Meta - Nadi Pariksha is a time-tested, ancient pulse diagnosis method based on the science of Ayurveda. It aims to understand all characteristics of a person.

Milind Choudhary - Milind Choudhary is a freelance content writer for Actvebody who places physical and mental well-being above everything else. Practicing Yoga, Meditation and following the Ayurvedic way of life for many years, his writings share practical insights on how to stay healthy and stay happy.

What is Nadi Pariksha?

Nadi Pariksha is a time-tested, ancient pulse diagnosis method based on the science of Ayurveda. ‘Nadi’ refers to channels in our body through which ‘Prana’, the life force energy flows. Like the electrical signals traveling through the nervous system, Prana travels through the Nadis, but prana is more subtle than the electrical signals. ‘Pariksha’ means diagnosis in Sanskrit. Nadi Pariksha in Ayurveda is one of the many types of natural diagnosis methods. Contrary to modern diagnosis methods, Ayurvedic pulse diagnosis is non-invasive and identifies the root cause of the disease, rather than limiting itself to symptomatic treatment.

How is Nadi Pariksha Done?

According to Ayurveda, an imbalance in the three Doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) or bodily constitutions is what gives rise to ailments. A balance in the Doshas is vital for having a healthy life. 

While performing Nadi Pariksha, a Vaidya or Ayurvedic doctor will examine the vibratory frequency of pulse on the radial artery (located below the wrist) to determine body types of the patients. They use their index, middle and ring fingers to decipher pulse frequencies at seven different pressure levels. Contraction and relaxation of blood vessels help a Vaidya diagnose physical and mental diseases in the human body. 

Nadi Pariksha in Ayurveda is recommended to be done on an empty stomach or 3 hours after the last meal. The reasoning for this is that after eating food your body’s metabolism gets active, which can distort the natural diagnosis. 

Ayurvedic pulse diagnosis is performed on the right hand in males and the left hand in females. 

What is Disclosed During the Nadi Pariksha? 

Through Nadi Pariksha the Vaidya aims to understand the entire characteristics of a person — body, mind, breathing pattern, emotional imbalances and spirit. This technique of diagnosis not only identifies the symptoms, without the patient having to say anything, but also traces the root cause.

The diagnosis reveals the natural constitution of the body at birth, called Prakruti and the deviation from the same, called Vikruti. This enables a Vaidya to understand the modulations the body and mind have been through compared to the original constitution. A Vaidya can identify various health issues just by reading an individual’s pulse. Vaidyas who have been practicing Nadi Pariksha can scan your body and share about previous health problems you had or potential health risks in the future. 

Ayurvedic pulse diagnosis also gives a scientific approach to achieving personal wellness. After doing Nadi Pariksha on you, Vaidyas can share dietary recommendations, therapeutic massages, exercise routines and lifestyle changes that can benefit you. 

A fascinating thing about this Ayurvedic technique is that often symptoms manifest in the pulse, even before the onset of the disease. Vaidyas can thus determine the presence of disease  before symptoms start showing.

Is Nadi Pariksha Effective? 

Yes, and I’ve experienced this first hand. Let me share how.

Around August 2017, I developed acute pain in my lower hip joint. A devoted practitioner of Yoga Asanas and Pranayamas, the pain made it impossible for me to continue with my daily practices. It came to a point that I started having difficulty walking because the pain started radiating from the hip to the feet.

I had been through a similar pain 6 years ago. Back then I had taken physiotherapy on the recommendation of a famous orthopedic in my city. It took months to recover and the treatment proved to be expensive. This time I wasn’t keen on taking the same route, and it was then that someone recommended getting an Ayurvedic pulse diagnosis done. 

On September 13th I consulted a Vaidya, and without having to divulge my condition, the Vaidya diagnosed my problem by performing Nadi Pariksha. He gave me around 6 Ayurvedic medicines (some of those were Vedantika Vati, S.Compound and Amruth) and within one and half months, my pain completely disappeared and I was back to doing Surya Namaskar! 

Till date, there have been no recurrences! 

There are many similar instances where Nadi Pariksha has helped diagnose and cure minor and chronic health problems. Since it identifies and aims to eradicate the root cause of the disease, Nadi Pariksha is highly effective. The best part is that it’s a completely non- invasive science and has no known side effects. The Ayurvedic medicines given are also natural — mostly consisting of herbs. 

A study in Copenhagen concluded that there was a high level of consistency of Nadi Pariksha in Ayurveda diagnosis performed randomly and repeatedly, twice on individuals. The patient’s identity was not disclosed to the Vaidya while he performed the pulse diagnosis.

Innovations Around Nadi Pariksha

Nadi Pariksha is capturing the interest of scientific communities and modern sciences. Atreya Innovations, a healthcare technology startup has created a device called Nadi Tarangini that uses Artificial Intelligence to generate a detailed pulse diagnosis report that is helping Vaidyas in Ayurveda clinics.

How to Find Nadi Pariksha Near Me?

You can Google ‘Nadi Pariksha near me’ to locate a Vaidya close to your location. Make sure the location services are switched on in your device when you search. 

If you stay in Mumbai, you can visit our Actvebody store and Ayurveda clinic in Borivali to consult an Ayurvedic doctor. Our experienced doctors also give online consultations and you can contact us to get an Ayurvedic diagnosis done.