Nadi Pariksha

by **Admin** Sun 07 Nov 2010, 11:50 pm

Nadi Pariksha

Pulse investigation (Nadi Pariksha)

To understand the concepts of nadi pariksha (pulse diagnosis), we should first understand the concept of srotas sira, dhamani and nadi. We generally relate all these as the channels of the body which are assigned a job of carrying substances within the body. It is well admired fact that Maharishi sushurut managed to trace even minute-minute channels present in the body even when they were very difficult to be traced with naked eyes. He was able to recognize the ever pore in the skin that had its own nerve, blood and lymphatic supply. It was calculated that there were about 700 siras, two hundreds dhamanees, which could be easily enumerated but when the minute siras and dhamanees were counted with there tributaries and branches, there number was estimated to be the same as the number of hair follicles which was distributed throughout the body. Approximately their number was calculated at two lakh ninety thousand five hundred and fifty six (2,90,556). Hence it can be said that the study of anatomical aspect of the body was at very peak in those days. And they were able to reach to the maximum nearest to the anatomical survey of the body even they dint had those modern day facilities. Few of there observations are mentioned below.

Srotas vessels which carry nutrition to the body such as the arteries are large at the source and they become minute at their terminal end. The channels and srotas carrying malas (excretory materials) like urine are very small at the source and gradually becomes bigger towards there terminal end. The study of nadi (nerves) however was a specialized technique which was perfected by yogis. They classified the big nerves as two and the smaller branches as seventy two thousand. A yoga text mentions fourteen nadis with there functions which are as follows:

Sushmna: this nadi runs up in spine till the brahmarandra.
Pingala: this nadi runs upon the right of sushmna and ends in right nostril.
Ida: it runs upon the left sushmna and ends in the left nostril
Hasti jihva: it runs down in the left and ends in the big toe.
Yasasvini: the trunk in the right leg ends in the right big toe.
Kuhu: the nadi that has its sphere of influence terminating in the vagina.
Alambusha: it terminates at the end of the anus.
Gandhara: it ends in the left eye
Pusha: it ends in the right eye.
Sankhini: it terminates in the left ear.
Payavaini: it terminates in the right ear.
Sarasvati: it terminates in the tongue
Viswodara: it terminated in the face
Varuna: it has its influence spreading throughout the body

Except these 14 nadis there is also mentioning of five afferent sensory nerves which carry impulse from the periphery to the centre. These are

Sabda (hearing)
Sparsha (touch)
Roopa (vision)
Rasa (taste)
Gandha (smell)

There is also mention of five efferent or motor nerves, which start from the centre and discharge impulses at the periphery. These are:

Vak (speech)
Pani (reception by hand)
Pada (locomotion by legs)
Payu (excretion)
Upastha (procreation)

Hence it sums up to twenty four big nadis. The yogis by practice can control these twenty four spheres of nervous influence at his will at the same time without disturbing the others sphere. Here the concept to voluntary and involuntary actions of the muscles is set a side as mentioned in modern system. It has been seen that yogis by practice are able to achieve things like sucking of water into the urinary bladder through the penis without the aid of catheter. It is very important to understand the full implication of nadi pariksha. It is not just to study the venous pulsation in the wrist. Nadi science is the science of the nadi or nerves, which includes the study of life processes that are responsible for living and existence of man. Nadi is said to be jiva sakshi, the evidence of life. Nadi gets influenced by various affects that influence the physiology of the body, especially the three dosha i.e. Vata, pitta and kapha. The dhamani or the nadi mentioned here simply refers to radial artery. Its gati (motion) does not merely indicate the rate or the rhythm of the pulse, the size and condition of the arterial wall or the volume of blood that flows through the artery or the force with which the blood flows. The gati or the motion of this nadi also indicates the imbalance of the three doshas i.e. vat a, pitta and kapha. Purpose of studying nadi or pulse

