Phlegm-fire

1. A combination of phlegm and fire. Phlegm-fire affecting the heart, called phlegm-fire harassing the spirit, gives rise heart palpitation, heart vexation, and insomnia. Phlegm-fire can affect other parts of the body, variously causing dizziness, headache, tetany, or tinnitus. See entries beginning with phlegm-fire.

2. A phlegm node behind the ears or under the armpit having the appearance of rosary beads and being hard and of fixed location. A phlegm-fire node is accompanied by a red tongue with yellow fur and a rapid stringlike pulse. It is the result of liver fire and depressed phlegm.