Why Do I check the Pulses in Acupuncture Treatment?

Often times when I see a patient for the first time at my acupuncture clinic in Orange, I will spend some time checking the pulses on both wrists in 3 different positions. Most people assume I'm checking to see how fast it is, but that is only part of it. You see, the pulse is checked on the radial artery, which is just another blood vessel. Blood vessels are made out of muscle, and while it is not exactly like the muscles that move your arms and legs, it responds to the nervous system in a similar way. Like when we get stressed out the muscles in your neck and shoulders tighten up, the pulse can do the same thing. Depending on how your body is working, I can detect up to 33 different types of pulse qualities!

And by checking the pulses in 3 different positions on each wrist, I can get information about how the internal organs of the body are working. I can detect sleep problems, heart problems, digestive disorders, adrenal burnout, even if you are getting a cold! That's a lot of information to get just from a pulse.

All of this information helps me decide which acupuncture points are most appropriate to give you the best treatment possible. Since an acupuncturist, unlike many physicians, is responsible for the examination, diagnosis, AND treatment of a patient, it's important to get it right!

If  you want to learn more about pulse examination, or have a problem you want to know if acupuncture can help, visit www.OCAcupunctureSpecialist.com or call 714-997-4861.