Why Do Acupuncturist Feel Your Pulse On Both Sides?

Have you ever wondered why acupuncturist take your pulse on both sides? Or why it feels like they are playing a mini piano on your wrist when they are feel your pulse? It is because the pulse in Traditional Chinese Medicine and other East Asian practices is so much more then just rate and strength. It is a direct line of communication between what the Qi (energy) of your body is doing and how well it is traveling through your system. 

The three positions that acupuncturist feel on both sides of the body correspond to the different energetics of the organs and organ systems. For example the upper position on the right wrist give us information about the lung and large intestine systems, the middle position the spleen and stomach systems, and finally what we refer to as kidney yang in the last position. By feeling these positions they can gain as sense of the health of these systems, where blockages may be and which areas of the body need attention.  

Acupuncturist are taught in school to also feel the pulse at three different levels, superficial, middle and deep and to feel for various qualities that the pulse can have beyond just strength and pace. Some examples would be is the pulse tight like a violin string, is thin like a thread, is it mushy like an overcooked noodle, can you feel it at all three levels, or is one side stronger than the other? Once they get an overall understanding this information can then used to inform what points will be selected during your treatment.

Here at Nourishing Energy Acupuncture you may notice that during treatments in my office, I will feel your pulse a lot. I will do some needles and feel the pulse again, maybe multiple time in a session. This is because simply but touching points, and therefore when we needle them, the pulse will respond and change. So it is a beautiful way for me, or really any acupuncturist, to listen directly to how your body is responding to the treatment. I want to balance your body because when we achieve balance we get closer to health. If you came in and your pulse was tight and fast was I able to soften and slow it? 

One of the goals of acupuncture is to balance and harmonize and who knows better what your body wants and needs than you. Your brain may not always have the words but at heart of it  your body knows on an energetic level what it needs and the pulse is one way we can talk. 

So take a feel from side to side and see if you can notice a difference in your own pulses. Can you feel your pulse on both sides, top to bottom? What does it feel like? What is it whispering to you?

Take a listen its a beautiful thing. 

Warm wishes & good health