Traditional Chinese Medicine/Pulse Positions

(1) In the Pulse Classic (written in the late 2nd century), by Wang Shu-He, the correlations between pulse positions and organs are as follows:

At the LEFT WRIST POSITION-


 * Distal Superficial: Small Intestine
 * Distal Deep: Heart


 * Middle Superficial: Gallbladder
 * Middle Deep: Liver


 * Proximal Superficial: Bladder
 * Proximal Deep: Kidney

At the RIGHT WRIST POSITION-


 * Distal Superficial: Large Intestine
 * Distal Deep: Lungs


 * Middle Superficial: Stomach
 * Middle Deep: Spleen


 * Proximal Superficial: Triple Burner
 * Proximal Deep: Kidney (Life Gate)

The distal position is known as the cun (inch, 寸) position, the middle/second position is the guan (gate, 关) position, and the proximal/third pulse position (furthest away from the wrist) is the chi (foot, 尺) position.

The strengths and weaknesses of the these positions are assessed at 3 depths each, namely fu (floating, 浮), zhong (middle, 中) and chen (deep, 沉). .

(2) In the Nan Ching (Classic of Difficulties, written in about 200 AD), the correlations between pulse positions and organs are as follows:

At the LEFT WRIST POSITION-


 * Distal Superficial: Arm Tai Yang
 * Distal Deep: Arm Shao Yin


 * Middle Superficial: Leg Shao Yang
 * Middle Deep: Leg Jue Yin


 * Proximal Superficial: Leg Tai Yang
 * Proximal Deep: Leg Shao Yin

At the RIGHT WRIST POSITION-


 * Distal Superficial: Arm Yang Ming
 * Distal Deep: Arm Tai Yin


 * Middle Superficial: Leg Yang Ming
 * Middle Deep: Leg Tai Yin

back to :
 * ../Pulse Palpation/