Phlegm-Damp Constitution, Phlegm Type
Body Regulation and Health Preservation – Helping You Achieve a Lighter Body
01
Constitutional Characteristics
1. Physical Characteristics: Obese body shape, soft and full abdomen.
2. Common Manifestations: Oily facial skin, excessive sweating and stickiness, chest tightness, and phlegm accumulation. Dull yellow complexion, eyelid edema, tendency to feel drowsy, sticky or sweet mouth, heavy body sensation, preference for rich and fatty foods, frequent sensation of phlegm in the throat, normal and not dry stools, infrequent or slightly turbid urination, typically a large and swollen tongue with a white and greasy coating, and a slippery pulse.
3. Psychological Characteristics: Generally mild-mannered, steady, patient, and not hurried in actions.
4. Disease Tendencies: Prone to metabolic syndrome, diabetes, stroke, and chest obstruction.
5. Adaptability to External Environment: Poor adaptability to the plum rain season and humid environments.
02
Constitutional Analysis
The Phlegm-Damp Constitution, simply put, indicates an excess of metabolic waste in the body, leading to blocked waterways. The organ closely related to the Phlegm-Damp Constitution is the spleen. One of the important functions of the spleen is to transform and transport food and fluids. The food consumed is transformed into essential substances through the spleen’s function, which are then distributed throughout the body to nourish all organs and tissues, allowing them to function normally and maintain vitality. Another role of the spleen is to metabolize excess phlegm and dampness, preventing their accumulation in the body, which can be harmful. Dysfunction in the former role is mainly related to Qi deficiency, while dysfunction in the latter is often associated with the Phlegm-Damp Constitution. If the spleen cannot properly perform its function of transforming and transporting fluids, it leads to metabolic disorders of water, manifesting as edema, phlegm accumulation, and a heavy body sensation.
If individuals consume excessive rich and fatty foods, the spleen is overworked, leading to a decline in its function and accumulation of phlegm and dampness in the body. Additionally, due to the internal excess of phlegm and dampness, Yang Qi becomes trapped and cannot rise, which is why individuals with a Phlegm-Damp Constitution tend to have mild and humble personalities.
The Phlegm-Damp Constitution is also easily influenced by genetic factors; if parents have a Phlegm-Damp Constitution, their children are likely to exhibit similar traits. Another cause is maternal over-nutrition during pregnancy, where excessive consumption of rich foods leads to the birth of an “obese child,” laying the groundwork for future issues. Therefore, overconsumption of rich and fatty foods is a significant factor contributing to the Phlegm-Damp Constitution. Such foods are often rich and flavorful, making it hard to resist overeating, but when they exceed the spleen’s capacity, they transform into phlegm and dampness, clogging the body.
Liver Qi stagnation is also a cause of the Phlegm-Damp Constitution. Individuals who are depressed or under mental stress may harm the spleen through prolonged worry, leading to Qi stagnation, and combined with overeating, the body becomes dysfunctional, and the food consumed cannot be transformed into normal Qi and blood, instead becoming fat. Those who experience heartbreak, have a volatile temperament, face significant work pressure, have poor sleep, or are middle-aged women burdened with household responsibilities often gradually become overweight. This explains the confusion many have about “being busy and tired every day yet still gaining weight.”
03
Health Preservation Methods
1. General Principles: Resolve phlegm and eliminate dampness, favor light foods, avoid damp environments, and engage in gradual exercise.
2. Daily Living: Avoid living in low-lying, damp areas; the living environment should be dry and well-ventilated. Avoid staying up late and overexertion. During the hot and humid summer months, reduce outdoor activities. Maintain sufficient and regular sleep; ensure smooth bowel movements to prevent damp-heat accumulation. If dietary adjustments do not resolve constipation, seek medical attention promptly. Pay attention to personal hygiene to prevent skin conditions such as eczema and scabies.
3. Physical Exercise: Individuals with a Phlegm-Damp Constitution often feel heavy and fatigued, so they should engage in outdoor activities to promote Yang Qi and facilitate Qi flow, avoiding excessive comfort. Clothing should be breathable, and sun exposure or sunbathing is encouraged. In damp and cold weather, minimize outdoor activities to avoid cold and rain. Keep living spaces dry. Due to the tendency for fatigue in overweight individuals, exercise should be moderate in intensity and prolonged, such as walking, jogging, playing table tennis, badminton, tennis, swimming, practicing martial arts, and various suitable dances, gradually increasing intensity and maintaining consistency. Exercise should ideally occur between 14:00-16:00 when Yang Qi is at its peak, in a warm and pleasant environment. For those who are overweight and have poor land-based exercise capacity, swimming is recommended.
4. Dietary Adjustments: Focus on light foods, minimizing fatty meats and sweet, sticky, and greasy foods. Incorporate more foods like kelp and winter melon.
(1) Recommended Foods: Lotus leaves and radishes. According to Dai Yuanli, “Lotus leaves help in weight loss.” Lotus leaves have the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, and promoting Yang Qi, making them essential for weight loss; they can also be used in dietary therapy or as a tea substitute for long-term consumption.
Radishes are sweet, cool in nature, rich in calcium, choline, and vitamin C, and have the effects of lowering blood lipids, reducing blood pressure, and aiding in weight loss.
(2) Medicinal Dietary Therapy: Yam and Winter Melon Soup, and Winter Zexie Tea.
Yam and Winter Melon Soup: 50g of yam and 150g of winter melon. Cook the yam and winter melon in a pot over low heat for 30 minutes, season, and serve. This dish has the effects of strengthening the spleen, boosting Qi, and promoting dampness elimination.
Winter Zexie Tea: 10g of Mai Dong, 10g of Ze Xie, and 10g of Fu Ling. Place the above herbs in a clay pot, boil over medium heat, then simmer for 20 minutes. This tea has the effects of strengthening the spleen, eliminating dampness, and nourishing Yin.
5. Mental Regulation: Individuals with a Phlegm-Damp Constitution tend to be mild, steady, and humble. It is important to engage in social activities, cultivate diverse interests, increase knowledge, and broaden horizons. Reasonably arrange vacations to relieve stress, regulate Qi, improve constitution, and enhance health.
6. Other Methods: Massage the Xiexi (解溪) and Fenglong (丰隆) acupoints, applying pressure for 2-3 minutes on each point, once or twice daily.
Xiexi (解溪) Acupoint: Located at the central depression of the transverse line between the back of the foot and the calf, this is an important acupoint for eliminating phlegm and dampness throughout the body, and massaging it is effective for reducing lower limb edema.
Fenglong (丰隆) Acupoint: Located at the midpoint of the outer side of the calf, 8 cun above the outer ankle tip, and 2 fingerbreadths from the anterior edge of the tibia, in a bulging muscle area. Massaging this point helps eliminate dampness, resolve phlegm, aid in weight loss, and reduce fat.
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Contributed by/Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Edited by/Qin Junjie
Reviewed by/Tian Shaobo