What type of phlegm are you expelling?
1Heat Phlegm
Phlegm is yellow and viscous, forming hard lumps due to the heat evil cooking the body fluids, thus transforming them into phlegm. Because the heart governs fire, both Zhang’s Medical Communication: Various Qi Gate: Phlegm and Drink and Observation Diagnosis: Guidelines for Diagnosing Phlegm consider that hard lumps belong to heat phlegm associated with the heart, commonly seen in cases of lung heat.
In addition to yellow phlegm, red or black colors may also indicate heat phlegm. Sources of Various Diseases states: “In the heart, it is called heat phlegm, its color is red, and it is hard like glue.”
2Dry Phlegm
Phlegm is scanty and sticky, difficult to cough out, may contain blood streaks, or be coughed out in small white grains, or have a small amount of foamy phlegm; in severe cases, there may be a dry cough without phlegm.
This is due to lung dryness from yin deficiency or autumn dryness injuring the lungs, thus Sources of Various Diseases states: “In the lungs, it is called dry phlegm, its color is white, coughed out like grains, often accompanied by wheezing, chills, fever, sadness, and the pulse must be rough.” Clinically, one must differentiate between external dryness evil and internal yin deficiency.
Sources of Various Diseases also mentions “stagnant phlegm,” which is also thick and sticky, difficult to cough out, accompanied by a dry throat, dry mouth, cough, and wheezing, appearing white like withered bones, indicating phlegm heat stagnating between the heart and lungs, which can lead to chest stagnation over time.
3Old Phlegm
Phlegm that appears like decayed cotton, colored like coal ash, or sticky like glue, is considered old phlegm. Observation Diagnosis: Guidelines for Diagnosing Phlegm states: “Old phlegm is gluey.” “It appears like decayed cotton, colored like coal ash, is all old phlegm.”
Zhang’s Medical Communication: Various Qi Gate: Phlegm and Drink believes that “old phlegm” accumulates in the chest causing a feeling of fullness, and can also stagnate in the meridians and limbs.
Danxi’s Heart Method: Thirteen Types of Phlegm states that if there is something in the throat that cannot be coughed out or swallowed, it is old phlegm. Some believe that old phlegm is stagnant phlegm, caused by fire evil scorching the upper jiao, leading to lung qi stagnation, and body fluids congealing into phlegm, which over time becomes solidified and is thus named.
Introduction to Medicine: Volume Nine believes that dry phlegm over time can also become old phlegm. Both views can coexist; in summary, stubborn phlegm that has persisted for many years is classified as old phlegm.
Two Herbs to Clear Heat and Transform Phlegm
Chinese herb Sang Bai Pi (Morus alba root bark) 10 grams, Chen Pi (dried tangerine peel) 6 grams.
Wash these two herbs, cut them into coarse pieces, then place them in a teapot and brew with boiling water as a tea. Refill with water throughout the day until the flavor is faint. Take one dose daily.
Sang Bai Pi is actually the root bark of the mulberry plant, excluding the cork. It is sweet and cold in nature, entering the lung and spleen meridians, and is effective in clearing heat and draining the lungs, particularly for yellow phlegm, sticky phlegm, and cough due to lung heat.
The main characteristics of such individuals are a red tongue with a yellow greasy coating, and some may even have a flushed face and hot skin. The phlegm is thick, yellow, and has a fishy odor. At this time, using Sang Bai Pi is appropriate.
Modern pharmacological studies indicate that Sang Bai Pi has clear cough-suppressing, phlegm-expelling, and asthma-relieving effects, and can also effectively lower blood pressure and promote diuresis.
Chen Pi, as we all know, is pungent and bitter, warm in nature, entering the lung and spleen meridians, effective in drying dampness and transforming phlegm, and also helps to open the lungs. When combined with Sang Bai Pi, it can transform phlegm in the lungs and prevent the generation of phlegm by strengthening the spleen. Although Chen Pi is slightly warm and drying, the balancing effect of Sang Bai Pi mitigates any significant impact.
Therefore, the combination of these two herbs is an excellent method to resolve yellow phlegm, sticky phlegm, and old phlegm caused by lung heat and liver fire invading the lungs.
Note:If your phlegm is abundant, white, in large quantities, with a tongue that is not red and a coating that is not yellow, and worsens with cold, using Sang Bai Pi would be counterproductive. Thus, it is essential to analyze the situation; in such cases, other herbs should be used.
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