Pulse diagnosis is the ancient Ayurveda science of detecting the existing status of a persons

physiological and psychological status based on Doshas. Nadi or pulse is that vital flow of energy
or life that courses through body primarily in blood vessels, and enables the Vaidya to feel the
way the blood spurts from the heart. Pulse reading helps an experienced Vaidya to know about
Doshas, Subdoshas and their interaction with Dhatus.

Pulse reading is to be learnt under the guidance of an experienced Vaidya through practice, and
concentration. Vaidya is able to diagnose the imbalances within a persons body by touching,
pressing and feeling the different combinations of the pulse.

Ayurveda mentions three primary types of diagnostic procedure: Darshana (Inspection),

Sparshana (Palpation) and Prashna (proper History taking). Pulse reading involves touching,
feeling, observing and experiencing not only the rate, rhythm, and volume of the pulse but also
the movement, amplitude, temperature, force, and consistency of it.

Ayurveda reiterates that all living beings are the permutation and combination of the five basic
elements - Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. These five elements constitute the three major
biological components - the three Doshas - Vata (Ether + Air), Pitta (Fire + Water)
and Kapha (Water + Earth).

Health and Disease is caused by nothing else but the balance and imbalance of these Doshas.
Health follows when the Doshas are balanced and disease when they are imbalanced. There are
five subtypes of each Dosha. Doshas interact with Agni (digestive fire and metabolic fire), Dhatus
(Tissues) and Malas (Metabolic Waste Materials).

Grossly speaking, the pulse results from pressure force through arteries that moves blood from
heart to all tissues. Rate, rhythm, force and temperature are some common factors that any
medical personnel or health care worker can feel. Ayurveda takes it Pulse Reading to another
dimension and helps Vaidya to fetch more information from it.