Phlegm in the Channels joints and muscles
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? The concept of Phlegm
Key attributes
Chinese name: 痰瘀痹阻 Pinyin name: Tán yū bì zǔ
Pattern nature: Full
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Numbness Joint stiff Joints pain Muscle pain Bone deformities
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue description: Purple tongue with black dots and white sticky coating
Treatment
Treatment principle: Clear Phlegm, remove stagnation, unblock the Channels.
Common formulas: Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang
Pathology
It is a type of the Painful Obstruction Syndrome (Bi Syndrome 痹证). Other Pernicious Influences can also invade Channels, joints and muscles such as Wind, Cold, Dampness and Heat.
The common symptoms of Bi Syndromes are joints pain, stiffness and numbness. Other than these, Phlegm also causes patients anxiety, chest stiffness and purple tongues with dark spots. It is more seen around the elderly and these with Wind stroke.
Phlegm can also give rise to bone deformities. According to Chinese medicine, chronic rheumatoid arthritis or arthritis in general is seen as a form of Phlegm. As a reminder Phlegm occurs when the Body Fluids accumulate and become Stagnant during a long period of time. If they do so in the joints, this Phlegm manifests itself in arthritis and can further condense to form bone growths.
Diagnosing Phlegm in the Channels joints and muscles
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.
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se) or wiry (Xian)
Tongue description: Purple tongue with black dots and white sticky coating
Main symptoms: Numbness Joint stiff Joints pain Muscle pain Bone deformities
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the joints and muscles pains which are fixed in one area of the body.
Treating Phlegm in the Channels joints and muscles
Treatment principle
Clear Phlegm, remove stagnation, unblock the Channels.
Herbal formulas used to treat Phlegm in the Channels joints and muscles
Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang
Source date: 1830
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Invigorates Blood. Unblocks painful obstruction. Relieves pain. Invigorate Qi. Dispels Blood Stagnation. Unblock Channels.
Formula summary
Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang is a 12-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1830, it belongs to the category of formulas that regulate Blood.
Besides Phlegm in the Channels joints and muscles, Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang is also used to treat Qi And Blood Stagnation.