| The characteristics of Phlegm and Rheum in inducing diseases are as follows: | ||||
| • | Inhibited Qi and Blood in meridians and blood vessels is caused as Phlegm and Rheum follow Qi’s flow into meridians, then block the meridians, which leads to impeded Qi and Blood flow, and may manifest as numbness or inflexibility of limb and body, or even paralysis. | |||
| • | Inhibited ascending and descending of Qi in organs is caused when stagnant Water and Damp promote Phlegm and Rheum formation, which inhibits Qi flow, and impairs Qi ascending and descending in the affected organs. For example Lung-Qi normally descends, but when its descent is impaired by Phlegm and Rheum, the symptoms include a suffocating sensation in the chest, cough, dyspnea, etc. | |||
| • | Misted Shen is caused when Phlegm and Turbidity ascend to disturb and mist lucid Yang, leading to dizziness and vertigo. When Phlegm mists or Phlegm Fire disturbs the Heart, misted/disturbed Heart Shen is associated with a suffocating sensation in the chest, palpitations, unconsciousness, delirium or mania, etc. | |||
| • | Complicated, shifting symptoms arise because Phlegm and Rheum have many causes, follow Qi in the body, and induce many diseases, in many places. | |||
| – | The Places include the Zang-Fu, limbs, skeleton, external body, and organs. | |||
| – | The Symptoms include a suffocating sensation, cough, dyspnea, sputum spitting, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, dizziness and vertigo, mania, limb numbness, joint pain, subcutaneous swelling or suppuration, edema, ascites, diarrhea, etc. | |||
| – | Generally, stubborn diseases without a detectable cause are related to Phlegm and Rheum. In epilepsy, for example, when Phlegm ascends, the disease starts. When Phlegm descends, the disease stops. Therefore, it may attack again and again. The ancients said, “Many and Strange diseases are mostly caused by Phlegm.” | |||
