/3 of people are doomed, 1/3 are cautiously lucky, and the rest just get more of the same, but I believe my answer is more Daoist. There is always a way to benefit. It all comes down to the 5 Elements and Yin/Yang.

First, what about the Dog? The 12 animals are a mnemonic (memory) device to remember 5 element/Yin/Yang pairings.

Dog = Yang Earth

it is also a Yang Earth year.

This means a lot of Earth and a lot of Yang energy coming in.

The Good = groundedness, things coming to fruition, loyalty, networking, nurturing

The Bad = stuck, stubborn

Find your 4 Pillar chart or Get a Reading

I am a Water day element – this means I need to be careful with Earth overacting on my water – health take care of my Kidneys. Be careful not to get stuck in my creativity.

Wood controls Earth and also fuels Fire

Metal drains Earth and Fuels Water

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