The nadi investigation is chiefly performed to ascertain the imbalance of dosha or doshas. The extent of derangement can also be known by this methodology. The pulse is recognized to be jiva sakshi i.e. the evidence of life. The prognosis of a physician st very critical moments when death is threatening, depends upon his accurate study of pulse and all the capacity of the physician should then be at his command. The knowledge of pulse investigation (nadi vigyanam) embraces in itself a vast science. It is partly based on the physical examination of the artery on the concentration of the mind that the physician can bring to bear at the moment of examination. It is not the counting of the pulse rate, which is normally 72 per minute. It’s just not the mechanical affair. The whole concept of examining the pulse is still faraway the reach of modern medical system. To be expert in nadi pariksha (pulse examination) one should have a good yogic powers like concentration of mind and bringing our mind nearer to the soul to achieve a ideal condition etc. hence to achieve a infinite forces which modern science has yet to explore. Thus a physician or a person, who wants to be a nadi expert, first should enter a state of Samadhi or samyama (stage of enlightenment). It is the fact that a physician can not enter in the body of a patient by the physical means but by spiritual methods he can easily explore the condition of the patient from inside which is only achieved by a state of mind attained by practice and realization of self.
HOW TO EXAMINE THE NADI?
The pulse should be examined in the morning on empty stomach in a calm and peaceful atmosphere. Patient and physician should sit comfortably facing each other, preferably at the same height; it is advisable to examine the pulse of the patient in sitting position. Generally radial pulse is examined just below the styloid process on the wrist. In males the pulse of the right hand and females the left hand is examined. It is so because the main organ responsible for findings of the pulse (Nadi) is Kurma and its position differs in males and females. It is situated around Nabhi (umbilicus/center) in downward position in males and in upward position in females. The pulse is to be examined on the right side of Kurma. So due to this difference in position, pulse is examined on the right hand of males and left hand of women. Further the right side of a male and left side of a female is considered as auspicious, favorable and good.
The physician should sit on the right side of the patient and hold the right hand of male or left hand of female at wrist with his right hand while supporting the arm of the patient at the elbow with his left hand. The arm of the patient should be kept fully extended. Then the physician should keep three fingers i.e. index, middle, and ring of his right hand on the radical pulse just adjacent to the styloid process situated just below the root of thumb. The position of the fingers should be such that index finger lies adjacent to the process. The fingers of physician should be half flexed so that he may gently press the pulse with the tips of the fingers. Then the physician should examine the pulse by applying gentle and equal pressure of his three fingers on the pulse. The physician should not the rate, volume, pressure and character of movement of the pulse. The pulse should be examined three times with full concentration prior to reaching the final diagnosis. First of all the physician should try to ascertain beneath which finger, he is feeling the pulse. Then he should count the pulse rate for one minute dividing into four quarters of 15 seconds. The rate, volume and rhythm of pulse should be carefully observed separately in all the four quarters. The condition of the wall of the artery may also be helpful in diagnosis. In addition, force, tension, fullness or emptiness, character of pulse and condition of wall of vessel should also be examined in each case. After examining the patient, the physician must wash his hands.
Nadi of Healthy person: The learning physician must first be able to identify the normal features of pulse and then practice on a large number of apparently healthy persons, and then only he can appreciate the path gnomonic changes in pulse. The pulse of a healthy person is said to have the movement like that have a swan or elephant. Along with it the face of the patient also looks cheerful.
Nadi in Different States of Mind Happy person : Pulse is steady (Sthira)
Saturated (Tripta) : pulse is steady ( Sthira)
Hungry Persons : Pulse is tremulous (chapala)
During Sexual urge and anger the pulse is fast (Vegavati)
Pulse is weak (Kshina) in worry, fear, sorrow and disgust.
Vata Pulse: The pulse is felt below the index finger. The pulse seems to have tortuous movement like that of a snake or leach. The pulse is comparatively fast and of low volume. Its rate, volume and rhythm vary in the four quarters of a minute. The artery may feel hard. Pitta Pulse: In Pitta dominance, the pulse is felt below the middle finger. The pulse seems to have a jumping movement like that of swan or pigeon. The pulse is slow in rate and full involve. The volume and rhythm are steady in all the four quarters of a minute. The fingers on the pulse may feel slight coolness.
Sannipata Pulse: When all three Dosha re dominant, the pulse is felt below all the three fingers with a very fast rate. The pulse seems to have movement like that of quail (Lava). Francolin partridge (Titara) and Batera). Dual Dosha Pulse: The pulse of two combined Dosha has the characteristic of both the involved Dosha. For instance the pulse of Vata Pitta may be felt below both index and middle fingers and may be of full volume but its rate, rhythm and volume may vary in the quarters of the minute. Similarly in dominance of both Pitta and Kapha, the pulse is felt below both middle finger and ring finger and so on.
Pulse in Fever: In fever, the pulse becomes fast and is felt hot to touch. Pulse in Psychological conditions: In condition of anger and excitement, pulse becomes fast. Pulse in Digestion: In the state of poor digestive power, the pulse becomes very slow and low in volume. In Ama it becomes heavy. In a person whose digestive power is good, the pulse is felt light and fast. In a hungry person the pulse is felt inconsistent in rate, rhythm and volume in the four quarter of a minute. In a person with satiety, the pulse is consistent.
Pulse in Dhatu Kshaya: In the state of diminished tissues, the pulse becomes very slow and low in volume. Precautions for Pulse Examination : the pulse should be examined under the following conditions. In the morning ideally up to 10 am, but can be examined at any time in an emergency.
Examined preferably when the patient is sitting in up upright position.
The patient should be calm.
On an empty stomach, but the patient should not be hungry or thirsty.
Pulse should not be examined immediately after bath, exercise, massage, sex or while the patient is sleeping.

