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Everyone has probably heard the saying, “Overweight people have more phlegm-dampness.” So what exactly is this “phlegm-dampness”? How should it be adjusted?
Phlegm-Damp Constitution
The phlegm-damp constitution refers to a condition where the body’s organ functions are disordered, leading to the disruption of the movement of qi, blood, and body fluids, resulting in the accumulation of water-dampness, which transforms into phlegm and is retained within the body.
Manifestations of Phlegm-Dampness
● Tongue Appearance
The tongue is enlarged, with a slippery and greasy coating that is thick, and the color of the coating is often white or yellow, with tooth marks on the edges.
● Body Shape and Complexion
The body is overweight, especially with a soft and full abdomen, limbs may easily swell, facial skin is oily, complexion is pale yellow and dull, eyelids may be slightly swollen, and there is a tendency to feel drowsy, with snoring during sleep.
● Oral and Bodily Sensations
The mouth feels sticky, lips are pale, rarely feeling thirsty, and not wanting to drink water. Sweating is easy, with sticky sweat, and after sweating, the skin feels cool. There is a heavy sensation in the head and body, often feeling dizzy, with joint pain and numbness, and tinnitus may occur.
● Sensations and Sleep
The body feels sore and weak, lethargic, and easily drowsy. There is chest tightness, excessive phlegm, and gastrointestinal discomfort, with a preference for rich and fatty foods.
● Bowel and Urine
Frequent, unformed stools that tend to stick to the toilet, and cloudy urine.
● Pulse Condition
The pulse is slippery and soft.
The phlegm-damp constitution is relatively easy to identify. If you have phlegm-dampness, do not panic; there is still the Wēn Dǎn Tāng (Warm Gallbladder Decoction)!
Wēn Dǎn Tāng (Warm Gallbladder Decoction)
Ingredients:
30g Fú Líng (Poria), 6g Fǎ Bàn Xià (Pinellia), 9g Chén Pí (Aged Tangerine Peel), 6g Zhì Gān Cǎo (Honey-Fried Licorice), 6g Zhú Rú (Bamboo Shavings), 6g Zhǐ Shí (Bitter Orange).
Method:
Boil the herbs in water for 30 minutes, strain the decoction, then divide it into two portions to soak your feet in warm water, each time for 20 minutes. The water should not be too hot, just enough to cover the feet. Pregnant women should avoid using this.
This Wēn Dǎn Tāng is suitable for ordinary phlegm-damp conditions, meaning phlegm-damp has formed but has not clearly developed into cold or heat. So how do we distinguish between cold phlegm and phlegm-heat?
Cold Phlegm
Patients with cold phlegm often have insufficient righteous qi, with spleen and kidney yang deficiency, and when they are exposed to external cold, it leads to an internal accumulation of cold, resulting in the condensation of cold phlegm.
Manifestations of Cold Phlegm
● Individuals with cold phlegm will exhibit all signs of yang deficiency, along with symptoms of obstruction in the limbs and meridians, with certain areas having chronic cold accumulation, which may even condense into phlegm masses that block the flow of the meridians.
● Unformed stools or constipation.
● The tongue is often pale, lacking color, and may also be light purple, indicating blood stasis due to cold. Such a tongue will have a snow-white coating, even appearing stark white, resembling a snowy landscape in winter, and is moist with saliva.
Individuals with cold phlegm can use traditional Chinese medicine formulas such as Fù Zǐ Lǐ Zhōng Wán (Aconite and Ginseng Pill) to warm and tonify spleen and kidney yang qi, following the principles of the “Fire God School” of warming tonification. Moxibustion can also be very effective for adjustment.
Phlegm-Heat
When we consume rich and fatty foods, phlegm-damp accumulates over time, and if the internal environment is suitable, such as having pre-existing internal heat, these two conditions combine to create phlegm-heat.
Manifestations of Phlegm-Heat
● Individuals are often prone to heat, with a hot constitution, preferring coolness and being intolerant of heat; even slight heat is hard to endure.
● They may have a bad temper, be irritable, and easily impulsive.
● Their complexion tends to be red, and stools are often dry.
● The tongue is often red, with the redness indicating the severity of heat. The coating is thick and greasy, often with varying degrees of yellow; a slight yellow indicates mild heat, while a pronounced yellow indicates more severe heat.
At this time, it is necessary to modify the Wēn Dǎn Tāng by adding ingredients for foot soaking.
Modified Wēn Dǎn Tāng
30g Fú Líng (Poria), 6g Chén Pí (Aged Tangerine Peel), 6g Fǎ Bàn Xià (Pinellia), 6g Zhì Gān Cǎo (Honey-Fried Licorice), 9g Zhú Rú (Bamboo Shavings), 9g Zhǐ Shí (Bitter Orange), 9g Quán Guā Lóu (Whole Trichosanthes Fruit), 9g Zhè Bèi Mǔ (Zhejiang Fritillaria).
This formula increases the amount of cooling herbs and does not include ginger, making it effective for eliminating phlegm-heat. It can be prepared and used for foot soaking, following the same method as before.
It is important to note: All formulas mentioned in this article can be taken orally, but must be done under the guidance of a physician, and should be avoided by pregnant women!
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