Naturopathy and two pulses?

[porch]

A friend of mine was going to a naturopath/acupuncurist, and she told me the doctor would take two different pulses from different places. It was a while ago, so I don't remember all the details of the story, but I guess the doctor expected two different results from the two different pulses. I don't even see how it would be possible to have two different pulse rates simultaneously, but . . . is this a common practice in alternative medicine? I hadn't heard of this before or since.

[Professor Yaffle]

A friend of mine was going to a naturopath/acupuncurist, and she told me the doctor would take two different pulses from different places. It was a while ago, so I don't remember all the details of the story, but I guess the doctor expected two different results from the two different pulses. I don't even see how it would be possible to have two different pulse rates simultaneously, but . . . is this a common practice in alternative medicine? I hadn't heard of this before or since.

And this was Doctor....Who?

[Emerson Street]

And this was Doctor....Who?

I see what you did there...:D

[Giraffe107]

Do you mean the naturopath/acupuncurist took two pulses, or her actual doctor did?

It's possible the naturopath couldn't find a pulse in the (let's say) wrist, and had to use the carotid artery instead. This is of course pure speculation.

[Professor Yaffle]

The Heart Rate may be greater or lesser than the Pulse Rate depending upon physiologic demand. In this case, the heart rate are determined by auscultation or audible sounds at the heart apex, in which case it is not the pulse. The pulse deficit (difference between heart beats and pulsations at the periphery) is determined by simultaneous palpation at the radial artery and auscultation at the heart apex.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse

Pulse deficit or pulse apex deficit is the difference between the simultaneously counted heart rate and the pulse rate. This usually occurs in atrial fibrillation. When heart beats very fast and irregularly as in atrial fibrillation, some of the beats are not strong enough to open the aortic valve so that a pulse is not felt. This occurs usually when there is a short cardiac cycle with little time for diastolic filling of the ventricle. Highly premature ectopic beats can also produce pulse deficit for the same reason. a pulse deficit of more than 10 per minute is more likely in atrial fibrillation. The pulse deficit will become lesser as the rate is controlled by medicines in atrial fibrillation.
http://www.cardiophile.com/pulse-deficit

Might explain it?

[Andrew Wiggin]

Acupuncture and chinese medicine make a big deal out of the pulse.

http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse_diagnosis

There are some actual medical conditions that can be detected or at least hinted at by changes in the pulse. A good nurse or MD will spend some time taking your pulse too, and might have some idea of your blood pressure, general state of physical conditioning, and such from it. If they're good, and you have a really classic case of something, they might be able to tell if your heart is beating irregularly or if you have certain heart defects. Nothing that would correspond directly with chinese medicine though, and nothing that would do more than suggest directions for further study. After all, you don't know if someone's tachycardia is because they've just run up the stairs or if they're really deconditioned or otherwise ill.

[MuDPhuD]

A friend of mine was going to a naturopath/acupuncurist, and she told me the doctor would take two different pulses from different places. It was a while ago, so I don't remember all the details of the story, but I guess the doctor expected two different results from the two different pulses. I don't even see how it would be possible to have two different pulse rates simultaneously, but . . . is this a common practice in alternative medicine? I hadn't heard of this before or since.

Arteries may become clogged, just like plumbing. A thorough physical exam by a good physician will include checking pulses bilaterally at carotid, radial, femoral, popliteal, dorsalis pedis, and anterior tibial arteries (various arteries in the neck, arms, legs and feet). Absent or asymmetric pulses are a sign of peripheral vascular disease, a potentially serious condition which may result in stroke, or loss of limb. Rate and rhythm are usually (exception above noted) the same in different arteries but the pulses may vary in strength.

Not to say that's what the Naturopath was doing, that's not clear from the vague OP.

[Joey McGee]

I'm pretty sure this is what they were talking about

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the pulse is divided into three positions on each wrist. The first pulse closest to the wrist is the cun(inch) position, the second guan (gate), and the third pulse position furthest away from the wrist is the chi (foot). Each position represents a pair if organs, with different organs apparent on the superficial, middle, and deep level. wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse_diagnosis)
That would be three places to take a pulse from, but the point of taking different ones would be assessing different parts of the body.