Splashing sound in the chest 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.
Splashing sound in the chest 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 splashing sound in the chest 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 splashing sound in the chest is often associated with coughing, shortness of breath and stifling sensation in the chest in the pattern “Phlegm-Fluids in the Lungs”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of splashing sound in the chest we’ve identified that a herbal formula called Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang can help treat the patterns behind the symptom.
Phlegm-Fluids in the Lungs, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause splashing sound in the chest
In Chinese Medicine splashing sound in the chest is a symptom for the pattern "Phlegm-Fluids in the Lungs". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Phlegm-Fluids in the Lungs
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Soggy (Ru), Wiry (Xian), Fine (Xi)
In addition to splashing sound in the chest, other symptoms associated with Phlegm-Fluids in the Lungs include coughing, shortness of breath and stifling sensation in the chest.
Phlegm-Fluids in the Lungs is often treated with Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Dried Ginger - Gan Jiang - as a key herb). Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that warm and transform phlegm-cold", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms the Lungs".
A herbal formula that might help with splashing sound in the chest
Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Lungs. Transforms congested Fluids.
Why might Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang help with splashing sound in the chest?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm-Fluids in the Lungs' of which splashing sound in the chest is a symptom.
Dried ginger might help with splashing sound in the chest
Why might Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang) help with splashing sound in the chest?
Because it is a key herb in Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Phlegm-Fluids in the Lungs' (a pattern with splashing sound in the chest as a symptom)
Dried Ginger is a Hot herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Lung and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Warms the Spleen and expels Cold. Restores collapse of Yang and expels Interior Cold. Warms the Lungs and assists expectoration of Cold Phlegm. Stops chronic bleeding caused by Cold.
Other symptoms often associated with splashing sound in the chest
Coughing Shortness of breath Stifling sensation in the chest Feeling of heaviness Dizziness Feeling of cold