Pulse Diagnosis

Name: Pulse Diagnosis
ISBN: 9787513241090

汪双祥 / 于天源China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine · ChinaFeb 2024

3.5

Word count: 164K words
Chapters: 17
ISBN: 9787513241090

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Summary

This book is one of the national continuing education textbooks for traditional Chinese medicine. Building on his intensive study of the Huangdi Neijing (Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor), Wang Shuangxiang, a renowned physician from Tianjin, synthesized Zhang Shiwan's 32 pulse types (Qing dynasty), Li Pinhu's 27, and Chen Xiuyuan's 28, and combined them with his own more than forty years of clinical experience to develop a 43-pulse diagnostic method. This method refines the categories of pulse-symptom correspondence and extends the scope of pulse-based diagnosis. The book is divided into two parts and eleven chapters. It strives to be accessible and progressive, introducing everything from basic pulse diagnosis knowledge to the distinctive essence of Wang's pulse diagnosis, and it includes commonly used pulse mnemonic verses at the end for easy memorization and practical use by TCM practitioners and enthusiasts.

Editor's review

As a national continuing education textbook for traditional Chinese medicine, this book is distinguished by its progressive organization of pulse diagnosis knowledge into two parts and eleven chapters: the first part lays out the fundamentals, and the second presents the distinctive content of Wang's pulse diagnosis. Building on his study of the Huangdi Neijing, the author synthesizes Zhang Shiwan's 32 pulse types (Qing dynasty), Li Pinhu's 27, and Chen Xiuyuan's 28, and combines them with more than forty years of clinical experience to propose a 43-pulse diagnostic method. He refines the categories of pulse-symptom correspondence and extends the scope of pulse-based diagnosis. Commonly used pulse mnemonic verses are appended for memorization and quick clinical reference—a practical arrangement for practitioners who need to review pulse key points repeatedly. The language is accessible and progressive, accommodating beginners while giving those with some foundation a detailed framework to compare against clinical practice. As a continuing education textbook, it is best read after one has a foundation in TCM diagnostics and paired with clinical observation of pulse differences, rather than as a substitute for systematic pulse theory study.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Primary-care TCM practitioners who have completed TCM diagnostics and wish to refine pulse identification
Physicians in TCM continuing education who need to systematically review pulse diagnosis knowledge and mnemonic verses
TCM apprentices with clinical observation opportunities who want to compare pulse descriptions with clinical cases
TCM enthusiasts with basic theory who are interested in pulse diagnosis and want to understand differences among various pulse schools

Not a good fit for

Complete beginners who have not yet studied basic TCM theory and diagnostics
Readers seeking modern medical research on pulse wave detection, hemodynamics, or other objectification studies
Readers expecting to quickly master pulse-based diagnosis through reading alone, as a substitute for long-term clinical practice

Reading tips

Read the first part to solidify basic pulse diagnosis knowledge, then move to the second part and work through Wang's 43 pulses one by one to understand the refinements
Copy or carry the appended pulse mnemonic verses and recite them repeatedly in spare moments to aid memory
For each pulse type learned, feel for it during clinical observation when possible and record differences from the book's descriptions
When reading the second part, compare with the pulse counts of Zhang Shiwan, Li Pinhu, and Chen Xiuyuan to sort out what Wang added and refined

About the publisher

China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine China · Founded in 1989

China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine focuses on publishing books in traditional Chinese medicine, covering Chinese medical classics, clinical medicine, acupuncture and tuina, materia medica and formulae, and medical history and literature; its catalogue includes 3,277 titles. Representative books include Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue, Shang Han Lun, Yi Xue Zhong Zhong Can Xi Lu, Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, Yi Zong Jin Jian, and Guo Aichun's Annotated Huangdi Neijing Suwen (Second Edition). These works involve writings by historical physicians such as Qian Yi, Zhang Zhongjing, Wang Shuhe, and Zhang Xichun, as well as documentary studies compiled by contemporary authors including Zhao Xin, Zhen Xueyan, Zhang Yongtai, and Wang Xiangang. In terms of publishing characteristics, the press emphasizes collation and annotation of original Chinese medical classics and the systematic presentation of famous physicians' works, balancing the transmission of ancient editions with reference for clinical application. Public information is limited, and no other publishing fields are covered here.

