Phlegm-Dampness in the Middle-Burner
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
At a glance
Preliminary reading: What is a pattern?
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Nausea Vomiting Focal distention Coughing of copious thin and white sputum Stifling sensation in the chest and epigastrium
Treatment
Common formulas: Liu Jun Zi Tang
Pathology
Phlegm-Dampness in the Middle-Burner is a pattern of disharmony in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine views the human body as a complex system that tends toward harmony. A pattern of disharmony is a disorder that prevents that harmony from occurring.
Patterns give rise to symptoms that may at first glance seem unrelated from a Western standpoint but that actually make a lot of sense when one understands Chinese Medicine theory. For instance here Phlegm-Dampness in the Middle-Burner gives rise to such diverse symptoms as nausea, vomiting, stifling sensation in the chest and epigastrium and focal distention.
Patterns aren't exactly the Chinese Medicine equivalent to Western diseases, they're rather the underlying causes behind diseases or health conditions. Here Phlegm-Dampness in the Middle-Burner is thought to sometimes induce conditions such as chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, anorexia or acid reflux.
Diagnosing Phlegm-Dampness in the Middle-Burner
Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Main symptoms: Nausea Vomiting Focal distention Coughing of copious thin and white sputum Stifling sensation in the chest and epigastrium
Treating Phlegm-Dampness in the Middle-Burner
Herbal formulas used to treat Phlegm-Dampness in the Middle-Burner
Liu Jun Zi Tang
Source date: 1107
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Qi. Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach. Clears Phlegm and mucus. Promotes appetite.
Formula summary
Liu Jun Zi Tang is a 6-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1107, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Qi.
Besides Phlegm-Dampness in the Middle-Burner, Liu Jun Zi Tang is also used to treat Qi Deficiency or Spleen and Lung Qi Deficiency.
Related conditions
Please keep in mind that a Western Medicine condition can be caused by several Chinese Medicine patterns of disharmony and vice versa. As such a patient suffering from one of the conditions below will not necessarily be suffering from Phlegm-Dampness in the Middle-Burner, it is just one pattern that's commonly associated with the condition. Click on a condition to learn what other patterns it's associated with.