Nadi Pariksha (Pulse Diagnosis)- An Ayurvedic Tool

When we normally approach to a doctor, we tell him the ailments and pains we are feeling or suffering.By this preliminary information, the doctor checks us up and if necessary, recommends us to have some further tests to understand the ailments better.

After that, he forms an understanding of the symptoms. On the contrary, in Nadi Pariksha, a person need not tell any of his/her problems in advance. In this Doctor, Automatically comes to know of your ailments because of this Nadi Pariksha tool.

So the Nadi Vidwan is not alleged to know the details in advance.

• The process of any disease is revealed through the prevailing symptoms.Each and every cell in our body has its importance and intelligence. In Nadi Pariksha, this intelligence, communication is studied in the form of vibrations.

• Nadi Pariksha reads the vibratory frequency of the Pulse at various levels of the Radial artery.

• Subtle vibrations are read at seven dissimilar levels vertically downward that help in determining various functions in the body.

• When examined, physical & mental features of the pulse are revealed through the pulse.

• This is understood in the form of symptoms along with their prognosis, which aids in understanding the cause. Thus, Any person’s ailment can be addressed by  Nadi Pariksha.

• The accuracy of the pulse reading depends on the individual’s intuitive awareness and also on the ability to understand and interpret the subtlety of vibrations. This sensitive awareness influences the success of Nadi Pariksha.

The five elements or the “Panchamahabhutas” are Ether, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. The 3 Doshas or humor like Vata, Pitta, and Kapha come as the result of these five elements.

Air + Ether = Vata (Mobility)

Fire +Water = Pitta (Heat)

Water + Earth = Kapha (Viscosity)

Any imbalance in these Doshas will bring forth an ailment which later on leads to a disease. Each of these Doshas has their Physical, Mental, Emotional and Physiological features.

All the details disclosed in Nadi Pariksha are mentioned below:

1. During the Pulse Diagnosis, each and every aspect of the human body i.e. the Body, Mind, etc. is understood.
2. The Diagnosis not only understands the cause of the current ailments but also chases the disease back to its origin.
3. Even subtle levels of occasional factors such as emotional matters or specific thought patterns of the individual, that demonstrate into physical ailments subsequently are understood.

Nadi Pariksha is contracted to understand the following aspects in an individual:

1. Prakruti

“One’s Original Constitution at the time of Conception” can be determined. This helps in giving the base of deciding the foundation and structure of the individual’s Healing process.

2. Vikruti

“One’s Current Constitution as against the Original Constitution” can be understood through this diagnosis.It helps in ascertaining the deviation that the body and mind have taken as compared to its original constitution. While during this transition from Prakruti to Vikruti, it enables an individual to understand the prognosis of ailments that has risen.

Other aspects that can be disclosed are:

1. Change In Mental State

Changing of mental state can be successfully tracked through Nadi Pariksha. This is importantly noted that the science of Ayurveda considers that a major part of human ailments are psychosomatic in nature. This is because the body is the only way by which mind can express itself. Therefore, the mind plays a vital role in the working of the body.

2. Doshas

The analysis of the Doshas, the subtle entities of the psycho – physiological body can also be done by Nadi Pariksha. The Disease process can be understood well if there is any alteration in the Doshas. The Doshas such as Vata, Pitta & Kapha and their sub-units help in knowing:

•  The mobility of energies and the working of the nervous system, circulation as defined by the pulsation of the heart, and the movement of nutrition to various tissues in the body.

• The governing activities of the body like Digestion, Absorption & Assimilation of Nutrition which is responsible for the metabolic process and the process of biotransformation in the body and these are known from 3 Doshas.

• The absorbing and binding functions through the help of bodily fluids, which are responsible for the proper and healthy formation of Muscles, Bones, Ligaments, and Tendons, etc.

3. Health Of Tissues

Through this, we can study the health of different types of tissues in the body, such as Plasma, Blood, Muscle, Marrow, Ivory, Nerve and reproduction.

4. Health Of Chakras

The health of the Chakras or the subtle energy wheels in the body that match with the glands in the physical body can also be found out. In the body, Chakras are related to mind and control certain physiological processes.

