In traditional Chinese medicine, pulse examination (mai zhen), is used as a diagnostic method. Pulse diagnosis is a form of clinical assessment that is documented with over 2,000 years of case studies and observations. The first Chinese text where pulse diagnosis findings were recorded is in the Han dynasty text Huang Di Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperor´s Classic).

Pulse diagnosis is one of four diagnostic methods that are an essential part of traditional Chinese medical practice. The aim of pulse diagnosis is to obtain information about causes of disease and to determine therapeutic regimens to restore health. The pulse can reveal whether a syndrome is of hot or cold nature, whether it is of excess or deficiency type, which of the humors (qi, moisture, blood) are affected, and which organ systems suffer from dysfunction.

A wide range of sites for pulse taking have been mentioned in traditional literature. Modern pulse diagnosis involves the practice of using the radial arterial pulse at the juncture of the wrist and forearm to make assessments. In performing pulse palpation, the practitioner places the index, middle and ring fingers on the radial artery.

Three degrees of pressure, the light touch, the medium touch and the heavy touch are applied to the region and correspond to the upper, middle and lower areas of the body. There are nine pulse takings on each wrist, one for each of the three pulse taking fingers at each of the three levels of pressure.

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), there are 28 pulse divisions, which describe the way the pulse feels to the fingertip. In order to make assessments, the physician must feel the pulse and then determine which of the divisions of pulse form the unique pulse should be categorized in.

Some examples of pulse classifications include: Choppy (irregular and has no strength); rapid (six to seven beats per breath); full (rounded and can be felt at all levels); slow (slower than the normal rate of four to five beats per breath.)

Pulse diagnosis reveals internal and external factors that cause a disease process while at the same time identifying the affected organ. This essential diagnostic tool provides insight into the state of organ health, emotional and psychological functioning and future health.

Integrating the information from pulse diagnosis, the TCM practitioner is able to assess levels of symptom imbalance as well as the root cause of disease. When comparing a unique pulse to a healthy, balanced pulse, subtle deviations from the norm can be detected.

Pulse diagnosis remains an important part of the practice of TCM in both the treatment of disease and in preventative medicine. All TCM medical treatments, such as acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, use pulse diagnosis as a basis to formulate treatment methods specific to individual constitution and state of health.

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