we've got our finger on the pulse

When an acupuncturist feels your pulse, we’re learning a lot about your overall health. We’re not just counting beats per minute like a conventional doctor might, although: yes, pulse rate is informative!  A “normal” pulse indicates good Qi and blood flow in the body. It should feel strong but not forceful, have a regular, steady beat, and it should be easily felt with moderate pressure. 

Here are some of the things your pulse tells us:

SPEED: 🐢 🐇 

A fast pulse can indicate heat in the body, whereas a slow one can indicate cold stagnation.

DEPTH: 🌊 

A shallow pulse - one felt with very little pressure, can indicate that your Wei Qi (aka immune system) is activated.  Pulses like this are coming when someone is sick or coming down with something. A deep pulse that’s difficult to feel even with strong pressure can indicate overall deficiency of Qi and Blood.

QUALITY: 🎸 

A ‘wiry’ pulse that feels tense like a guitar string can indicate Qi stagnation and is often felt in people feeling “tightly wound”.  A ‘soggy’ pulse that feels soft can indicate dampness and deficiency in the body. A ‘slippery’ pulse that feels full and rolling can also indicate dampness or phlegm retention, but is also a very early indicator of pregnancy. (Yes, sometimes I know before you do! But nope, I never tell )

To be honest, it takes a long time to master pulse taking. The first time I ever had to do this in school I thought I would never be able to notice these subtle differences, but as with everything else, it just takes practice! Over time, I’ve trained my fingertips to have awareness of several things at once, and I use this information to inform your diagnosis and treatment plan. And no, I don’t use it all the time, I consider pulse taking just one of many tools in my toolbox.

When I’m taking your pulse, I’m also noticing the temperature of your skin, dryness of clamminess of your hands, and am also often using it as a way to connect! 💕 There’s a lot more to pulse taking, and I covered the basics in my book A Patient’s Guide To Acupuncture available at amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Target! You can also grab a copy from our shop if you want to learn more. 📖