Slow (Chi)

Clinical Significance
Cold patternEmpty-Cold (Slow and Weak) Full-Cold (Slow and Full)
Aspect
rate
Body Psych
ColdExcess ColdDeficient Cold
Feeling
This pulse has three beats per respiration cycle
Kind
Slow

Slow (Chi)

Feeling

This pulse has three beats per respiration cycle (of the practitioner). In the old times the rate was referred to the practitioner’s respiration cycle, but nowadays the pulse rate can also be counted conventionally using a watch.

Normal Pulse

Age (year)Rate (beat/min)
1–4
4–10
10–16
16–35
35–50
50+

Clinical significance

  • Cold pattern
  • Empty-Cold (Slow and Weak)
  • Full-Cold (Slow and Full)

A Slow pulse indicates a Cold pattern. If it is Slow and Weak, it indicates Empty-Cold from deficiency of Yang. If it is Slow and Full, it indicates Full-Cold.