Your pulse can tell a lot about your health and energy.  When checking a pulse, not only do you look at the rate of the pulse but you can also check the strength, shape, depth, length, width of the heart beat.  

In Chinese medicine, the pulse is felt with 3 fingers on each arm.  Each finger covers two organs so they are analyzing 12 different areas of the body and determining 28 different pulse attributes.  One area may pulsate much stronger than another showing that one area is weaker than another.  

Weakness is always a sign of stress or disfunction in that system or body part.  

Here are some examples of what is assessed during a pulse reading:

1. Rate: Your pulse is measured along with how you breathe with it.  Normal pulse has a rate of 4-5 beats per breath.  If the pulse is too fast, it shows more heat in the body (inflammation) or “excess” in the body. If slow, it means the body is showing cold (deficiency in the body). 

2. Depth: If it is hard to find a pulse, it means the cause of symptoms are deep in the body and that organs are probably affected.  If a pulse is easily felt this means that your symptoms are caused by something superficial like a cold or flu.  

3. Force: 

Weak: Hard to find pulse means Blood depletion.  

Soggy: Is a pulse that is felt pretty easy but is soft and kind of spread out.  This may mean poor water metabolism.  

Extremely thin pulse: Depletion

Full pulse: Abundance of energy

Wiry: Severe pain, stress or is upset

The heart is where most stress is going to show up. That is why pregnant women are told to avoid stress and people with heart or gut issue are told to manage their stress.  

Keep your heart strong by eating fish or taking Omega 3 supplements.  A strong heart is crucial for health and making sure your body is flourished with nutrients. 

Dr. Amie Gregory, DC, CCEP, ANF is a San Francisco, CA and San Carlos, CA chiropractor that understands full body health.  She works with athletes, expectant moms, office workers and everyone else in between.  Contact our San Francisco, CA chiropractic office or San Carlos, CA chiropractic office today!

References:

Kaptchuk, Ted. The Web That Has No Weaver, Understanding Chinese Medicine.

Maciocia, Giovanni. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists.