Scanning your Health by Ayurvedic Pulse Examination
2 08 2009According to Ayurveda, every cell in our body sends its own unique signal to the heart via different vital organs, and the blood stream. These pranic currents of energy are then compressed into rhythmic pulsation, which can be decoded to reveal what is going on in the liver or the kidneys, the left ventricle of the heart or the right fallopian tube. One electro-magnetic wave is all it takes to telecast an entire scene; likewise, our constitution has devised out how to convey the entire body’s activities through the pulse or Nadi.
It is customary to examine radial pulse at the root of thumb of the right hand in case of males and of the left hand in case of females. Arterial pulsation is representive of the heart beat, which is the seat of mind and emotions. During pulse examination, the patient should be lying flat on the bed or should be half inclined with the support of a pillow or backrest.
Following steps are suggested:-
(1) Stretch the arm properly and the hand should be kept in slightly flexed position.
(2) Simultaneously the fingers including the thumb should be in a stretched position.
(3) You should examine the pulse by the help of your right hand. Your three fingers viz. the index, the middle and the ring finger are used as a tool for the nadi pariksha. These fingers are kept over the radial pulse, the index finger remaining near the thumb of the patient.
(4) Apply gentle but uniform pressure through the tips of these fingers over the radial artery so that its pulsation may be felt. One has to put pressure and release it repeatedly to assess correctly the exact finger on which the pulsation is maximum.
(5) If the maximum pulsation is felt over the index finger then the Vata dosha is dominated in the pathophysiology of the patient. Feeling in middle finger indicates the Pitta dosha while in ring finger indicates the Kaphic pathophysiology in the body of the patient.
Normally the pulse is neither very slow nor very fast. It is appropriate in volume and tension and thus regular. When Vata dosha is dominated in the patho-physiology, the pulsation becomes zig-zag fashion like movement of leech or snake. In case of Pitta dosha the nadi has jumping waves and its pulsation is felt like a movement of frog. In case of Kapha the motion is slow like the movement of swan. When nadi is afflicted by two doshas it is intermittently fast and slow. When all the three doshas are involved, the pulse becomes irregular.
When pathophysiology involve vata & pitta dosha, the nature of arterial pulsation is zig-zag and jumping type. The vata-kapha nadi is zig-zag and slow. The pitta-kapha nadi is zig-zag and slow. Doshic pulse has specific correlation with hemodynamic factors of the patients. They also possess the diurenal rhythm for example evening time nadi is more charactrised by Vata dosha, Pitta is more prominent in the noon. In a clinical study, Kazvo Kodama and his colleagues have correlated increased Vata dosha with increased peripheral vascular resistance, increased Pitta with decreased peripheral vascular resistance and increased Kapha with lowering of pulse rate and increased peripheral vascular resistance. It is now possible the interpretation of Vata-Pitta-Kapha manifestation in terms of pulse rate, rhythm, volume, tension and condition of arterial wall with optically and electronically recorded tracings.
CHARACTERISTIC AYURVEDIC PULSE
An imperceptible or interrupted nadi is a fatal sign. In fever the nadi is rapid and warm. Similarly the nadi is also rapid when one is excited with anger or sex. It may be weak in case of anxiety, depression and fear. With loss of appetite and poor nutrition, the nadi becomes slow. It is light and rapid when the appetite is good. You can learn this unique investigation with experts of Sanjivani Wellness Organisation or Ayush Academy of Ayurvedic Medical Sciences, India.
References:
(1) Charak Sutra 9:4
(2) Astanga Hridaya Sutra 1:20, 13:25
(3) Charak Sutra 1:54, 11:42, 11:43
(4) Sushruta Sutra 15:32, 21:36
(5) Charak Vimana 4:12
(6) Bhava Prakash, Purvadha 1:7; 11-20.
(7) Kazuo Kodama et al : Visualization & Quantitative analysis of Pulse diagnosis of Ayurveda, Purna Swasthya, Souvenir of 4th World Congress Holistic Approach: Health for All, Bangalore,India 1991.
(8) Upadhyay GV : The Science of Pulse Examination in Ayurveda. Satguru Publications, Indian Book Centre, 40/5 Shaktinagar, New Delhi, India
(9) Jain Mukesh D. : Pulse Diadnosis in Ayurveda; In Fight & Win Ailments of Modern Era with Ayurvedic Treatment. 2008 The Ayush Samiti Bhilai, India
About the Author:
Hon. President of AYUSH Academy of Ayurvedic Medical Sciences & Fellow of French Association of Medical Yoga. Double graduated in Basic Sciences, Ayurveda with Modern Medicine and Surgery both from Sagar & Ravi Shanker Universities. A teacher, researcher, an author of two scientific books on Ayurveda & Yoga; On editorial board of several journals including Global Ayurveda & Light on Ayurveda Journal. Currently head of Panch Karma Clinic on Neuro-Muscular Diseases in Bhilai. See Profile at http://openlibrary.org/a/OL4097418A
