Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus
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.
At a glance
Preliminary reading: What is a pattern? The concept of Damp-Phlegm
Key attributes
Chinese name: 子宫痰湿 Pinyin name: Zǐ Gōng Tán Shī
Pattern nature: Full
Pattern hierarchy: Specific pattern under Damp-Phlegm
Causes
Precursor patterns: Spleen Qi Deficiency
Common causes: Diet
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Fatigue Obesity Amenorrhea Overweight Late period and thirteen other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua)
Tongue description: Swollen tongue with sticky coating
Treatment
Treatment principle: Dry Dampness and resolve Phlegm from the Uterus, tonify the Spleen, regulate the period
Common formulas: Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan Wei Ling Tang Wan Dai Tang and one other formulas
Pathology
Whenever the body has Dampness or Phlegm, the Spleen is always the first Organ to be checked, because it is responsible for Body Fluids metabolism. The Spleen transforms, transports, and distributes drinks along with food Essence and Grain Qi.
When these functions are impaired, Damp-Phlegm forms and accumulates. If it stores in the Uterus, the Directing and Penetrating Vessels are obstructed. Then there is not enough Blood flows to the Uterus or the flow gets delayed all the time, hence the symptoms of scanty period, late period or even complete absence of period.
Often patients suffering from this pattern tend to be overweight or Obesity. It is because the Damp-Phlegm accumulates also in abdominal area and cause a fat and soft belly as well as pain and oppression there. As a rule of thumb, Chinese Medicine practitioners see that overly thin women with scanty or late periods will often have Blood Deficiency while overweight ones are more due to Damp-Phlegm.
Patients suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) also often have scanty periods due to Damp-Phlegm and they are often obese (although it might not necessary for all cases).
For Scanty Period, use Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan and Xiong Gui Er Chen Tang. For Late period, use Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang and Xiong Gui Er Chen Tang. When the condition is as severe as absence of menstruation, all above formula can be used to treat Damp-Phlegm, together with Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang, which is used to tonify the Spleen.
Many patterns are the underlining reasons for the above three gynecology diseases. However, Damp-Phlegm is the most difficult one to treat as it often takes several years to expel the Damp-Phlegm Evil.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus can derive from Spleen Qi Deficiency
Diet: Over-consumption of greasy, fried or dairy foods are typically the main underlying causes for Dampness and Phlegm formation.
Diagnosing Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus
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.
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua)
Tongue description: Swollen tongue with sticky coating
Main symptoms: Fatigue Obesity Amenorrhea Overweight Late period Infertility Loose stools Ovarian cysts Sputum throat Scanty periods Ovarian myomas Phantom pregnancy Lower abdominal pain Abodominal heaviness Dull-pale complexion Polycystic ovary syndrome Feeling of heaviness of body Feeling of oppression of the chest
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are late or scanty period, overweight or obesity.
Treating Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus
Treatment principle
Dry Dampness and resolve Phlegm from the Uterus, tonify the Spleen, regulate the period
Herbal formulas used to treat Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus
Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan
Formula summary
Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1817 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that dry Dampness and transform Phlegm.
Besides Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus, Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan is also used to treat Phlegm.
Wei Ling Tang
Source date: 1481 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Promotes urination. Warms the Yang. Strengthens the Spleen. Drains Dampness. Promotes the movement of Qi. Harmonizes the Stomach.
Formula summary
Wei Ling Tang is a 9-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1481 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that expel Dampness.
Besides Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus, Wei Ling Tang is also used to treat Damp-Cold.
Wan Dai Tang
Source date: 1826 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies the Middle Burner. Removes Dampness. Stops vaginal discharge. Strengthens the Spleen.
Formula summary
Wan Dai Tang is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1826 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that secure irregular uterine bleeding and stop vaginal discharge.
Besides Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus, Wan Dai Tang is also used to treat Spleen Deficiency.
Diet recommendations
Patients should also quit dairy and greasy food which cause Damp-Phlegm. They should also do regular exercise to increase their body metabolism.
Special highlight: the link between late menstruation and Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus
Dong Quai (Dang Gui) is the key herb for Xiong Gui Er Chen Tang, a formula used for late menstruation caused by Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus
Typical symptoms for late menstruation caused by Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus: Edema Fatigue Dizziness Overweight Late period Heavy limbs Listlessness Palpitations Scanty periods Chest fullness Vagina discharge Shortness of breath Pale menstrual blood Dizziness or vertigo Thick menstrual blood Sticky menstrual blood
Recommended herbal formulas: Xiong Gui Er Chen Tang, Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang
Whenever the body has Dampness or Phlegm, the Spleen is always the first Organ that should be checked since it controls body water metabolism. The Spleen transforms, transports, and distributes Body Fluids along with food Essence and Grain Qi. If its transforming ability is poor, the Body Fluids can congeal to create Phlegm and cause Edema. As a vicious cycle, Phlegm can further impair the Spleen's transforming function. Therefore, not enough new Blood can be created to overflow the Uterus and...Read more about late menstruation
Special highlight: the link between scanty menstruation and Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus
Coco-Grass Rhizomes (Xiang Fu) is the key herb for Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan, a formula used for scanty menstruation caused by Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus
Typical symptoms for scanty menstruation caused by Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus: Fatigue Obesity Moodiness Depression Overweight Scanty periods Chest fullness Sore and weak limbs Feeling of heaviness Brown vaginal discharge Excessive vaginal discharge
Recommended herbal formulas: Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan, Xiong Gui Er Chen Tang
Dampness weakens the Spleen and it can become Phlegm if it is left untreated for a long time. Over-consumption of greasy fried foods or dairy foods are typically the main underlying causes.
When Phlegm accumulates in the Uterus, the Directing and Penetrating Vessels are obstructed and this leads to scanty periods. Often patients suffering from this pattern tend to be overweight or obese. It is because Phlegm impairs the Spleen's functions and thus foods and drinks can not be transformed to food...Read more about scanty menstruation