While doing the Nadi Pariksha, other forms of examination are considered. To check the correctness of the Pulse Diagnosis, there is a cross-examination done. Different methods of this cross-examination are highlighted as below:

1. Nails

The constitution of a person is revealed through the size and shape of the person’s nails. For example, small size nails with serrated borders (a person stung it due to anxiety or nervousness) show a Vata nail. Pitta’s nails are little larger in size with a slight curvature in the middle that gives a semi “D” shape.

In the center, a slight yellow tinge will reveal when the nails are pressed at the top. A Kapha nail is larger in size. These nails are normally white in color. The surface of the nail is usually large.

Indications

Vata nails have perpendicular lines that appear like deep serrations or ridges. Apart from having vertical ridges, Pitta Nails (not always necessary) have reddish lines along these ridges starting from the bottom of the nail towards the top of the nails.And the last one, Kapha nails may have a larger curvature in the center owing to the larger surface area.

2. Tongue

The important aspects of digestion and assimilation of food are revealed through the tongue. It also reveals what kind of digestive disorders we have and which of the 3 Doshas were responsible for this or which one is in the unbalanced state. The type of ailment is also revealed. The physiological problems present in other parts of the body is also revealed.

Indications

A cracked and rough tongue shows when Vata is provoked. Whereas, Pitta shows a reddish tongue and Kapha shows a whitish slimy mucus coating on the tongue.

3. Eyes

The person’s original constitution can be revealed through the shape of the eyes. While during the examination, the eyes reveal what is the nature of the ailment and which one of the 3 Doshas are responsible for it.

Indications

A person suffering from Vata disorder will have a brownish coloration in the eyes. Some dryness can also be felt in the eyes.Whereas, A Pitta condition will have redness or yellowish coloring in the eyes And the Kapha disorder will have cloudy or dense vision along with whitish marks in the eyes.

4. Speech

A person’s strong voice and intonations while talking can reveal the predominant Dosha. The nature of the symptoms present in the body and the cause are also revealed.

Indications

A Vata person will speak faster and will alter subjects without relevance or context. Erratic breathing and gesticulations will be prevailing.

A Pitta person will have a loud voice, a strong tone which will display influence which can be easily mistaken for arrogance.

A Kapha person will be balmy, soft and musical in his speech. His expressions will be slow and will not hurry in his conversation.

5. Skin

The kind of Dosha present in the body will be revealed by the feel and texture of the skin. The presence of the three doshas, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, is revealed through the temperature of the skin. In the blood, if there are any toxins then it will be revealed through the pigmentation of the skin.

Indications

A Vata skin is dry with scales or flakes. The skin is cold and has a darkish coloration. A person suffering from Pitta will have an oily skin and reddish patches which denote the possible inflammation under the skin. It will be hot to touch. A Kapha person will have a cold and moist feeling by the touch. It is like pale or milky white.

6. Urine

The nature of ailment in the body can be determined by the color, nature, frequency and the content of the urine. The intensity of the ailment reveals through the volume and the frequency of urination.

Indications

A Vata person will suffer from scanty urination or infrequent urination. The quantity of urine will also differ and the urgency to urinate will not match with the quantity of urine coming out. The urine will have the smell of an astringent.

A person suffering from the Pitta will have hot urine and in a better volume. Urine will convert from Dark yellow to yellow and then reddish in color. The urine will have a strong and pungent smell. Whereas, A Kapha person will have a large volume of urine. The color of urine will be whitish and can be sparkly.

7. Stools

The nature of the ailment will be known by the formation and color of the stool. Also, the number of evacuations or lack of evacuation like constipation. This gives the information on both the emotional levels of the individual as well as the working of the physiology in the body.

Even the smell of the breath while talking reveals the kind of toxins present in the large intestine and the predominant Dosha imbalance which has caused these toxins to manifest.

Indications

A person suffering from the Vata will have a different stool formation. He will suffer from lots of gas and distention in the abdomen. Normally, it will be hard, and the feeling of constipation will be there. The color of the stools will differ between dark brown to black. They normally float.

A pitta person will have well-formed stools too loose stools. The color of the stools will differ from brown to light brown.

Particularly when the pitta dosha is provoked, the stools color will be seen yellowish in color and can range between semiformed to loose stools. He can also face the burning of rectum while passing stools. Casual mucus formation will also be present.

A Kapha person will have a large volume of stools. In his stools, mucus will also present. The color of stools will be lying between brown to yellow.