版权信息
前言
上篇脉诊基础知识
第一章脉诊的基本概念
第二章脉诊的起源与发展
第三章脉诊原理及临床意义
第四章脉诊方法
第五章诊脉辨证方法
第六章正常脉象
下篇汪氏脉诊
第七章概述
第八章常用28脉
第九章新增15脉
第十章相兼脉
第十一章妇儿脉
附录一《濒湖脉学》歌赋
附录二 43脉示意图解

FAQ

Can I read this pulse diagnosis book without a TCM foundation?

Although the book strives to be accessible, it opens with basic pulse diagnosis knowledge and quickly moves into multiple pulse schools and the 43-pulse system, assuming the reader has a foundation in basic TCM theory and diagnostics. Complete beginners should first study the pulse diagnosis chapter in TCM diagnostics before reading this book; otherwise, it will be difficult to understand the correspondence between pulse types and patterns.

What is the relationship between the book's 43-pulse diagnostic method and the traditional 28 pulses?

According to the book's introduction, building on his intensive study of the Huangdi Neijing, the author synthesizes Zhang Shiwan's 32 pulse types (Qing dynasty), Li Pinhu's 27, and Chen Xiuyuan's 28, and combines them with more than forty years of clinical experience to develop a 43-pulse diagnostic method. It is a refinement and expansion of the traditional pulse framework, not a separate system, and should be read in comparison with the pulse counts of these schools.

What practical use are the pulse mnemonic verses appended at the end?

The verses turn pulse key points into rhymed text that is easy to memorize. They are suitable for repeated recitation after systematic study to consolidate memory, and for quick recall during clinical breaks. Use them alongside the main text: understand the meaning first, then memorize, and avoid memorizing words without understanding what they refer to under the fingers.

Can this book replace clinical observation in learning pulse diagnosis?

No. Pulse diagnosis depends on long-term accumulation of tactile sensation under the fingers. The book provides pulse descriptions and an identification framework; it cannot replace repeatedly feeling pulses on real patients. The book is positioned as a continuing education textbook and is best used as a reference before and after clinical observation, helping to connect vague tactile impressions with standardized descriptions.

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About the author

汪双祥 Author

Wang Shuangxiang is an author about whom limited public information is available; only one work is attributed to this name, Mai Zhen (Pulse Diagnosis), which is classified under medicine. Judging from its title, the book concerns the traditional Chinese diagnostic method of pulse examination, covering the identification of pulse patterns, the understanding of pulse theory, and clinical application, and thus belongs to the specialized literature on diagnostics in Chinese medicine. Since no reliable records of the author's life, education, or professional identity have been found, the writing style and scholarly orientation can only be inferred from the subject matter: the fact that pulse diagnosis is treated in a book of its own suggests a concentrated focus on this field and a practical, experience-based approach that readers can consult alongside practice. Pulse diagnosis has long been regarded as the most subtle and difficult of the four diagnostic methods in Chinese medicine, and works on the subject are of reference value to both beginners and practitioners. This entry is based solely on the available bibliographic information and makes no conjecture about the author's identity; readers seeking to understand the author's scholarly background should consult the original book and further public sources.

于天源 Author

Yu Tianyuan is an author with published works in medicine, particularly in the areas of Chinese tuina massage and external therapies. Publicly available information about his nationality, dates of birth and death, education, positions and lineage is limited, so a full biography cannot be outlined; what is known comes mainly from his published works. Three of his works are held in the collection: Massage and Tuina Studies (13th Five-Year Plan), External Therapy Techniques of Chinese Medicine, and Pulse Diagnosis, all classified under medicine. The subjects cover a systematic textbook on tuina, the operation and application of external Chinese medicine therapies, and pulse diagnosis as a foundation of Chinese medical diagnostics. Together they reflect attention to both clinical skills and basic theory. Massage and Tuina Studies has the character of a planned textbook, indicating a teaching and standardized transmission orientation; External Therapy Techniques of Chinese Medicine emphasizes practical methods, while Pulse Diagnosis focuses on diagnostic method. Overall, his works are aimed at students of Chinese medicine colleges and clinical practitioners, with a textbook-like and instructional style suited to systematic study and reference.