Phlegm also translates as phlegm, and is a pathological substance of internal origin, material or immaterial, that obstructs and hinders the energetic circulation.

Lungs, Spleen and Kidneys metabolize fluids. When they fail in their functions, the body cannot transform and transport fluids properly and dampness forms. Long-standing stagnant dampness condenses and transforms into phlegm. Phlegm can also be formed by heat internal that consumes and condenses the fluids. It is an internal condition that can be combined with any external pathogen: Wind, Cold, Dryness, Heat and fire.

See differences between phlegm and dampness.

Symptoms

• In the thorax: chest oppression.
• In the throat: sputum, mucus, sensation of lump in the throat.
• In the head: dizziness, mental dullness, psychological alterations.
• In the meridians: lumps, swellings, gelosis under the skin.
• Tongue: can be red if there is heat. Generally there will be a thick yellowish sticky coating or a slightly dry one.
• Pulse: slippery. Can also be tense. Can be rapid if there is heat.

Syndromes

• Phlegm-Heat in Lung
• Phlegm-Cold in Lung
• Phlegm obstructing the Shen
• Phlegm and Fire agitating the Heart

Types of Phlegm

Phlegm can be of two types, material or immaterial.

• Material or visible: This refers especially to phlegm in the Lung. Thick, difficult-to-expectorate sputum, characteristic of chronic bronchities or for example of a wind-heat attack to Lung (see: Lung Syndromes). The incorrect transformation of the fluids can also form fat cysts, tumorations.

• Immaterial or invisible: This refers to inflammatory phenomena, densifications or accumulations in any part of the body, for example inflammations of the glands or nodules below the skin. Swelling or numbness in the meridians. It can lodge in the Heart or in the pure orifices of the head altering the Shen: for example the Dian and Kuang syndromes of calm and agitated madness, phlegm has an important role. Asthma is also attributed to invisible phlegm.

Comment

Phlegm is a type of dampness, but unlike dampness, phlegm can rise, have form or lack it. If the dampness in a pot is not removed soon the plant that lives in that pot will have fungi on its leaves and they will turn yellow and suffer greatly. Phlegm is like that fungus, sometimes we see it and sometimes we don't. Phlegm clouds the individual's vision, does not allow them to think well, they choke, it is like a choked sob because they don't know why they want to cry. They need to nourish themselves better, not do more than they really can do, sometimes from wanting to encompass more than they can they saturate and we don't know "how we got here".

Phlegm invites us to movement because it seems that we have something stuck and immobility oppresses (staying still means confronting the pain), at some point movement also hurts and they call it fibromyalgia. Getting out of there is recognizing the exhaustion and recognizing the pain before it.

Commented by: Arturo Levi Lavista