Ang TCM ay naniniwala na ang phlegm ay maaaring dulot ng lungs at spleen. Ang lungs ay responsable sa respiratory function at regulation ng zongqi (vital energy). Kung ang lungs ay hindi maaaring clear, maaaring magdulot ng cough, shortness of breath, at difficulty in lying down. Kapag ang wind or cold pathogen ay sumakop sa lungs, ang lung fluids ay magkakakumpulan at magdulot ng phlegm. Ang spleen ay responsible sa digestion at transportation ng nutrients sa iba't ibang organs. Kung ang damp pathogen ay sumakop sa katawan, o dahil sa excessive thinking, fatigue, o improper diet, ang spleen ay maaaring mawala ang function nito, at magdulot ng internal dampness na magkakakumpulan at magdulot ng phlegm.
One: TCM Differentiation and Treatment of Phlegm
Ang TCM ay nag-uuri ng phlegm sa mga uri: cold phlegm, wind phlegm, heat phlegm, damp phlegm, at dry phlegm.
1. Cold phlegm: dulot ng cold pathogen sa lungs, na nagdudulot ng phlegm. Ang phlegm ay puti, ang pasyente ay takot sa cold, gustong uminom ng hot drinks, white or greasy tongue coating, Xiao Qing Long Tang with modifications: Gui Zhi 6g, Zhi Ban Xia 10g, Gan Jiang 6g, Xi Xin 3g, Xing Ren 10g, Bai Jie Zi 6g. Kung may asthma, add Zhi Ma Huang 6–9g.
2. Wind phlegm: dulot ng wind pathogen sa lungs (common cold), ang unang phlegm ay malamig at thin, pero maaaring maging yellow and sticky. Ang pasyente ay takot sa wind, ang tongue coating ay initially white, then turns pale yellow. Use Xing Su Yin with modifications: Xing Ren 10g, Su Ye 6g, Jing Jie 6g, Qian Hu 10g, Jie Geng 10g, Bai Qian 10g. When phlegm turns yellow, add Dan Xing 6g, Lian Qiao 10g, Yin Hua 12g.
3. Heat phlegm: dulot ng heat pathogen sa lungs, o mula sa wind or cold pathogen na nagdulot ng high fever for several days, na nagdudulot ng yellow and sticky phlegm. Ang pasyente ay takot sa heat, gustong uminom ng cool drinks, red tongue with yellow greasy coating. Use Xie Bai San with modifications: Sang Bai Pi 10g, Di Gu Pi 10g, Gan Cao 5g, Sheng Shi Gao 30g, Huang Qin 10g, Xing Ren 10g, Dan Xing 6g.
4. Damp phlegm: dulot ng damp pathogen sa katawan (like living in humid environment), o dahil sa improper diet, na nagdudulot ng imbalance sa lungs and spleen. Ang phlegm ay white and watery, may feeling of heaviness, fatigue, loose stools, white or greasy tongue coating. Use Er Chen Tang with additions: Zhi Ban Xia 10g, Ju Hong 10g, Fu Ling 10g, Zhi Gan Cao 5g, Xing Ren 10g, Yi Ren 15g, Cang Zhu and Bai Zhu each 10g.
5. Dry phlegm: dulot ng matagal na dry climate, dry pathogen sa lungs, na nagdudulot ng thick and sticky phlegm na mahirap i-clear, o may blood in phlegm. Ang pasyente ay may dryness sa mouth, nose, throat. Thin yellow tongue coating. Use Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang with modifications: Bei Sha Shen 15g, Tian Mai Dong each 10g, Sheng Shi Gao 30g, Zhi Pa Ye 10g, Xing Ren 10g, Sheng Di 15g, Zhe Bei 10g, Yu Zhu 15g.
Chinese Patent Medicines for Phlegm Dissolution:
1. Fresh Bamboo Juice: 3–4 times daily, 10–15ml each time.
2. Compound Bamboo Juice (Phlegm Relief): 3 times daily, 2 vials each time.
3. Tan Ke Jing: 3 times daily, 1 spoon each time.
Two: Western Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment of Excessive Phlegm
Normal people have very little phlegm. Ang phlegm ay tumataas kapag smoking or may respiratory disease. Narito ang mga karaniwang conditions na may excessive phlegm:
1. Chronic bronchitis: madalas magdulot ng cough, wheezing, and phlegm, especially after exposure to cold, at maaaring magdulot ng emphysema at cor pulmonale. Kung may bacterial infection, ang phlegm ay yellow and sticky, at may fever.
2. Pneumonia: sa lobar pneumonia, may iron rust-colored phlegm, at may chills and fever.
3. Tuberculosis: may fever, night sweats, at when there's a lung cavity, may have large amounts of phlegm, and TB bacilli can be found in sputum test, possibly with blood in phlegm.
4. Bronchiectasis: may very large amounts of phlegm, which can be divided into three layers: thin, sticky, and very sticky, and may also have hemoptysis.
5. Lung abscess: may have very large amounts of foul-smelling phlegm, accompanied by fever.
6. Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection: phlegm is green or yellow-green, sticky, and accompanied by fever.
7. Lung cancer: may have thin or thick phlegm, sometimes with blood, and in late stages, phlegm may be foul-smelling.
Para malaman ang sanhi ng excessive phlegm, dapat magpapa-checkup sa hospital, tulad ng x-ray chest film. Kung may suspicion ng lung cancer, dapat magpa-take ng CT scan or tomography, sputum test para hanapin ang cancer cells, at best magpa-bronchoscopy para ma-diagnose nang maaga, at ma-apply ang surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. Kung may infection, dapat magpa-sputum culture. Pagkatapos ng culture, dapat magpa-sensitivity test para sa bacteria para ma-identify ang tamang antibiotic.
Narito ang 3 common Western medicines para sa phlegm dissolution:
1. Ammonium chloride: 3 times daily, 0.3–0.6g after meals.
2. Bromhexine: 3 times daily, 8–16mg each time.
3. Carbocisteine: 3 times daily, 0.6g (1 tablet) each time.
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