THE PULSE MATRIX

Advanced Traditional Chinese Medical

Pulse Diagnosis & Treatment Strategies

About	The Author	Contents	Samples	Clinic

Samples from the Book

From Chapter 1	The Dao: The Infinite Nameless Substance
From Chapter 2	What is Qi, really?
From Chapter 10	Interpretation

The Infinite Nameless Substance

Yin & Yang represents the birth of the physical universe, as we know it. The principle of Yin and Yang is the foundation of the entire universe. It underlies everything in creation. It represents the ancient Chinese understanding of how things work. The outer circle represents "everything", while the dark and white shapes within the circle represent the interaction of two energies, "yin" (dark) and "yang" (white), which “cause everything to happen”. They cannot exist without each other. If one were missing, by definition, the other would also be missing. One pole of a magnet makes no sense without the other pole. Get the picture?

The essentials of the yin & yang are important for us to review: the universe functions as a single principle. This principle is divided into two opposite principles, or two principles, which oppose one another in their actions, yin and yang. All the opposites one perceives in the universe can be reduced to one of the opposite forces. All things follow this order so that all things can be related to one another in some way.

This cyclical nature of yin and yang, the opposing forces of change in the universe, mean several things. First, all phenomena change into their opposites in an eternal cycle of reversal. Second, since the one principle produces the other, all phenomena have within them the seeds of their opposite state, that is, sickness has the seeds of health, health contains the seeds of sickness, wealth contains the seeds of poverty, etc. Third, even though an opposite may not be seen to be present, since one principle produces the other, no phenomenon is completely devoid of its opposite state. One is never really healthy since health contains the principle of its opposite, sickness. This is called "presence in absence."

But, before the thought of Yin & Yang existed, there was the Dao. Many ancient texts of Chinese philosophy hint to the existence of the Dao, however, it is a concept that is challenging for most to understand.

One way to imagine the Dao is visualizing an endless sea, an infinite invisible matrix or soup of energy. From this infinite invisible soup all physical substances of the universe are born. Thought impressed upon this matrix creates all “the stuff” we are familiar with. Lao Tze refers to this:

The way that can be spoken of is not the constant way; The name that can be named is not the constant name. The nameless was the beginning of heaven and earth; The named was the mother of the myriad creatures. (Dao De Jing, Ch 1)

It’s important to realize that this invisible matrix always existed and will always exist in spite of all the changes the physical universe seems to undergo. Even the seemingly solid things we relate to and use every day were formed from this soup. Every animate and inanimate object, every person, animal, plant and substance had its origin in this invisible matrix. In fact the matrix maintains a presence within all things, in spite of their physically solid nature. When something in the physical universe ceases to exist it returns to the invisible matrix to be used to create something else. This is in complete agreement with the first law of thermodynamics: Energy can be changed from one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed. This is because all the energy of the universe has always existed. There is no more room for any more. It’s all here, just in different forms. In fact, scientists estimate that only 3-4% of all the available energy was used to “create” the physical universe that we are aware of: the galaxies, stars, planets and the “empty” space between them. That means 96-97% of the available energy still exists within the invisible “soup” or “matrix”.

Another important concept between the relationship of the invisible soup and the physical universe is illustrated in the concept of potential and kinetic energy.

Potential energy, as the name implies, is energy that has not yet been used, thus the term potential. Kinetic energy is energy in use (or motion). A tank of gasoline has a certain potential energy that is converted into kinetic energy by the engine. When the potential is used up, you're outta gas! Batteries, when new or recharged, have a certain potential. When placed into an i-Pod and played at loud volume (the only settings for such things), the potential in the batteries is transformed into kinetic energy to drive the earphones. When the potential energy is all used up, the batteries are dead. In the case of rechargeable batteries, their potential is re-elevated or restored.

In the hydrologic cycle, the sun is the ultimate source of energy, evaporating water (in a fashion raising it's potential above water in the ocean). When the water falls as rain (or snow) it begins to run downhill toward sea level. As the water gets closer to sea-level, it's potential energy is decreased. Without the sun, the water would eventually still reach sea level, but never be evaporated to recharge the cycle.

Chemicals may also be considered from a potential energy or kinetic energy standpoint. One pound of sugar has a certain potential energy. If that pound of sugar is burned the energy is released all at once. The energy released is kinetic energy (heat). So much is released that organisms would burn up if all the energy were released at once. Organisms must release the energy a little bit at a time.

Energy is defined as the ability to do work. Cells convert potential energy, usually in the form of Carbon-Carbon covalent bonds or ATP molecules, into kinetic energy to accomplish cell division, growth, biosynthesis, and active transport, among other things.

The Chinese medical concept of Qi encompasses both potential and kinetic energy. This is important. Birth and death, whether a cell, plant, animal or person, is just another way to express potential and kinetic energy as it flows from the invisible formless matrix to the physical universe and back again. Yin & Yang are born from the invisible matrix and also returns to the matrix, when they have fulfilled their purpose.

The yin-yang principle reveals itself in numerous ways: the body’s organs are classified as yin or yang, the meridians are either yin or yang, foods have either yin or yang properties, Chinese herbs are categorized as either yin or yang, a particular time of the day is either yin or yang, the seasons are either yin or yang, different types of exercises can be either yin or yang, the tongue and pulse qualities exhibit yin and yang characteristics. The yin-yang principle permeates every aspect of life.

