Three-dimensional motion of the radial artery and the spatiality, rhythmicity, formability and intensity of TCM pulse diagnosis

X Niu,C Fu,X Yang

doi:10.4314/ajtcam.v10i3.25

Abstract

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pulse diagnosis can reflect the condition of human bodies. 44 young healthy human beings were involved in the investigation of the relationship between the three dimensional motion of the radial artery and the spatiality, rhythmicity, formability and intensity of TCM pulse diagnosis in TCM pulse diagnostics. The color Doppler vascular imaging, the self-designed cardioelectric phasic marking and non-pressure arm bath-tube were used in the study. Both the radial artery and other arm superficial arteries had three forms of motion, namely diametrical motion, axial motion and the displacement of the axial center. The three forms of motion changed periodically, which was identical with that found in pulsation. The displacement of the vascular axial center was a three-dimensional message of the overall vascular revolving motion observed on a two-e level. Systematically studying the rules of vascular motion and the relationship between the rules of vascular motion and the spatiality, rhythmicity, formability and intensity of TCM pulse patterns has great significance in revealing the specificity of the vascular motion and explaining the mechanisms in the formation of TCM pulse diagnosis. This research could make TCM pulse diagnosis more understandable.

Highlights

Pulse diagnosis, as one of the foundations of Chinese medicine, the practice of taking the pulse at the wrist on the radial artery, has a long history
In order to illustrate the mechanisms of the formation of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pulse patterns, we briefly report, in this paper, the methods for detecting the vascular motion of arm superficial arteries and the relationship between the vascular three-dimensional motion and the properties of spatiality, rhythmicity, formability and intensity of TCM pulse diagnosis
The value of a/b was approximately equal to 1 in the state of expansion and it would increase in the state of contraction, which suggests that the degree of the engorgement of the radial artery was different in different state of motion

Summary

Introduction

As one of the foundations of Chinese medicine, the practice of taking the pulse at the wrist on the radial artery, has a long history. The spatiality, rhythmicity, formability and intensity are essential forms of pulse diagnosis. The practice of taking the pulse and using it as a tool to glean information about the body as a whole is based on a concept referred to as "the part representing the whole." This concept is mirrored in Chinese medicine with facial diagnosis, eye diagnosis, and tongue diagnosis, three useful tools (Buell, PD., 2011). In order to illustrate the mechanisms of the formation of TCM pulse patterns, we briefly report, in this paper, the methods for detecting the vascular motion of arm superficial arteries and the relationship between the vascular three-dimensional motion and the properties of spatiality, rhythmicity, formability and intensity of TCM pulse diagnosis

Materials and Methods

Detecting Methods

Results and Discussion

Conclusion