Various levels of understanding Nadi

Nadi is examined at 4 various levels which helps us in achieving the diagnosis
These are as follows ---

Immediate level
Superficial level
Deep level
Subdosha level

Immediate Level

This is the level when the examiner arrives at exact location of the Nadi & without any botheration of the pressure exerted on the Nadi tries to evaluate it’s properties- - -
Nature – Whether soft or pricking. A soft touch denotes Normal status & the pricking one otherwise.
Gati – Fast / Moderate or Slow
Regularity – An irregular pulse denotes underlying heart disease .
Bala – Powerful / Moderate / Weak
Location – The finger where the dominant pulsations are observed the more dominant activities are taking place in the same area. Index- Lower part to naval; Middle – middle part & Ring – Chest & above
Sparsha- Ushna sparsha denotes presence of Ama

Superficial level

After immediate level all the three fingers are elevated in a single plane & taken to the uppermost level using the minimum pressure like a butterfly sitting on flower
The things observed in this level denotes the happening in the body at that moment
The exact Location – On which finger the pulsation is felt; it may be on one , two or all the three.
Bala- the power at which the pulsations are felt which is directly proportionate to the activity of dosha can be measured as 0,+,++ & +++
Gati – 3 types of movements are observed representing each dosha viz. Sarpa- Vata; Mandooka – Pitta & Hans - Kapha
Various Gati

Gati of the Nadi is the specific movement felt under the fingers. Though all the three fingers are at the same plane the movements are to be understood at each finger separately.
Any type of gati can be observed at any finger there are no rules regarding this.

Sarpa Gati
As like many other areas of Ayurved the similarity from the mother nature are considered for better understanding Sarpa Gati
The pulsation is felt at various location of fingertip & is of various thickness resembling the serpentine movement
It denotes the Vata activity in corresponding area of the body

Mandooka Gati
The pulsation is felt at singular location of fingertip & is of forward jumping nature resembling the frog like movement
It denotes the Pitta activity in corresponding area of the body

Hansa Gati
The pulsation is felt at singular location of fingertip & is of subtle , Soft & regular nature resembling the Hansa movement
It denotes the Kapha activity in corresponding area of the body

Superficial Level
Though the Index , Middle & ring finger represent Vata, Pitta & Kapha respectively (Defining their major sites of action) the various movements can be observed at different fingers . It can be either physiological ( Helpful) or Pathological (Harmful) depending on the overall presentation of the Nadi

Deep level

The deep level represents the Prakrity of the person. As Nadi is simulated with the river ; thus as at the base of the river there are no rustling movements as otherwise seen on the surface. In the human body the most constant non changing thing is the prakrity, so it is understood at the base
One must look for the location & strength of the pulsation an the fingertips represent ting the respective prakrity

Subdosha Level

Subdosha are nothing but the sub types of the dosha.
Each one of these represent a particular organ or system of the body.
Understanding the Subdosha provides the knowledge about happening in that particular organ or disease process being concentrated in that area
If this knowledge is combined with the information gathered in earlier levels provides near correct directions for diagnosis

Understanding Subdosha
As earlier we have seen the superficial & the deep levels, knows the thickness of the pulse. We have to divide it in to3 equal portions.
Take your all the three fingertips to the superficial level & then slowly push only one finger at a time & feel the pulsation.
Divide the fingertip into 4 imaginary parts as shown in the diagram & try to locate on which part the pulsation is felt
Vata Subdosha
Use Index finger for Vata Subdosha
Check out for the pulsation on various part as shown in diagram
If pulsation is felt more than 1 part it is vyan Vayu in action

Pitta Subdosha
Use Middle finger for Pitta Subdosha
Check out for the pulsation on various part as shown in diagram
If pulsation is felt more than 1 part it is Bhrajak Pitta in action

Kapha Subdosha
Use Ring finger for Kapha Subdosha
Check out for the pulsation on various part as shown in diagram
If pulsation is felt more than 1 part it is Shleshak Kapha in action

Precautions

One must try to record all the four levels before trying any diagnosis as a single level can be very deceptive & incomplete
All the levels are integrated & can only be understood if earlier level is well recorded.
Nadi pariksha what we have designed can provide you only a direction & multiple options from the very site & dosha involvement. We must resort to fuller diagnostic procedure to make your efforts more useful

Example
Immediate level suggesting pricking, fast, Dominant felt on Index & middle finger, warm, regular & full
Superficial level gives you middle finger , with Mandooka gati, +++,
Deep level shows Ring finger +++ Middle finger ++
Subdosha level Index 2nd +, Middle on 3 areas++, Ring 2nd +

Decoding the example
Immediate shows the pathological condition resembling fever, Ama, & Pain
Superficial level suggest Pitta increased along with Vata
Deep level suggest Kapha pittatmak prakrity
Subdosha area suggest the Upper respiratory area
So the suggested diagnosis is URTI with fever but without expectoration

Conclusion
The Nadi pariksha is an easy tool to arrive at the faster diagnosis.? It is not the ultimate tool to achieve complete & final diagnosis. It provides the balance sheet of your body activity at that moment but not the complete picture so we get the nearest direction for the disease with dosha involvement & location to make the multiple choices to bare minimum..