The goal of the practitioner of Chinese medicine is to identify the root cause of a patient’s disease and restore “balance” to the body. Ultimately, this involves balancing yin and yang, to balance Qi, to balance the body’s potential and kinetic energies. As a practitioner, we are faced with two questions: 1) how do we determine how much imbalance actually exists and 2) what needs to be done to correct the imbalance? We are taught to accomplish this by close observation and inspection of the patient.

What is Qi, really?

Thus Something and Nothing produce each other; The difficult and the easy complement each other; The long and the short off-set each other; The high and the low incline towards each other; Note and sound harmonize with each other; Before and after follow each other. (Dao De Jing, Ch 2)

Qi is the fundamental energy of the universe. Recall our definition of energy: the ability to do work or to “bring about changes”. Mathematically, physical work is any force moving over a particular distance. Walking across a room is the result of a certain amount of force moving your body across the distance you travel. Thus work has been done. You have brought about a change in your position within the room. For Qi to have the ability to do bring about change, in the cosmos or within the body, it must do so over a specific distance.

This is good place to reintroduce a very famous scientist, Isaac Newton. Newton developed three laws of motion that govern ALL physical phenomena in the universe.

1. Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.

2. The relationship between an object's mass m, its acceleration a, and the applied force F is F = ma.

3. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

These laws also govern the physical characteristics of Chinese medicine. In applying these laws to Chinese medicine, we can restate them in this way:

1. Every energetic state tends to remain in that state unless an external force is applied to it.

2. The larger the mass of a body the greater the force necessary to initiate change to it.

3. Every action on a body results in an equal and opposite reaction from the body.

Like the wiring in an electrical device, house or car, the meridians are conduits for the flow of Qi. In fact, electricity inside the wiring of a house is just another way to view potential energy. It becomes kinetic energy once we plug in and turn on such things as a hair dryer, computer, television, entertainment system or lights. Qi’s potential energy aspect, within our body, lies dormant until it is needed to do some type of work or function, at which it then becomes kinetic energy. When Qi flows harmoniously, from potential to kinetic energy and from kinetic to potential energy, the body remains healthy. When traffic becomes congested on the freeways, the only way to relieve the congestion is to adjust the traffic flow on and off the freeway. This is done with on-ramps and exits. In the meridians the flow of Qi is adjusted by using acupuncture needles in specific points along the course of the meridian. This is how acupuncture balances meridians. By utilizing the physical properties of Chinese herbs we can also balance the body’s potential and kinetic energies, its Qi.

Qi is energy, which manifests simultaneously on the physical (kinetic) and spiritual (potential) levels of the body. Within our body or any living thing, Qi represents a refined essence produced by the internal organs, which have the function of nourishing the body and mind. Qi acts extensively in the human body by permeating all parts. There is no place that does not have Qi nor to which Qi does not penetrate. Qi denotes both essential substances (potential) of the human body and the functional (kinetic) activities of the organs and tissues. In the body, changes and movement of Qi produce health and disease. If the movement of Qi ceases, the vital activities of the human body will also cease. Abundant Qi is the basis of good health and weakness of Qi may lead to disease.

When Qi varies in its polarity it constitutes the basis of Yin and Yang. This polarity differential causes Qi to flow in the body, just like a battery causes electric current to flow. When Qi moves strongly and evenly then good health results. When Qi is stagnant, symptoms and diseases begin to appear. Common signs of stagnant Qi are aching pain, stress, anger, irritability, bloating, sleep problems, digestive disorders, and menstrual or gynecological disorders.

Qi can also be weak. Like a battery that has run down and has lost its ability to move electricity through an electrical circuit, Qi can become insufficient to power the various organ functions. Common signs of insufficient Qi are fatigue, tiredness, shortness of breath, palpitations, frequent urination, constipation, uterine or bladder prolapse, insomnia and weight gain.

The goal of Chinese medicine is to harmonize the flow of Qi in the body, balance yin and yang, ward off pathogenic factors and maintain a strong level of Qi in the various organs. In this way the body remains healthy, well and longevity is boosted.

Interpretation

Theoretically, pulse diagnosis should reveal

1) the pathological factors involved in the disease

2) the acupuncture meridians needed to balance the diseased meridians

3) the herbs needed to create the global balance of the zang-fu

One of the things I found surprising when I first began studying with true pulse diagnosticians is that they rarely do a typical “10 question” interview process with patients. When I asked about this, the response I repeatedly received was that patients never tell you the truth. In fact they will normally tell you what they think you want to hear and avoid telling you the “whole story”. This can be very frustrating, as you never really know what to believe. So I began to wonder, “What can I truly believe and trust in?” The answer was obvious – pulse and tongue characteristics, properly perceived, do not lie. This is true for both acupuncture and herbal treatment strategies. The caveat to all this is the “properly perceived” aspect of pulse diagnosis. It takes some imagination (image + formation).

In our earlier discussion of Qi we learned an energy state (disease) remains in that state unless something acts on the state (disease) to change it. Ultimately, this is what the methods of TCM are intended to do – initiate and manifest change on energy states (disease). This is achieved through acupuncture and herbs. What we need are strategies or methodologies for initiating this change. It begins with understanding the pulse score, its range of values for various diagnostic systems and applying this understanding each time we palpate the pulse.

Remember, the pulse image is a reflection of the underlying disease pathology. So always consider the pathological options of the patient’s chief complaint, as the pulse image should make sense in relation to it. There will never be anymore of “it feels a little wiry or faint or choppy or bouncy”, etc.

MERIDIAN HARMONICS

ACUPUNCTURE & ORIENTAL MEDICINE