Phlegm

The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.

Pathology

Phlegm has a great importance in Chinese Medicine as it is both a condition in and of itself as well as a cause for other diseases.

The main cause for the formation of Phlegm is Spleen Deficiency since the Spleen rules the transformation and transportation of Body Fluids. If this function is impaired, Body Fluids accumulates and change into Phlegm. 

The Lungs and Kidneys may also be involved since they each play a role in handling body Fluids: the Lungs disperse and descend Body Fluids while the Kidneys transform and excrete them. Again, if they fail to perform those roles, Body Fluids will accumulate and become Phlegm.

That being said, the Spleen malfunction is the fundamental reason behind the formation of Phlegm and, as such, treatments will focus on it first and foremost.

There are two broad types of Phlegm: so-called "Substantial Phlegm" and "Non-Substantial Phlegm". Simply put, Substantial Phlegm can be seen, such as sputum in the Lungs and throat. Non-Substantial Phlegm is more hidden and will manifest itself into, for instance, kidney stones, gallstones or arthritic bone deformities.

Phlegm can accumulate and settle down in different parts of the body and lead to corresponding symptoms. For example, if it stays in the joints, muscles and Channels, there are muscle numbness, bone deformities and etc. If it mists the Heart, it causes many mental illness. If it settles in the Gall Bladder or Kidney, it leads to stones in these Organs. 

Phlegm can further be categorized according to its nature: there is Damp-Phlegm, Phlegm-Heat, Cold-Phlegm, Wind-Phlegm, Qi-Phlegm, Phlegm-Fluids and etc. 

"Phlegm-Fluids" is very similar to Dampness and is very watery and thin. It can be heard splashing in the body, found usually in the Stomach and Small Intestines, hypochondrium, limbs or above the diaphragm.

Causes

Precursor patterns: Phlegm can derive from Damp-Heat in the Liver Spleen Yang Deficiency Stomach Qi Deficiency Heart Blood Stagnation Spleen Qi Sinking Stomach Yang Deficient and Cold Stomach Qi Stagnation Spleen Blood Deficiency Spleen not controlling Blood Damp-Heat invading the Spleen Spleen and Lung Qi Deficiency Obstruction Of the Spleen By Dampness with Liver Qi Stagnation Pericardium Blood Stagnation Liver Fire insulting the Lungs Kidneys failing to receive Qi Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency Damp-Heat in the Stomach Food Stagnation in the Stomach

Emotional stress : 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 environments : External Wind, Cold, Heat, Fire and Summer Heat and Dampness can invade body and give rise to the formation of Phlegm.

Diet : 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.

Diagnosing Phlegm

Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.

Treating Phlegm

Treatment principle

Remove Phlegm, tonify the Spleen, Kidneys and Lungs 

Herbal formulas used to treat Phlegm

Diet recommendations

Avoid fried or greasy foods such as deep-fried foods, milk, cheese, butter, avocados, nuts and nut butter, chips and fried foods. It is because they cause Dampness and harm the Spleen function.

Related conditions

Please keep in mind that a Western Medicine condition can be caused by several Chinese Medicine patterns of disharmony and vice versa. As such a patient suffering from one of the conditions below will not necessarily be suffering from Phlegm, it is just one pattern that's commonly associated with the condition. Click on a condition to learn what other patterns it's associated with.

Morning sickness Menopausal syndrome Low breast milk supply Hepatitis Cystitis Migraine Trigeminal neuralgia Conjunctivitis Pyelonephritis Edema Glomerulonephritis Nephrotic syndrome Hydrocele Motion sickness Meniere's disease Gastrectasis Acute enteritis Ascites Congestive heart failure Pericardial and pleural effusions Hydrocephalus Polyhydramnios Acute nephritis Chronic nephritis Ascites by Liver cirrhosis Cardiac edema

Consequence patterns

Dry Phlegm in the Lungs

Phlegm, regardless of its association with Dampness, Cold or Heat, is a form of condensed Body Fluids and it can give rise to Dryness if it lasts for a long period of time. 

Blood Stagnation

Phlegm does not lead to Blood Stagnation directly, but in a supportive way. 

Liver Blood Stagnation

Phlegm can cause Blood Stagnation. Since one of the Liver's major responsibility is  to store Blood. Therefore, general Blood Stagnation can cause Liver Blood Stagnation.