Ayurvedic pulse self-diagnosis is a 5,000-year-old technique that uses the principles of dosha and subdosha to determine imbalances in the body. By feeling the pulse on the wrist, one can identify which dosha is dominant and make adjustments to bring the body back into balance. The technique involves placing three fingers on the radial artery and feeling for the pulse, with each finger representing a different dosha. There are also subdoshas that govern specific areas of the body, and by familiarizing oneself with the pulse, one can identify imbalances and make adjustments to restore balance.
Ayurvedic pulse self-diagnosis is a technique where you learn to read and care for your body. It comes from over 5,000 years old Vedic knowledge that sees the body, mind and spirit as one. Like the Chinese pulse diagnosis from the ancient Yellow Emperor’s medical book, Ayurvedic pulse diagnosis uses the approach that perfect health is our birthright and should be enjoyed throughout life.
Any disease is seen as an imbalance that can be corrected. It is explained that the disease occurs when undigested food (ama) becomes toxic and blocks the energy channels of the body. The most common adjustments are diet or lifestyle. In some cases, herbs will be added to the prescription. Ayurveda uses the whole plant when prescribing herbs, as the intelligence of the plant must be present for healing to be complete.
The premise in Ayurvedic self-diagnosis is that when the mind and body are aware of each other, they can take care of each other. This causes a self-awareness experience that naturally integrates the body and mind. Furthermore, the objective experience of checking the pulse will dictate the corrective prescription needed to bring the body back into balance.
Dosha and subdosha are instrumental in the Ayurvedic diagnosis of self-pulsation.
According to Ayurveda blood intelligence transmits information through the bloodstream throughout the body. Specific combinations of the five elements; fire, water, earth, air and space form the principles, or doshas, vata, pitta and kapha. These three principles can be felt on the wrist.
Vata expresses itself as movement within the physiology. Pitta is experienced as heat and metabolism and kapha as structure. The specific details of each bodily function and how that function expresses itself in the context of the whole body can be understood from these three doshas. Maintaining a balance of doshas according to a person’s individuality is considered the basis of perfect health. Only when the doshas get out of balance will a person experience discomfort and disease.
Ayurvedic self-diagnosis uses the radial artery to investigate the patient’s health status. The technique begins by placing the index finger just below the natural bump on the thumb side of the wrist (radial styloid). Place the middle finger, followed by the ring finger so that the three fingers are placed in succession on the radial artery. The right wrist should be used for men and the left for women. You will need to hold the wrist of the wrist in the detective hand so that the fingers wrap around the hand to be in the correct position.
To begin the technique, place your three fingers gently on the radial artery, close your eyes and relax. You’ll get your pulse back soon. If not, press a little deeper until you feel your pulse. If you’re having trouble finding your pulse, it might help to practice on someone else until you get familiar with the sensation and can find your pulse easily.
Finding the doshas in the wrist is crucial for Ayurvedic self-diagnosis of the wrist.
Each finger represents one of the three doshas. The index finger represents vata dosha, the middle finger is pitta and the ring finger is kapha.
Each of the doshas is expressed according to its own characteristics. The index finger, which is vata, may be thought to look like a snake. Vata being air and ether will slip through your fingers. Pitta being fire and water will be strong and will jump like a frog at your middle finger. The water and earth elements that make up kapha glide over the tip of the ring finger like a swan.
Next experiment with going deep into the pulse and then very lightly surface until you can comfortably find your pulse at any intensity. It’s usually best to start by going deep enough to stop your pulse, then slowly ease the pressure until you feel your pulse recover. So stay there and experience vata (snake), pitta (frog) and kapha (swan).
This deep pulse represents your true essence or your specific nature where your soul’s knowledge and wisdom reside. Deep pulse is the balanced state of your body (prakriti). This is your body’s particular formula that supports perfect health.
Our superficial or superficial pulse is a great diagnostic tool that represents the errors that have created in our body and where imbalances can be detected. This is where we need to recognize the spikes and inconsistencies in our pulse. If our deep pulse and surface pulse are in sync, then our doshas are in balance.
There is a third pulse to consider which lies between the deep and surface pulses. Ayurveda considers this the junction point that connects the two impulses and integrates the consciousness and the body. We experience this urge more intuitively and recognize and locate the imbalance at its inception. By simply experiencing the pulse at this level, we can restore and balance our doshas, even if our intellect fails to grasp the process. The act of paying attention to your pulse will also aid the healing process as your body responds to that influence.
As you progress in your Ayurvedic pulse self-diagnosis studies, you will realize that the pulse feels unique in different places on each finger. For example, you may find that specific points on the pad of each finger have a stronger or more prominent pulse than others. This further breakdown of the details of the doshas will give you more accurate information about your imbalances.
Within each dosha, there are five sub-doshas, or subdivisions, that can be sensed. Each subdosha governs specific areas of the main dosha. This helps us better understand what imbalances are affecting our body. Each finger pad has designated areas for each subdosha.
The five subdoshas of Vata are:
prana vata
udana vata
same vata
apana vata
vyana vata.
These subdoshas govern all the upward and outward movements, functions of the body.
The Pitta subdoshas are:
annual pitta
ranjaka pitta
sadhaka pitta
Alochaka pitta
bhrajaka pitta
These subdoshas govern the eyes, blood, the breakdown of food and the effect on heart function, emotions and self-awareness.
The subdoshas of kapha are:
kledaka kapha
avalambaka kapha
bhodaka kapha
tarpaka kapha
shleshak kapha
The Kapha subdoshas regulate water balance, functions of the heart, lungs, spine, joints and sense of taste.
The best way to familiarize yourself with what pulse changes feel is to start taking your pulse right after a meal. This is a time when your pitta pulse will be strongest because your digestion will be activated. Then start taking your pulse during the switch times between vata-pitta-kapha. This is a time where you can feel the subtleties flowing from one dosha to the next.
There are professionals (vijas) available to check your pulse and confirm your results. It is best to consult these experts periodically until you become fluent with your Ayurvedic practice of pulse self-diagnosis. Checking the pulse of others is also a good exercise to get used to the details of the pulse. This will help you recognize all possible variations and familiarize yourself with the subtleties. Once you learn Ayurvedic pulse self diagnosis, you will be able to research any disease or inconsistency in your body or your loved ones.
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