According to Dr.

Shen, the Triple Burner can be evaluated on the pulse by the relative
uniformity, and strength, of the qualities on each principal level (burner) of the six principal
pulse positions.

Shen-Hammer System
Overall Assessment
In this model of pulse diagnosis, there is no specific position for the Triple Burner. Its connection
to water metabolism can associate it with the Bladder/Kidney, but since, according to Dr. Shen,
its function is found in all three burners, there is no single position for it.

The greater the similarities of qualities in the same burner, and on the pulse as a whole, the
greater the inherent stability of physiology. This is the case even if the entire pulse were Feeble-
Absent and showing signs of severe Qi Deficiency: Yin and Yang are still in contact.

This applies when comparing the left and right sides of the pulse and the Upper, Middle, and
Lower Burners. The more similar they are, the healthier is the Triple Burner, and the greater the
inherent stability of physiology, even if the entire pulse were Feeble-Absent. Difference between
left and right, or Upper, Middle, and Lower Burners denotes disrepair (the degree of disrepair
indicated by the degree of difference palpated).

The presence of pathology in the complementary positions associated with a burner informs me
that the disease process in that burner is more advanced and serious than were pathology not
present in those positions

Assessment of each Burner

Upper Burner (Distal Positions)

A disparity between the two sides in both the principal and complementary positions of the
Upper Burner (distal positions) indicates some degree of chaos in this region, especially in terms
of cardiopulmonary function. Lung Qi and/or Damp Stagnation obstructs, and then depletes, the
Heart and circulation. Likewise, if a deficient Heart cannot sufficiently circulate Blood through
the Lung, there will be poor aeration of the Blood and Lung Stagnation of Qi and fluid.

As mentioned earlier, the integrity of the Upper Burner may also tell us how well we can reach
out to the world with awareness of our creative being and with the strength to communicate and
protect ourselves: how well we can maintain mental and emotional stability despite the “slings
and arrows of outrageous fortune” with which we are all constantly bombarded. For example, it
will tell us how well we can handle shock or recover from grief.

Middle Burner (Middle Positions)

Here, we are looking at either Liver Qi Stagnation or Liver Qi Deficiency depriving the
Stomach/Intestines of their descending function, since Liver Qi is responsible for peristalsis. A
Spleen-Stomach Qi Deficiency will exacerbate this condition.

The integrity of the Middle Burner also tells us about how centered this person is in life, and of
course, about the relationship between the moving and recovering Qi (Liver) and the nurturing
Qi (Spleen-Stomach). It tells me how easily this person can handle stress and toxicity – mental
and physical – as well as the organism’s capacity for recovery on a day-to-day basis (Liver) and
how well it can replenish itself over time (Spleen).

Lower Burner (Proximal Positions)

Here, the disparity between the sides of the pulse is less clear because, contrary to convention,
both can show both Qi/Yang Deficiencies and Yin Deficiencies simultaneously as well as signs
of Excess Heat (Flooding Excess and Pounding qualities) on either side and Blood Stagnation in
the pelvis (Choppy).

I evaluate the proximal positions also to get a sense of the root, the ground on which this person
must stand (the Kidney). If it is reduced in Qi at a young age, even up to the age of forty-five
depending on degree, I suspect that the constitutional Qi is deficient and that recovery will be
more difficult. If the person is older, I assume that some of this deficiency is a more gradual
draining due to overwork, overexercise, or some other form of abuse (drugs, sex), and that there
may be more basic Qi with which to work (Reduced Substance quality).

If the deficiency is primarily Yin, indicated by harder qualities such as Tight in the proximal
positions, I realize that this person has probably been overworking their mind and central
nervous system. At times, one of these deficiencies can be so characteristic of the person that it
alone appears even though its opposite is also present. This is especially true if Yin is being
depleted, since the harder qualities overshadow the more pliable ones that would reveal Qi and
Yang Deficiency.

More often in keeping with the realities of life, there are signs of both deficiencies of Yin and
Yang in the proximal positions. This informs me that both processes are occurring
simultaneously; one proximal position might be Tight and the other Feeble, or the qualities
might constantly change back-and-forth from one to the other during the pulse examination.

My experience does not follow the conventional description of the left proximal position
indicating Kidney Yin and the right proximal position indicating Kidney Yang. I find the quality,
rather than the left or right location, to be a more accurate indicator: Tight or harder qualities
being Yin Deficiency, and weaker qualities indicating Yang Deficiency. As already mentioned,
one can have both.

Summary

There is no specific position for the Triple Burner system in the Contemporary Chinese Pulse
Diagnosis system. According to Dr. Shen, its function is found across all three, bilateral,
principal positions, and there is no single position for it.

I assess the function of the Triple Burner by examining the relationship between the principal
positions. If the qualities are generally more or less uniform, I consider the Triple Burner to be
functioning well. If, on the other hand, the qualities vary considerably from position to position
(or burner to burner), the functioning of the Triple Burner is greatly stressed.

When the pulse reveals intact proximal positions (the Lower Burner), it tells us that we have
root: ground on which to stand and heal. Intact middle positions (the Middle Burner) tell us that
we can restore and cleanse ourselves. Intact distal positions (the Upper Burner) tells us that we
can reach out to the world with awareness of our creative being, with the strength to
communicate and protect our being, and to maintain mental and emotional stability.

Alternative Exposition
As stated, there is no specific position for the Triple Burner system in the Contemporary Pulse
Diagnosis system of pulse diagnosis. However, students report associations of the Triple Burner
to the right proximal position, which makes this a reasonable area for exploration.

For example, one Five Element practitioner, treating a patient who she believed to have a Triple
Burner causative factor, was unable to make any progress until she found extreme activity in the
Gallbladder and right proximal positions. At this point, she resolved the pulse and clinical
picture by using the exit-entry points for the Gallbladder and Triple Burner.

A further link of the Triple Burner to Kidney Yin, Yang, and Qi is by way of Wang Shu He’s pulse
model, which places the Triple Burner at the superficial depth of the right proximal pulse
position.

Tongue
Very little is written about how the Triple Burner manifests itself in the tongue. Giovanni
Macciocia, in his book on tongue diagnosis, gives three descriptions that are as follows.

“Some of the channels (i.e., those of the Lung, Small Intestine, Large Intestine and Gallbladder)
do not flow directly to the tongue and yet the health of their associated Organs nonetheless can
be reflected there. These channels do, however, indirectly connect with the tongue via their
arm-leg related channels (i.e., those of the Spleen, Bladder, Stomach and Triple Burner
respectively). All other channels flow directly to the tongue.”

“White and Powder-Like. This coating resembles powder sprinkled on top of the tongue. It is
associated with several conditions including seasonal epidemic exterior Heat, toxin in the
interior, or externally-contracted Heat in the Triple Burner.”

“In fact, a white coating like powder denotes Heat in the Triple Burner.”

The tongue explanations in that book are the result of several days of questioning Dr. Shen about
the photographs of the tongues that appear throughout that text. In my long association with Dr.
Shen, I did not glean any more information regarding the manifestation of the Triple Burner on
the tongue.