脉要精微论篇

Mai Yao Jing Wei Lun

(The Essentials and Fundamentals of Diagnostic Palpation)

黄帝问日:诊法何如?岐伯对日:诊法常以平旦，阴气未动，阳气未散，饮食未进，经脉未盛，络脉调匀，气血未乱，故乃可诊有过之脉。

Yellow Emperor asked:"What is the diagnostic method in pulse palpation?" Qibo answered:"The palpation of pulse should be carried on in early morning, when the Yang-energy has not yet been stirred, the Yin-energy has not yet been dispersed thoroughly, the food and drink of man have not yet been taken, the channel-energy then is not in hyperactivity, the energies of the collateral branches of the large channels are in harmony and the energy and blood have not been disturbed. In this situation can the pulse condition be diagnosed effectively.

切脉动静而枧精明，察五色，观五藏有余不足，六府强弱，形之[《类说》引“之”作“气”]盛衰，以此参伍决死生之分。

"At the same time of diagnosing the dynamic and static variations of the patient's pulse, his pupils and complexion should be inspected, so as to distinguish whether his energies of the five viscera are abundant or not, his six hollow organs are strong or not, his physique and energy are prosperous or not. When these aspects are considered comprehensively, one can judge the date of the death or survival of the patient.

夫脉者，血之府也，长则气治，短则气病，数则烦心，大则病进，上盛则气高[林校本引全本引“高”作“鬲”]，下盛则气胀，代则气衰，细则气少，滴则心[金刻本“心”作“气”]痛，浑浑革[《脉经》、《千金》“革”下并重“革”字，“至”字属下之头]至如涌泉。病进而色弊[《脉经》、《千金》“色”并作“危”，《千金》“弊”下重“弊”字]，绵绵[《千金》“绵绵”作“绰绰，孙鼎说:“弊弊者，弓弦已坏之意，绰绰者弦绝之声”]其去如弦绝，死。

"The vessel is the place where the blood assembles, and the circulation of blood depends on the guidance of the energy. The long pulse shows the functional activities of vital energy is normal; the short pulse shows the patient to have qifen syndrome: the rapid pulse shows the feverish sensation accompanied with restlessness of the patient; the large pulse shows the disease is turning to the worse.

"If the pulse for the upper of the body is over-abundant, it shows the evil-energy is stagnated in the chest, if the pulse for the lower part of the body is overabundant, it shows the evil-energy is expanding in the abdomen; the intermittent pulse shows the debility of the energy, the thready pulse shows the patient to have less evil-energy, the uneven pulse shows the patient is painful due to evil-energy.

"When the coming of the pulse is strong like water gushing from the spring, it shows the disease is turning to the worse to become dangerous; if the coming of the pulse seems to exist and again not to exist, and its going is like a piece of broken string, the patient will sure to die.