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Transforming phlegm

化痰 〔化痰〕huà tán

Any method of treatment used to eliminate phlegm gently. The method of transforming phlegm takes different forms depending on the location and cause of the phlegm pattern.

Lung: Phlegm in the lung causing cough is treated by transforming phlegm and relieving cough. Specific patterns are treated by specific methods. Externally contracted wind-cold causing nondiffusion of lung qì with nasal congestion, itchy throat, cough with copious phlegm, and thin white tongue fur is treated by diffusing the lung and transforming phlegm. Heat evil congesting the lung, reducing humor to phlegm, and characterized by cough, expectoration of thick yellow phlegm, red face, heat vexation, and a red tongue with yellow fur is treated by clearing heat and transforming phlegm. Warm dryness or insufficiency of lung yīn causing dry cough and difficult expectoration of phlegm, and a red tongue with dry yellow fur is treated by moistening the lung and transforming phlegm. Lung-kidney yīn vacuity with exuberant internal damp phlegm, characterized by cough and nausea, counterflow panting and copious phlegm, and cough especially pronounced at night, is treated by supplementing the lung and kidney and transforming phlegm.

Specific Methods of Transforming Phlegm

Spleen-stomach: Damp phlegm due to devitalization of spleen yáng impairing normal movement and transformation, characterized by white easily expectorated phlegm, oppression in the chest and nausea, slimy glossy white tongue fur, and possibly dizziness and heart palpitation is treated by drying dampness and transforming phlegm. Cold phlegm arising from spleen-stomach yáng vacuity and collection of cold rheum in the inner body characterized by ejection of thin clear phlegm, aversion to cold, lack of warmth in the extremities, and a slimy tongue fur is treated by dispelling cold and transforming phlegm. Spleen-kidney yáng vacuity with lung cold and phlegm obstruction characterized by physical cold and cold limbs, cold aching back and lumbus, cough with copious phlegm, enuresis accompanying acute cough, white tongue fur, and a slow sunken pulse is treated by fortifying the spleen, warming the kidney, and transforming phlegm. Phlegm lodging in the stomach, characterized by signs such as vomiting and nausea, is treated by harmonizing the stomach and transforming phlegm. Replete qì and exuberant phlegm causing cough and qì counterflow, oppression in the chest and copious phlegm, indigestion, distension and oppression in the stomach duct and abdomen, a slimy tongue, and a slippery pulse is treated by dispersing food and transforming phlegm.

Heart: Phlegm confounding the orifices of the heart is treated by transforming phlegm and opening the orifices.

Channels: Phlegm scurrying through the channels, characterized by deviated eyes and mouth, stiff tongue, and impeded speech, is treated by dispelling wind and transforming phlegm. Phlegm binding in masses, such as phlegm nodes, scrofula, and goiter, is treated by dispersing phlegm and softening hardness.

See the entries listed below.

Phlegm-Transforming, cough-relieving, Panting-Calming Medicinals

Phlegm-Transforming Medicinals (化痰)

Cough-Relieving Panting-Calming Medicinals

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