The Pulse of Classical Asian Medicine
“The proper place for finger placement is on the surface of the protuberant bone, which is one tshon downwards from the first crease of the wrist. Place the index, middle and ring fingers uniformly on the specified place. The reason is, although the arteries are palpable throughout the body, examining too close to the heart is similar to being near a gushing waterfall, and examining too far from the heart is like relying on the message of a guest from a far off place.”
I have felt for some time that the heart of a medical system is evident in its approach to pulse taking. Pulse diagnosis is a subtle art. There are stories of the miraculous diagnoses and psychic perceptions of pulse masters. TCM practitioners are trained to analyze the pulse in terms of 28 potential qualities. This certainly requires the development of a subtle perception. For someone who has not studied these medical systems, it may seem mysterious how much is perceived in the simple beating along the radial artery. Furthermore, there are various approaches to pulse-taking within each medical system. In Ayurveda, I have come across several different approaches. Tibetan Medicine seems to have a more classically agreed upon method, but it expands greatly upon the Ayurvedic pulse. In fact, it is when I was learning the seasonal pulses of Tibetan Medicine that I was first introduced to the law of the five elements and the law of mother-child.