Why Do We Check Your Pulse in Chinese Medicine?
If you’ve ever visited a Chinese medicine practitioner, you’ve probably had your wrist gently held while we "check your pulse." But what exactly are we doing — and how is it different from what your GP might do?
Let’s take a deeper look at this unique and powerful diagnostic tool in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
More Than Just a Heart Rate Check
In Western medicine, checking the pulse usually focuses on two things:
– How fast or slow it is (the rate)
– Whether it’s regular or irregular (the rhythm)
This gives doctors important information about your cardiovascular system — your heart and blood vessels.
But in Chinese medicine, pulse diagnosis goes much deeper. We're not just checking your heart — we’re listening to what your whole body is trying to tell us.
What Are We Feeling For?
When your TCM practitioner feels your pulse, we’re paying attention to:
Strength – Is your pulse strong and full, or weak and soft? This can indicate your overall energy levels or "Qi" (vital force).
Speed – Is it fast (which may suggest heat in the body) or slow (possibly pointing to cold or deficiency)?
Depth – Is it near the surface (more external conditions) or deep (often internal imbalances)?
Quality – Does it feel slippery, wiry, thin, or choppy? These textures each tell a different story — from digestive issues to emotional stress, hormone imbalances, or inflammation.
Position – Each wrist has three pulse positions, and each one relates to specific organs such as the liver, heart, lungs, kidneys, or digestive system.
Think of your pulse like a health map. We read it to get a sense of what’s happening inside your body — even things you might not have mentioned out loud yet.
Why Does It Matter?
This detailed reading helps us:
– Understand the root cause of your symptoms
– Pick up imbalances before they turn into bigger problems
– Create a treatment plan tailored to you using acupuncture, herbs, diet, and lifestyle advice
For example, two people might come in with headaches — but one may have a wiry pulse (indicating stress or liver Qi stagnation), while the other has a weak pulse (suggesting blood deficiency). Same symptom, different treatment approach.
Pulse diagnosis is painless, quick, and non-invasive. Yet it gives us rich insight into your energy, circulation, organ function, and more.
It’s one of the many ways Chinese medicine looks at the whole person, not just the symptoms.
Next time your practitioner checks your pulse, know that they’re not just counting beats — they’re tuning into a deeper conversation your body is having.
If you're curious to experience this for yourself, you're welcome to book a session at Warrnambool Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. We're here to listen — in every sense of the word.