Hasty Pulse (促脉)

Appearance (体象歌)

促为急促，数时一止；如趋而蹶，进则必死。

Clinical Indications (主病歌)

促因火亢，亦由物停。左寸见促，心火炎炎；右寸见促，肺鸣咯咯。促见左关，血滞为殃；促居右关，脾宫食滞。左尺逢之，遗滑堪忧；右尺逢之，灼热为灾。

Clinical Significance

The Hasty Pulse indicates exuberant yang heat, qi stagnation, blood stasis, or phlegm-food retention. It is rapid with intermittent stops that have no fixed pattern, like a runner stumbling. It forms when intense heat disturbs the heart spirit, or when tangible pathogens such as static blood, phlegm, food, or stagnant qi obstruct the vessels and interrupt blood flow. The Hasty Pulse usually belongs to heat and excess patterns, but may also appear in critical deficiency patterns with yang floating outward. At the left inch position, hasty pulse indicates heart fire flaming upward with restlessness, insomnia, mouth sores, and palpitations. At the right inch, it reflects lung heat congestion or phlegm-heat obstructing the lungs with wheezing, cough, and chest pain. At the left guan, it points to liver depression and blood stasis with rib-side distension, emotional constraint, and menstrual irregularity. At the right guan, it indicates spleen-stomach food stagnation or phlegm-heat disturbance with abdominal fullness, belching, acid regurgitation, and constipation. At the left chi, it reflects lower burner damp-heat or kidney yin deficiency with ministerial fire stirring, presenting as seminal emission, urinary dribbling, and burning urination. At the right chi, it indicates lower burner heat excess with burning urination, yellow leukorrhea, and lower leg sores.

Treatment and Care

For heart fire with a Hasty Pulse, clear heart fire and calm the spirit with Huang Lian Jie Du Tang, Dao Chi San, or Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan. For lung heat with phlegm congestion, clear the lungs, transform phlegm, and direct qi downward with Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang or Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan. For liver depression and blood stasis, soothe the liver, regulate qi, and activate blood with Chai Hu Shu Gan San combined with Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang. For spleen-stomach food stagnation, promote digestion and remove stagnation with Bao He Wan or Zhi Shi Dao Zhi Wan. For lower burner damp-heat, clear heat and drain dampness with Ba Zheng San or Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin. For kidney yin deficiency with ministerial fire stirring, nourish yin and drain fire with Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan. If hasty pulse appears in chronic deficiency with yang floating outward, restore yang and rescue reversal with Shen Fu Tang or Si Ni Tang. Daily care emphasizes emotional stability, avoiding anger and overwork; a light diet avoiding spicy, alcohol, and roasted foods that fan fire; and adequate sleep to protect yin. Acupuncture at Nei Guan, Shen Men, and Tai Xi can calm the heart spirit, but a hasty pulse with severe palpitations or chest oppression requires prompt medical attention.