Pulse bereft of stomach qì

A pulse lacking the regular and relaxed qualities that indicate the presence of stomach qì. A pulse that is excessively tight and hard, and that beats against the finger, a forceless vacuous, floating pulse, or a chaotic irregular pulse is a sign that the stomach qì is about to expire, and that the true qì of the vanquished viscera is being exposed. If the true qì of the liver is exposed, the pulse is so tight that it feels as sharp as a knife blade. This is called stringlike only, without stomach. If the spleen’s true qì is exposed, there are intervals between the beats of the pulse as long as between the drips from a leaky roof. This is called intermittent only, without stomach. See stomach, spirit, and root, the three aspects of a healthy pulse; true visceral pulse.