Essential Pulse Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine: Mai Jing A-B-C Method

Pulse diagnosis is a notoriously complicated area in Chinese medicine with very few practical or accessible resources available to practitioners to improve their skillset. This clear, didactic manual provides detailed yet user-friendly instructions for a pulse diagnosis method the author has developed called Mai Jing A-B-C, allowing for clinical competency and confidence in pulse diagnosis. Jamie Hamilton draws on pulse methods and techniques found primarily in the 3rd century classic of Chinese medicine, Mai Jing, that have often been overlooked in later centuries. He uses his teaching background to reassess these methods and breaks down incredibly complex concepts into simpler forms to enable learning and immediate application into practice. The method has been honed into six simple steps, each accompanied by detailed case studies to further aid clarity.

Table of Contents:
List of Translations 6 Preface 7 Introduction 11 A-B-C Method 25 Phase A: Orientation 39 Step 1: Baseline Method 41 Step 2: Three Passes Method 53 Phase B: Deepening Perception 65 Step 3: Nine Regions Method 69 Step 4: 8E Method 91 Step 4.a: The three midline extraordinary vessels (du, rèn & chong) 93 Step 4.b: Five bilateral extraordinary vessels 103 Phase C: Analysis 115 Step 5: Five-Level Method 117 Step 6: 24 Qualities Method 145 Integration & Method Summary 171 Advanced Focus, Phase A 185 Step 1: Vitality - Stomach qì 186 Step 1: Seasonal pulses 192 Step 1: Six Divisions Method 195 Advanced Focus, Phase B 209 Step 3: Su Wen 20 Origins 209 Step 3: Complete correspondences 219 Step 3 Radial and Ulnar Deviations 222 Advanced Focus, Phase C 227 Step 5: The 24 yin and yáng pulses 227 Step 5: The nature of Flipped Pulses: kyo and jitsu 232 Conclusion 239 Appendix 1: 24 Qualities 245 Appendix 2: A-B-C Notation 246 Appendix 3: Mai Jing Book 10 248 Appendix 4: Herbal Formulas 252 Appendix 6: Mai Jue Translation 254 Notes 259 Bibliography 271 Glossary 274

About the Author :
Jamie Hamilton BSc. Lic. Ac. LicCCHM, is an acupuncturist, herbalist and shiatsu practitioner. Jamie first became interested in Chinese medicine on travelling from Hong Kong to West China in 1987, when after a cycling accident he received treatment from a blind Chinese Medical practitioner (doctor) who read his pulse and treated him with acupressure and herbal medicine. His training in the field began in 2001 with shiatsu, then progressed onto Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Jamie trained in Applied Channel Theory with Dr Wang Ju-Yi and Jason Robertson in 2016. He began teaching Chinese Medicine in 2006 with the European Shiatsu School. He is now the co-principle (and founder) of East West College, providing continuing professional development courses for acupuncture and shiatsu. He is also a Yoga teacher, and a Shodan grade Instructor of Shintaido.

Review :
A great book is one that allows us to see with fresh eyes something which is close at hand. In this wonderfully researched text, Jamie Hamilton points us all in a direction we may have long known but not followed. After working for decades in the clinic and carefully checking pulses on all patients, I had long noticed that I was feeling changes for which I had no clear name or method for weaving into my diagnosis. By taking me from the beginnings of pulse diagnosis in classical sources and building a logical and methodical system, I have gained a greater vocabulary with which to describe what I already felt. However, in his new translations and innovative clinical applications of classical texts, I have had the even more exciting realization that I still have so much to learn. Jamie draws not only from his classical research but also mines his exposure to multiple modern methodologies to produce an elegant and workable pulse technique which is explained with clear diagrams and fascinating case studies. For the busy clinician, he even proposes quick and simple charting techniques which will eventually give rise to a new visual language for practitioners to share clinical insights. This is the book on pulse I have been waiting for. Clear, concise, practical, and approachable. This is what Hamilton has done for pulses in this book. Taking from his clinical as well as theoretical experience, Hamilton has created a step-by-step system that allows new practitioners to gain confidence in their diagnostic abilities and permits experience practitioners to refine and add nuance to their diagnostics. For anyone who uses pulse taking in their clinic, this should be the first book they go to. This is a book that will deepen understanding and increase practical skills in pulse taking. With a special interest in pulse taking, Jamie researched classic texts and then used these findings in his clinic to devise a simple step by step approach to what is a complex subject. The method is a well thought out and easy to follow. Clear diagrams illustrate the different stages and the conversational style of writing makes this book a pleasure to read. The easy to read style of writing contrasts nicely with the quotes from classic texts. Jamie's skill as a teacher comes through in the book. The method is presented in a logical and systematic manner so that a thorough understanding of the basics can developed and practiced. It is so user friendly, beautifully clear and well explained with just the right balance of history/back ground philosophy , case studies and diagrams to keep the reader really engaged and feeing as if each page is a great learning experience. Key for me is the sense of clinical relevance - after reading each chapter I just wanted to rush back into clinic to put the knowledge in to practice immediately. This book should be essential reading for all students as well as those more experienced practitioners.