Introduction
Adrian Taricani, a highly skilled practitioner of pulse diagnosis and acupuncture, recently traveled to the USA to train under one of the world’s leading experts in pulse diagnosis: Robert Doane. This transformative experience not only honed Adrian’s diagnostic skills but also deepened his understanding of the subtle art of pulse reading, which informs his treatment plans at On Point Natural Medicine.
This interview was conducted by David Rivers, author of The Dance of Stillness. In his interview with David, Adrian shares the highlights of his training, his key takeaways, and how they are already making a profound difference in his practice.
Interview Transcription
David Rivers: Hello Adrian, I am delighted to speak with you about your trip to visit Robert Doane in the USA.
Adrian Taricani: Thank you, thanks for having me, David.
David Rivers: Let’s launch into these questions that I have for you. Adrian, I’d love to know what was the most memorable or impactful part of your training experience?
Adrian Taricani: Wow, there were so many, David. It’s not often you get to spend five full days in an incredibly busy clinic with someone who’s been in practice for 30 years. So, it’s a bit hard to pick one aspect, but probably being able to sit next to a master and watch him work in real-time. You can’t reproduce that anywhere—you can’t get that in a course, not even live demonstrations in a course, because this is real life. Robert Doane sees an extraordinary number of people, and the way he runs his practice and his genuine drive to help people… Just to watch him work with people and to see the accuracy of his pulse-taking overall was probably the biggest takeaway.
When I came back, I had some specific things I liked, but now that I’ve been back for a couple of weeks, it’s really just being able to watch him day-to-day, from start to finish: how he delivers information, how he takes the pulse, how he devises a treatment plan, and how he monitors his success in helping patients. Most of them really can see the benefits—it’s pretty obvious. Just watching the way he tackles that was priceless, really.
David Rivers: Amazing, thank you. Can you share one or two “aha” moments that changed how you approach pulse diagnosis?
Adrian Taricani: Yeah, one of the “aha” moments was a little bit technical. We have a position on the left wrist, near the thumb, which gives us a lot of information about the heart and small intestine, but primarily the heart. This relates not only to the heart itself and its function but also to our emotional state.
What I felt repeatedly was a particular pulse that shows up when someone has pericarditis or myocarditis—this is inflammation of the heart covering or the heart itself. We’re seeing a bit more of this now due to COVID, and more rarely, the COVID vaccines. Realizing that I’d actually felt that in my clinic before but wasn’t aware of what it meant—that was a significant realization. Time and time again, I got to feel that, and now, coming back to my practice, it’s instantly recognizable for me.
It can present as actual heart symptoms, like chest pain, breathlessness, or tiredness, or it might reveal itself as emotional symptoms, like anxiety, panic attacks, or palpitations. That was one big “aha.” The other was when Robert instilled confidence in me that I could, after a few more years of practice, be as effective or as accurate as he is. He’s incredibly accurate—people don’t divulge much to him at all, and he can tell them things like polyps in their nose, cysts on their ovaries, or even that they ate a big meal the night before. There were a lot of “aha” moments, but those are the two standouts for me.
David Rivers: Beautiful, thank you. Were there any specific techniques or approaches you learned from Robert that are new or unique?
Adrian Taricani: In a technical sense, finger placement. I noticed that what Robert teaches and what he does live are slightly different, and we covered that. It’s helped me be more accurate in taking pulses.
The other thing is the way he monitors patients’ progress. The goal is to get people to their optimal health, and that really is reflected in the pulse. If the pulse is “happy” and in its “home”—that’s health. Watching him monitor that in the pulse and through patient symptoms was something I wasn’t following as diligently as he does. It really helps both the practitioner and the patient monitor that they’re heading in the right direction. And if not, in rare cases, it lets us notice early and adjust the treatment or refer them on if necessary.
David Rivers: Profound, thank you. How have you started applying what you learned in your sessions with clients?
Adrian Taricani: Probably the number one thing is that, sometimes, when I was seeing someone with shoulder pain or a simple musculoskeletal issue, I wouldn’t take the pulse during the initial intake. Since coming back from Robert’s training, I take the pulse on every patient without fail.
One, as he really drove home, the more pulses you feel, the better you get at it. And two, I pick up subtleties I might not have considered otherwise. For example, I might be treating acute shoulder pain, but the pulse might reveal an old whiplash injury. That insight takes me straight to the neck first, instead of focusing solely on the shoulder.
It gives me more information about their overall health, which is vital when treating holistically.
David Rivers: What benefits or new insights are clients seeing as a result of your training?
Adrian Taricani: I think what they’re seeing is that I’m more accurate and faster in my diagnosis and treatment, so they’re getting better quicker. It also builds confidence for both of us. Sometimes it feels like a bit of a “party trick,” when they say, “Wow, he knew I had X, Y, and Z without me telling him!” But really, it confirms that I’m on the right track, and it gives the patient confidence that I know what they need.
When clients feel that confidence, they’re more open to making diet and lifestyle changes I recommend. They understand it’s based on their actual condition, not just an idea. That goes for herbal medicine or acupuncture as well—I know I’m on the right path without second-guessing myself. As Robert Doane likes to say, we want to avoid “WAGs”—wild-ass guesses! When you first come out of school, you make a lot of WAGs. But pulse diagnosis has taken me to a place where I rarely make a guess. Everything is based on the state of their internal health, as reflected in their blood flow.
