Pulse taking and body diagnosis are essential tools in Chinese Medicine — yet both can be deeply challenging. Many practitioners feel overwhelmed by the complexity of traditional pulse systems, or settle for basic readings without deeper confidence. Similarly, reading the complexion can feel imprecise or elusive. What’s often overlooked is that both pulse and complexion diagnosis are rooted in seasonal understanding.

The Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic), the foundational text of Chinese Medicine, offers clear and practical guidance on this. It links pulse and colour (complexion) diagnosis directly to the rhythms of the seasons. This under-appreciated aspect of the Neijing can transform the way you assess your patients, giving you tools to make confident, accurate diagnoses using subtle yet accessible signs.

In this presentation, Deborah draws directly from selected chapters of the Neijing to explore how pulse and colour should be read together, and in relation to the natural cycles of the year. By grounding these diagnostic methods in their seasonal context, she shows how even simple pulse qualities — when combined with visual clues — can reveal a great deal about health, imbalance, and treatment direction.

In this course, you will learn:

• How to identify and work with key Neijing chapters that discuss pulse and colour/complexion
• How to differentiate between healthy and pathological pulses using seasonal models
• How to distinguish a normal seasonal complexion from signs of disease
• How to recognise when pulse and colour contradict one another — and what this tells you
• Practical ways to refine your diagnostic awareness in clinic and daily life

This is a practical and insightful exploration of diagnostic wisdom from the Huangdi Neijing, helping you integrate these subtle yet powerful tools into everyday clinical practice.