Which pulse characteristics are indicative of a person with deficient blood?

A pulse described as thready and weak is indicative of deficient blood. This pulse characteristic suggests a deficiency in the overall vitality and nourishment that blood provides to the body. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, a weak pulse reflects the lack of strength in the body's organ systems, which may signify insufficient blood volume or quality.

The thready nature of the pulse indicates that there is a subtlety or frailty to the pulse feeling, which aligns with the condition of blood deficiency where the body's resources are not abundant enough to create a strong, full pulse. The 'thready' quality also highlights that the pulse may be difficult to feel, which is another reflection of the insufficient state of blood.

In contrast, other pulse characteristics such as weak and rapid or strong and wiry would not convey the specific implications of blood deficiency, and slippery and rapid pulses typically indicate an excess condition, often associated with phlegm or heat. Therefore, a thready and weak pulse is the most fitting description of someone presenting with deficient blood conditions.