Research Of Diagnosing Phlegm Syndrome

In recent years, with the improvement of people'ssubstantial life and the changes in people's lifestyles, theirphysical conditions have changed obviously. The content oftriglyceride and glucose in blood is higher than normal and theblood is very dense. So the vessel's diseases of heart and brain,diabetes, obesity, dementia and other diseases are bringingdangers to people's health. In traditional medical opinion, thesediseases are mainly caused by phlegm. Most of them belong tophlegm syndrome, so we can try to cure these diseases througheliminating phlegm. This essay researches the diagnosis ofphlegm syndrome in order to help the treatment of phlegmsyndrome. And then we will find new way to treat these diseaseswhich occur frequently.The origination of phlegm and the definition of phlegmsyndromeThe phlegm that is so called by traditional medicine haswidely meanings. It comes from the water and food we havetaken in. It is the excessive and abnormal nutrient which isproduced by spleen-stomach. The phlegm is carried up to heartand lungs through spleen and goes to everywhere of the bodywith the blood flowing. Besides the phlegm which is excretedthrough coughing, the additional or abnormal dense fluid is alsocalled phlegm, some of which can be seen, other needs to beidentified by observing tongue and palpation. And the relatedsymptoms and signs that are caused by phlegm are so calledphlegm syndrome.The cause and pathogenesis and clinical signs of phlegmsyndromePhlegm staying in middle Jiao at the beginning: Phlegmstays in spleen-stomach and gets in the way of Qi, so patientsfeel abdominal distension. Qi can't flow well and there comesthe symptom of stomachache. If the phlegm combines with heat,patients may feel something burning in their stomach. Thestomach-Qi ascends adversely, so the symptoms of sick, vomit,halitosis will appear. Because the spleen can't send upward therefined substances, patients may feel dizziness. If the phlegmrestrains liver, the liver-Qi can't ascend and will be stopped.Patients may fall suddenly and be in a coma. Yang-Qi can't wellprotect the body from being invading by wind-cold pathogenbecause of the phlegm getting its way. So patients often catch acold.The ascending of the phlegm: Phlegm will ascend with theliver-Qi and spleen-Qi, heat and meridian-Qi. If liver-Qi carriesphlegm upside, patients may feel acid or hot in their gullets.When the phlegm stops in the brain, the blood will be in stasisand apoplexy will be caused. If the phlegm covers the mentalactivities, patients will be in mania. If spleen-Qi carries phlegmup to lungs, and lung-Qi fails to disperse and descend, thepatients will cough and spit. When the phlegm stops theheart-Qi and meridian-Qi, patients may feel oppression or achein the chest or palpitation. If the phlegm comes to the throat, itwill cause its discomfort. Phlegm will turn into saliva and beexpelled from the mouth when it arrives the highest position ofthe body.The descending of the phlegm: The phlegm flows down toLarge intestine and causes diarrhea. When the phlegm getsdown to the anterior Yin-orifice, the eczema of the scrotum maybe caused. When the phlegm stops liver-Qi to rise, patients mayfeel pain in lateral lower abdomen. If the liver fails to smoothenthe flow of Qi, the urination will not be clean or the leukorrheais more than normal. Phlegm combined with damp-pathogenmay flow into joints, which will cause pain or puffiness of joints.If the phlegm hurts the ligaments, some patients'ligaments willcontract, other patients'ligaments will be slack. If the phlegmrestrains the kidney, which called "earth restraining water", thekidney-Qi will be inadequate. So patients may feel lumbago, orare forgetful. And sometimes edema will occur. If the phlegmand damp pathogen stop the lower meridians, patients may feeltheir legs pain and numb.The manifestation of pulse in phlegm syndromeThe rolling pulse often comes out in phlegm syndrome. Butthe manifestation of pulse will change with the diversity ofdisease. Generally speaking, at the beginning of phlegmsyndrome, we may meet rolling pulse. Then with thedevelopment of disease, we may meet taut and rolling pulse. Ifthe phlegm can't be eliminated in time, muddy pulse will comeout. If the phlegm stops the flowing of blood, there will beuneven pulse. When the phlegm stays in middle Jiao, we canfeel this kind of manifestation of pulse that the front and theback of it are very difficult to feel, and only the middle of it isfelt powerful. If the phlegm syndrome comes into being andaffects other Zang-organs, the manifestation of pulse will bediverse. Such as feeble pulse, thready pulse and so on. Inaddition, the manifestation of pulse will change a little with theclimate.The relationship between phlegm syndrome and ageWith the age adding, the manifestation of pulse changesfrom rolling pulse to muddy pulse. It can be explained from twoaspects. First, with people growing old, especially after forty,their metabolic rates are slow. So they need a little less nutrient,which makes the water and food they take in changed intophlegm easily. Second, the body's vital Qi changes with age. Itcomes to its peak at the age of thirty, and after forty, it begins toreduce. If the vital Qi couldn't expel the phlegm in time, thepatients also fail to be cured with herbs because of theunintelligible symptoms, the disease will becomes serious andthe manifestation of pulse changes.The diagnosing standards of phlegm syndromeThe common symptoms and signs of phlegm syndromecould be divided into three levels:...