Pulse Diagnosis

Ryan Longenecker Pulse Diagnosis Avenue Acupuncture

An important technique used to identify any malfunctioning organs or areas of the body is Chinese Pulse Diagnosis. This traditional Chinese method has been used for thousands of years to take a deeper look into the body. Before X-rays and Ultrasound were around, Chinese doctors found a correlation between the functioning of the body and the feel of the pulse on the wrist artery. The different ailments and disorders that a person was inflicted with would alter the flow of blood and the shape of the artery, and this difference was palpable. Chinese Pulse Diagnosis continues to be relevant today because it is a convenient, inexpensive, painless, and non-invasive method of coming to a complete diagnosis.

Pulse Diagnosis is when the Chinese Medicine Practitioner feels the radial artery of the patient’s wrist. The practitioner examines the pulse at six different locations for the rate, depth, strength, width, and quality of the pulse at each position. Each characteristic of the pulse signifies a different organ and area and the issues that may afflict it. As an example, if the pulse of the distal position on the left wrist is choppy, that may indicate chest pain or angina due to a heart condition.

While it remains an important tool in the analysis of an individual, it is rarely used alone to come to a complete diagnosis, and still needs to be paired with a proper intake and physical examination. It is most helpful when differentiating between several possible causes.  For a more in depth understanding of how pulse diagnosis is done, visit our blog post.