David Rivers: Can you describe what it was like learning from Robert? Did he share any stories or philosophies that left a lasting impression?
Adrian Taricani: Robert loves to talk, and he has many stories from his 30 years in clinical practice. Before that, he was a monastic monk in India for ten years, including two years of silence, so he’s had some fascinating experiences. He’s fondly referred to as “Uncle Bob.” He can tell stories all day, and I love hearing them.
One story that comes to mind is about a patient I first met when I interned with Robert in 2018 or 2017. This man’s pulse was remarkable, and Robert asked me to feel it. When I did, I’d never felt a liver pulse like that. Robert said, “You should have felt it five years ago; it was much worse.” The patient leaned over and said he’d been diagnosed with stage four liver cancer and given two months to live, and Robert had kept him alive for five years.
Another story Robert often tells is from his time as a vegetarian in India. He was so thin that, when he’d lean forward to eat, his jaw would actually pop out of its socket because he’d lost the muscle and ligament structure around it. That experience made him realize he needed more protein. It’s a story he often shares to highlight the importance of proper nutrition, especially for patients. Protein is essential, and if you don’t get enough, it can have unexpected impacts on your body.
David Rivers: Were there any challenges you faced during the training or adjustments you had to make to learn these techniques?
Adrian Taricani: Yes, definitely. I’ve been doing pulse diagnosis for about ten years, so I went in feeling pretty confident. But missing a few things, some of which seemed like simple nuances, was challenging and humbling. It knocked my confidence a bit, and I realized I had a lot more to learn than I’d thought.
When you’re ready to go to the next level, that kind of challenge can be a turning point. I took a step back, took a breath, and by the end, I’d gained an important new understanding. There was a small but crucial differentiation between two similar pulse types that I’d been missing, and it was a huge revelation for my clinic work. It’s one of those things that only comes with experience and guidance.
Another challenge was being confident in explaining treatment plans to patients. Robert is excellent at laying out exactly what will happen over a period of time, which comes from his many years in practice. That’s something I’m now focusing on more in my initial consultations. The more you know a condition’s likely progression, the better you can guide a patient, and that’s helped me grow since coming back.
David Rivers: Can you share a memorable or unexpected moment from the trip?
Adrian Taricani: There were so many memorable moments. But perhaps the most significant was simply spending so much time with Robert. He’s incredibly generous and open. He hides nothing—from financials to patient outcomes, to techniques that aren’t working. It’s a complete open book with him. Spending a week in his clinic, you see everything, and he’s genuinely invested in making sure you understand as much as possible. His openness really made an impression.
David Rivers: How would you describe pulse diagnosis to clients who might not be familiar with it?
Adrian Taricani: The best way to explain it is by an example. We take the pulse on the radial artery on each wrist, where the artery runs near the thumb. Each wrist has three positions that correspond to different parts of the body—upper, middle, and lower. The pulse’s shape, strength, and depth can tell us about specific organs and their condition.
When I was learning this, it seemed almost mystical—like it was tapping into some energetic or esoteric quality. But an experience confirmed for me that it’s very much “blood and bone” medicine. While observing in a clinic in New York, I had my first opportunity to read a patient’s pulse. As I felt each position, I described specifics about her sinuses, digestion, and other areas. When I opened my eyes, they were shocked—everything I’d mentioned was accurate.
Then, as I felt the left middle pulse, which relates to the liver and gallbladder, I noticed two small, hard points. When I mentioned it, she and the other practitioner were astonished—it turned out she had two surgical ports exactly where I’d indicated. In that moment, I realized this wasn’t just theory; it was real physical evidence of what was happening inside the body. The pulse is truly a window into the actual workings of the body.
David Rivers: What are some common misconceptions about pulse diagnosis that you’d like to clarify?
Adrian Taricani: Since it’s not widely known, there aren’t too many misconceptions, but people might think it’s “energetic” or even “fortune-telling.” While there’s certainly an energetic aspect to the body, this specific pulse diagnosis is really about blood flow and physiology. It’s not esoteric; it’s rooted in physical, measurable qualities. We’re assessing blood flow through the body’s “rivers” and making sure that essential nutrients are getting where they need to go. To me, that’s even more magical than any mystical approach.
David Rivers: Do you plan to offer any new services or techniques based on what you’ve learned?
Adrian Taricani: Not necessarily new services, but definitely improved techniques that lead to faster, longer-lasting results. I’ve also been reminded of the importance of empowering patients to take control of their health between sessions. They’re only in the clinic for an hour or so each week, so I want them to leave with tools to keep that blood flow and healing energy going on their own. That empowerment is crucial for lasting health.
David Rivers: Perfect, thank you. We’ll wrap it up here.
Adrian Taricani: Thank you!
Conclusion
Adrian Taricani’s reflections on his advanced pulse diagnosis training highlight his dedication to continual growth and improving patient care. Training under Robert Doane allowed Adrian to deepen his skills and bring new insights into his practice at On Point Natural Medicine. This interview was conducted by David Rivers, author of The Dance of Stillness. For more about Adrian’s work or to experience pulse diagnosis firsthand, visit his About Me page.