Excessive sputum in the throat according to Chinese Medicine
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.
Excessive sputum in the throat can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like excessive sputum in the throat here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here excessive sputum in the throat is often associated with palpitations, edema and late period in the pattern “Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of excessive sputum in the throat we’ve identified four herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat excessive sputum in the throat.
Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause excessive sputum in the throat
In Chinese Medicine excessive sputum in the throat is a symptom for the pattern "Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Coco-Grass Rhizomes (Xiang Fu) is the king ingredient for Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan, a formula used for Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus
Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua)
In addition to excessive sputum in the throat, other symptoms associated with Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus include palpitations, edema and late period.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus is associated with health issues such as Late Menstruation, Scanty Menstruation or Absence Of Menstruation.
Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus is often treated with Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Coco-Grass Rhizomes - Xiang Fu - as a key herb). Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that dry dampness and transform phlegm", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Resolves Dampness and Phlegm".
Four herbal formulas that might help with excessive sputum in the throat
Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan
Why might Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan help with excessive sputum in the throat?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus' of which sputum throat is a symptom.
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.
Why might Wei Ling Tang help with excessive sputum in the throat?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus' of which sputum throat is a symptom.
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.
Why might Wan Dai Tang help with excessive sputum in the throat?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus' of which sputum throat is a symptom.
Xiong Gui Er Chen Tang
Source date: 1575 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Resolves Damp-Phlegm. Nourishes Blood.
Why might Xiong Gui Er Chen Tang help with excessive sputum in the throat?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus' of which sputum throat is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat excessive sputum in the throat
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with excessive sputum in the throat?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat excessive sputum in the throat and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat excessive sputum in the throat as a symptom (such as Xiong Gui Er Chen Tang for instance).
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with excessive sputum in the throat?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat excessive sputum in the throat as a symptom, like Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan or Wei Ling Tang for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Why might Black Atractylodes Rhizome (Cang Zhu) help with excessive sputum in the throat?
Because Black Atractylodes Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat excessive sputum in the throat as a symptom, like Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan or Wei Ling Tang for instance.
Black Atractylodes Rhizomes is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Dries Damp and tonifies the Spleen. Relieves the Exterior for invasion of Wind-Cold-Damp. Relieves Wind-Damp painful obstruction. Dries Damp for either Damp-Cold or Damp-Heat when combined with the correct herbs. Clears the eyes and improves sight.
Why might Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang) help with excessive sputum in the throat?
Because Fresh Ginger is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat excessive sputum in the throat as a symptom, like Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan or Xiong Gui Er Chen Tang for instance.
Fresh Ginger is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold. Warms and circulates Qi in the Middle Burner. Calms a restless fetus and treats morning sickness. Treats seafood poisoning.
Why might Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) help with excessive sputum in the throat?
Because Atractylodes Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat excessive sputum in the throat as a symptom, like Wan Dai Tang or Wei Ling Tang for instance.
Atractylodes Rhizomes is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen Qi. Fortifies the Spleen Yang and dispels Damp through urination. Tonifies Qi and stops sweating. Calms restless fetus when due to Deficiency of Spleen Qi.
Other symptoms often associated with excessive sputum in the throat
Coughing Palpitations Phlegm Restlessness Insomnia Abcesses Chest congestion Bloody sputum Sore throat Whooping cough