Blue Poppy Book Review

The Secret of Chinese Pulse Diagnosis

Western students and practitioners of Chinese medicine will thank Bob Flaws for this book, which presents TCM pulse diagnosis in a lucid, understandable fashion.

The Secret of Chinese Pulse Diagnosis is essentially an extended commentary on the Bin Hu Mai Xue (the Lakeside Master's Pulse Treatise), also known by its author's name, Li Shi-zhen. Organized for teaching, and incorporating in its second edition suggestions from Bob's students, The Secret of Chinese Pulse Diagnosis is a thoroughgoing treatment of Li Shi-zhen's system of pulse diagnosis for beginners and experienced practitioners alike.

The thesis of the book is that the challenges of pulse diagnosis are not mystical, nor principally dependent on the mastery of physical skills; rather, the essential task is to internalize the descriptions of the 27 pulse images of Li Shi-zhen's systems. Having done this, it is a relatively straightforward matter to distinguish them in clinical practice. Bob Flaws offers exceptionally clear descriptions of the pulse images and their ramificiations. He also compares and contrasts the Li Shi-zhen system, which is the one commonly used in China, particularly in herbal medicine, with the Nan Jing (Classic of Difficulties) and Mai Jing (Pulse Classic) systems. The Nan Jing and Mai Jing systems are seldom used in Chinese medicine, but are important in some styles of Japanese and Korean acupuncture, so it is interesting to see the distinctions side-by-side.

The Secret of Chinese Pulse Diagnosis should be the gold standard for English-speaking students of Chinese pulse examination, since it is clear, practical, comprehensive, and enjoyable to read.

Jeffrey Chapman, L.Ac.