Tibetan Pulse Diagnosis: The 13-Section Master Map

Flashcards covering the vocabulary and technical procedures for Tibetan pulse diagnosis as outlined in the 13-Section Master Map.

The 13-Section Master Map

The skeletal framework of the pulse chapter consisting of $5$ setup steps, $2$ baselines, $3$ readings, and $3$ fates.

Chhang

A type of alcohol that the patient must avoid the day before examination to prevent disturbing the nature of the disorder.

Timing of Examination

Read at dawn, after the sun has risen but before its beams strike the plain, and before the patient has eaten or inhaled cold external air.

Tshon

A measurement approximately equal to one thumb-width, used to locate the pulse position by moving toward the elbow from the first crease of the wrist.

Radial styloid

The protuberant bone on which the physician places the index, middle, and ring fingers uniformly for examination.

Dhaag

The vital organ associated with a pulse point, read at the upper tip of the finger during exhalation.

Sib

The vessel organ associated with a pulse point, read at the lower tip of the finger during inhalation.

Physician's Right Hand (Male Patient)

The hand that reads the patient's LEFT hand, corresponding to the Heart/Small intestine (Index), Spleen/Stomach (Middle), and Left kidney/Seminal vesicle (Ring).

Physician's Left Hand (Male Patient)

The hand that reads the patient's RIGHT hand, corresponding to the Lungs/Large intestine (Index), Liver/Gall bladder (Middle), and Right kidney/Urinary bladder (Ring).

Female index reversal

A methodology change where only the index finger organ assignments swap locations, while middle and ring fingers remain the same as the male patient map.

Healthy pulse beat-count

A count of exactly $5$ beats per full respiratory cycle of a healthy physician, consistent across $100$ beats.

Hot disorder

A condition indicated when the beat-count is greater than ($>$) $5$ beats per respiratory cycle.

Cold disorder

A condition indicated when the beat-count is fewer than ($<$) $5$ beats per respiratory cycle.

Dön pulses

The pulses associated with spirits, categorized in Section $12$ of the Master Map.

La pulse

The life-force pulse (Section $13$) where each beat counted corresponds to one year of life.