Phlegm, mucus, dampness, oh my!

[Guest guest]

A while back,

 

>>>Is 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 splenic failure without dampness being involved?

Also, is it correct to say that damp accumulation occurs in the lungs. <<<

 

Hi

 

The week you asked this question was actually the week that I was teaching

about phlegm transforming herbs in my intro class, though I didn't have the

time to answer your question then. I did do my own research as best I could

to answer this very same questions.

 

I have come to the conclusion that yes, T & T failure always has damp as an

intermediary. Of course, there are a variety of other causes for phlegm, but

as for the " Earth element creates it and the metal element stores it " kind of

phlegm, I see damp as a transitory issue.

 

The real question here is at what point is damp called phlegm? This question

is addressed in Yifeng Yang's " Comparisons and Characteristics of Chinese

Herbal Medicines " . He writes: (p.102) Phlegm and Dampness are considered in

TCM to be substances with the same nature and coming from the same origin. If

the pathogen spreads without any form, it is called Dampness, it if

accumulates in a particular place and becomes thick and turbid and has a

shape, it is called Phlegm.

 

I also came accross the issue of dampness in the Lungs versus phlegm in the

Lungs. Again, I looked through some of my books and can only arrive at the

conclusion that pathological water in the Lungs is called phlegm because it

tends to get coughed up and look like phlegm. While dampness can impair the

movement of Qi in the chest, and THAT can cause some breathing issues, what

ends up being coughed up is still called phlegm. It has form. That which

simply obstructs Qi movement in the chest is dampness.

 

Does damp accumulation occur in the Lungs? I think not, only because all the

herbs that address this are really phlegm resolving herbs. A runny nose is a

manifestation of dampness, but this is not taking place in the Lungs as much

as in the nose, and the pathomechanism of this is an external attack such

that the Lung's Qi cannot disperse the body's fluids due to the pathogen in

the Lungs. The other cause for a runny nose would be dampness in one of the

Yang Ming channels. This too is not a collection of dampness in the Lungs.

 

Admitidly, Todd. I'm just defining my own reality here based on the hard work

of my brain swimming in a sea of marrow and a few key books. For now, this is

how I've defined things for my class and for myself.

 

--

Al Stone L.Ac.

<AlStone

http://www.BeyondWellBeing.com

 

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.

[Guest guest]

, Al Stone <alstone@b...> wrote:

 

>

> Admitidly, Todd. I'm just defining my own reality here based on the hard work

> of my brain swimming in a sea of marrow and a few key books. For now, this is

> how I've defined things for my class and for myself.

 

 

thanks, Al.

 

I have come to the same conclusion. Clavey has a flow chart in fluid

physiology that confirms this scenario as well.