Phlegm-Fluids
Phlegm-Fluids
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Diagnostic Signs
swollen tongue with sticky white or yellow coating
Wiry (Xian)
Diagnostic Considerations
Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the chest, abdomen and muscle fullness and pain.
Causes & Pathology
Common Causes
Emotional stress can damage the Qi movement functions of the Lungs, Spleen and Kidneys. Therefore they are not able to circulate Body Fluids and accumulate Phlegm.
External Wind, Cold, Heat, Fire and Summer Heat and Dampness can invade body and give rise to the formation of Phlegm.
Excessive intake of fried or greasy foods such as deep-fried foods, milk, cheese, butter, avocados, nuts and nut butter, chips and fried foods produce Dampness and obstruct the Spleen function. This leads to Phlegm, which causes symptoms such as sinusitis, nasal discharge, heavy and fuzzy feeling in the head, dull headaches and etc.
Pathological Mechanism
Both Phlegm and Fluids here are the pathological fluid wastes that fails to be expelled or drained out of the body. Then they can accumulate and settle down in any body parts, such as the Organs, Channels, joints, limbs and etc. If these Body Fluids store between the skin and muscle, they are called 'Oedema' specifically.
Phlegm and Fluids are different but closely related. Accumulated pathological water is called Fluids (Yin 饮). It is often thin and watery like sputum. The concept is similar to Dampness. Accumulated Fluid or Yin become Phlegm (Tan 痰), which is more sticky, thick and turbid.
Phlegm-Fluids is a type of Substantial Phlegm characterized by white, very watery and thin sputum. It can sometimes actually be heard splashing in the body. The fundamental causes of this pattern is the Spleen or Kidney Yang Deficiency which gives rise to Empty-Cold. Therefore, it is necessary to use warm herbs or formulas that drains water though urination or sweating.
The term 'Phlegm-Fluids' has its general or specific meaning. The general one refers to all Phlegm-Fluids patterns including the following 4 main ones:
Phlegm-Fluids in the Stomach and Small intestine (Tan Yin, 痰饮)
Phlegm-Fluids in the hypochondrium (Xuan Yin, 悬饮)
Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs （Yi Yin, 溢饮)
Phlegm-Fluids above the diaphragm (Zhi Yin, 支饮)
The specific meaning refers to the first pattern: Phlegm-Fluids in the Stomach and Small intestine (Tan Yin, 痰饮)
Treatment Approach
Treatment Principle
Tonify the Deficient Yang, dispel Empty Cold, drain Dampness, Fluids and Phlegm through sweating, urination or other methods.
Recommended Herbal Formulas
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