The ten vital airs.
The three nerve-channels Idakala etc.
The six nerve-plexuses.
The three regions of the body named the Sun, Moon, and the Fire.
Pulse is sub-divided as follows according to the nature action and other characteristics, viz:-
Frequent Pulse - one which is faster in rate than normal
Goat - Leap Pulse - irregular and bounding pulse
Strong Pulse - one that is hard or wiry
Weak Pulse - a pulse with no strength
Cordy Pulse - a tense and firm pulse
Full Pulse - one with a copious volume of blood
Hard Pulse - one which is characterised by very high tension
Slow Pulse - one which is abnormally slow in rate
Dropped beat Pulse or Intermittent Pulse - one in which various beats are dropped
Undulating Pulse - a pulse giving the sensation of successive waves
Normal Pulse - pulse beating at a normal rate
Sharp Pulse - a pulse in which the artery is suddenly and markedly distended
Feeble Pulse - a pulse in which the force of the beat is very feeble
Formicant Pulse - a small, nearly imperceptible pulse
Wiry Pulse - a small tense pulse
Collapsing Pulse - a jerky pulse with a full expansion, followed by a sudden collapse
Unequal Pulse - a pulse in which some of the beats are strong and others weak
Decurtate or Mouse-tail Pulse - a pulse which gradually tapers away in strength
Abrupt or quick Pulse - a pulse which strike the finger rapidly
It is so difficult and incomprehensible that many are ignorant of it even to-day. The results is that none can be found attempting it in practice with perfect success. There is no royal road to the acquisition of the knowledge of pulse. There are no doubt certain rules and hints for the guidance of physicians; but a mere study of them will not enable any of them to acquire a practical knowledge of pulse. Success in the art depends on experience and practice and that much more on Spiritual knowledge.
It is done by pressing with the physician’s three fingers (index, middle, and ring) of his right hand, at a place two fingers in length just below the root of the thumb i.e., a little above the wrist. The physician should feel the pulse three times by holding and letting loose the hand of the patient and then diagnose the disease with great care and caution.
According to the most commonly accepted view, the natural order in which is the forces of the three humours are indicated and are to be observed is 1) the pulses showing wind (Vayu) in the first place above the wrist is felt underneath the fore-finger 2) that of bile (Pitta), below the middle finger and 3) that Phlegm (Kapha), the third, under the ring-finger, c.f.
The three kinds of Doshas (humours) are ascertained from the three kinds of movements of the pulse-swift, middle and slow, felt by the pressure of touch of the three fingers on the radial artery. Examination of the pulse furnishes the best criterion of the phenomena and progress of a disease. It also helps a physician to force-tell the attack of a disease with its prognosis long before it has taken possession of the patient’s system just in the same way as a chiromancer would do with regard to events before they actually come to pass by examining the streaks of the palm.
The radial artery at the wrist which is usually chosen, shows the precise character of the pulse. In feeling the pulse, the physician has to note its impressibility, frequency, regularity, size and the different impressions it produces through the fingers. The pulse no doubt signifies whether a particular disease is due to Vayu (air), or Pitta (heat) or Kapha (water) or whether it is due to the influence of any two combined or whether it is due to the concerted action of all the three; and whether the disease is curable or incurable.