One of the idiosyncracies of Oriental medicine is pulse diagnosis, the detailed stipulation of the pulse of the radial artery from which fullness or emptiness as described in JUNIKEIRAKU one manifestation of the general physical and pathological condition of the body is determined and the treatment points along the meridians, that is the appropriate acupoints decided. In this diagnostic technique the examiner places his index, middle and ring fingers on the wrist of the patient's hand above the radial pulse and by applying weak or strong pressure compares the largeness or smallness of the pulse under each finger tip and so doing determines the fullness or emptiness of the six meridians on each side or the 12 meridians on both sides.
In order to make this subjective method of fingertip touch diagnosis objective we used a fingertip size transducer and developed a way of measuring and recording pressure fluctuation changes resulting from the various absolute pressures exerted by the fingertips of the examiner.
Method:
The pressure transducer used was a semi-conductor curve gauge, 8mm. in diameter capable of indicating up to 500g/cm² of direct loaded pressure. The input from this one pressure inducer was amplified through different amplifiers, the absolute pressure from DC conversion in one amp, and the pressure variation component from AC conversion in another amp. It was assumed that the pressure load in pulse diagnosis was 100g/cm² for floating pulse, 200g/cm² for sunken pulse and in the pressure variation component deficiency was below 5g/cm² and excess 15g/cm², and evaluated accordingly.
Subjects:
Pre-surgery patients and pain complaint outpatients were used as subjects. Measurements was recorded.
Results:
1. In most of the cases pulse diagnosis at the 6 areas above the radial artery revealed that centered on the styloid process at areas approximately 1cm. apart different pressure variations were observed.
2. Measurement of the pulse of a pre-surgery stomach cancer patient revealed Stomach and Heart Constructor Excess when the patient was in a reclining position however this reading changed with changes in posture. When the patient assumed a sitting position the pulse showed Stomach Excess however the pressure variation of the Heart Cosntructor decreases.
3. The pressure variation components vary with acupuncture stimulation.
4. In our experience we observed cases in which excess or deficiency of the various meridians varied due to acupuncture stimulation. These variations obeyed the laws of “creation and harming” of the 5 Elements Theory.