Diagnosing and Treating Based on Phlegm Analysis
In TCM, treatment is tailored based on the color, quality, and quantity of sputum produced during coughing, generally categorized into six types:
Retention of phlegm in the body not only fosters growth of pathogens in the respiratory tract, worsening inflammation, but also obstructs the bronchi, leading to hypoxia and breathing difficulties.
I. Lung Cold Cough with Phlegm:
Cough produces white, thin, clear sputum. Patients feel cold, have cold limbs, severe chills with mild fever, coughing with chest pain, shortness of breath, and pale bluish complexion.
II. Lung Heat Cough with Phlegm:
Cough produces yellow, sticky, clumped sputum, possibly with blood streaks. Accompanied by fever, coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, flushed face, red eyes, sore throat, thirst, dry lips, short red urine, and constipation. Tongue is red with yellow coating.
III. Wind Pathogen Invading the Lung:
Sputum is clear and foamy. Associated with fever, chills, coughing, nasal congestion, runny nose, dry itchy throat, headache, body aches. Tongue tip and edges are red, with thin white coating.
IV. Yin Deficiency with Dryness in the Lung:
Small amount of sticky, hard-to-expel sputum, possibly with blood streaks. If caused by dryness, symptoms include fever, chills, chest pain, black lips, dry nose, dry mouth and throat.
If due to yin deficiency, symptoms include restlessness, insomnia, tidal fever, night sweats, red cheeks, bright red tongue with little coating.
V. Dampness Invading the Lung:
Large volume of sputum, white and slippery, easy to expectorate. Limbs feel heavy and weak, dizziness, excessive sleepiness, poor appetite, and chest oppression.
VI. Damp-Heat Accumulating in the Lung:
Produces thick, bloody, foul-smelling sputum. High fever or tidal fever, chest tightness and pain, inability to lie down due to shortness of breath, dry mouth and sore throat, restlessness.