phlegm

[Guest guest]

Dear

" Is [sic] phlegm formation due to failure of spleen T & T always

involve the accumulation of dampness as an intermediary pathogen or

can phlegm form directly as a result of splentic faiulure without

dampness being involved? "

It seems scholars have different opinions about this. Wiseman and

Ellis (in Fundamentals) imply that the answer is yes, but Clavey

implies any fluid, even normal jinye, can be inadquately T & Ted and

become phlegm. In addition, he suggests that food can transform to

phlegm without first becoming damp due to inhibited splenic T & T.

Please see his chapters on Damp, Damp-Heat, and Phlegm in Fluid

Physiology and Pathology in Traditional .

" ...does internal damp lodge in the lungs, per se? "

According to my research, most scholars imply that internal damp

does not lodge in the lung per se. However, damp-phlegm can

accumulate in the lung and according to Clavey, " ...accumulation of

damp into phlegm, with some pathogenic damp still remaining in

conjunction the the phlegm is usually termed 'phlegm-damp' (tan shi)

or 'damp-phlegm " (shi tan). "

Thus it would seem a fine distinction to completely rule out damp

accumulation in the lung.

 

David

David