Here is the second in a series of articles to help explain particular aspects of Chinese Medicine to my patients! As those of you who have come in for acupuncture know, I spend quite a lot of time with diagnostics including reading your pulses and looking at your tongue. This helps me find the root cause of your upset and gives me information to treat you effectively and safely. Today we will talk about PULSES, next time we'll talk about our tongues!

Chinese Pulse Diagnosis is sadly a disappearing art. Mostly because it is quit difficult, requires an extraordinary amount of sensitivity and knowledge and takes a long time to learn. I have been particularly fascinated with this diagnostic technique and have done years of extra in-depth study with an amazing pulse master fine tuning my skills. 

Okay, this is amazing...when I read your radial (wrist) pulse, not only am I reading the rate, rhythm, and intensity of pulse, but  I am also reading at least 12 different individual pulses - in six positions and two depths (see pic below) When read this way the pulse gives insight into each of the major organ systems of the body.

By comparing the different pulses we can get a really precise idea of how the systems in your body are relating to each other. Are some organ systems compensating for poor functioning ones? Are there blocks in the flow of energy? All of this data provides valuable information in determining the root cause of your pain or upset and tells me exactly where I need to place the needles to help you feel better and even THRIVE!

Cool right?

heres a simple example of how this can work! Check it out...

In the body the Liver Meridian feeds into the Lung Meridian. So if we feel like the deep middle pulse on the left hand (Liver) is excessive (too much energy) and the deep 1st pulse on the right hand (Lung) is deficient (too little energy) we know that there is a block thats building up in the liver channel and preventing energy from going into the Lung channel. Make sense?

So how would this show up from the patient's perspective? Because the Liver organ system is responsible for anger, and the Qi is damned up there, I can guarantee that this patient is feeling very frustrated. If left untreated this can turn into other upsets down the line like depression, hopelessness, resentment, headaches, visual problems, muscle and tendon pain, and breathing issues. 

Using acupuncture we can get rid of the damn and help the patient feel better instantly! 

Pretty Cool right?!!

If you are wondering about your pulses and want to come in for a diagnostic session simply book online, come in, and I can take a look.