In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Phlegm is the result of a pathological accumulation of Dampness and fluids inside the body.
This process can develop from Qi deficiency, Qi stagnation, or a combination of both.
Qi is responsible for transforming, transporting, and eliminating fluids. When Qi becomes weak or its movement becomes blocked, the normal circulation and transformation of fluids is affected.
Over time, these accumulated fluids can become Dampness and eventually transform into Phlegm.
What Is Dampness?
Dampness should not be understood as normal water.
It is not clean fluid that hydrates the body.
Dampness represents a pathological accumulation — something thicker, heavier, and more difficult to move.
It can be compared to mud, gel, or mucus.
This accumulation blocks the normal circulation of fluids and affects the body’s internal balance.
Emotions, Qi Stagnation, and Phlegm
No emotion directly and immediately creates Phlegm.
We cannot simply say:
“Anger creates Phlegm.”
The process is much more complex.
Most emotional patterns first create Qi stagnation.
Many organs can experience Qi stagnation, not only the Liver.
From the mental and emotional perspective, the Heart and Lung can also experience Qi stagnation due to emotions such as worry, sadness, and grief.
When emotions create Liver Qi stagnation, the Liver can affect the Spleen.
According to the Five Elements theory, the relationship between these organs is extremely important.
When the Liver affects the Spleen, the energy of the Spleen decreases, affecting one of its most important functions: transforming fluids and removing excessive Dampness.
When this process continues over time, Dampness can accumulate and transform into Phlegm.
Emotional stress can also create Qi stagnation that transforms into Fire.
This Fire can condense body fluids and contribute to the formation of Phlegm.
Foods That Create Dampness and Phlegm
Diet is also an important factor in the formation of Dampness and Phlegm.
Foods that commonly contribute to this pattern include:
- fatty foods
- excessive sugar
- sweets
- dairy products
- white flour
- gluten
- lactose
- excessive cold foods
- cold drinks
- alcohol
Overeating can also contribute to Phlegm formation.
In the specific case of Phlegm-Heat, this is commonly associated with excessive consumption of fatty foods combined with alcohol.
Phlegm and Chronic Urticaria
To understand the relationship between Phlegm and urticaria, we need to return to the concepts of Yin and Yang.
If internally there is a thick and stagnant accumulation blocking fluid circulation, these fluids cannot perform their normal functions.
The body’s ability to hydrate and cool itself becomes reduced.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine terms, the Yin function becomes affected.
Less Yin means less ability to control Heat.
More internal Heat can contribute to more intense urticaria manifestations.
In cold urticaria, the mechanism can be different because Yin and Yang depend on each other.
When one becomes affected, the other can also lose balance.
If Qi does not circulate correctly, some organs may develop internal Cold patterns.
At the same time, emotional fragility and weakness of the body’s defensive systems can make the person more vulnerable to external influences.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this is related to concepts such as external Wind transforming into internal Wind, creating different patterns such as:
- Wind-Cold
- Wind-Heat
- Wind-Dampness
- Wind-Dryness
Excessive Physical Work and Phlegm
Lifestyle is another important factor.
Excessive physical work can weaken the Spleen.
When the Spleen becomes weak, its ability to transform and transport fluids decreases, creating conditions for Dampness and Phlegm formation.
Possible Manifestations of Phlegm Patterns
Some manifestations associated with Phlegm patterns in Traditional Chinese Medicine include:
- burning epigastric pain
- thirst without desire to drink
- mental restlessness
- bleeding gums
- dry stools
- dry mouth
- mouth ulcers
- acid regurgitation
- nausea
- vomiting after eating
- excessive hunger
- bad breath
- sensation of Heat
- sensation of oppression in the chest or epigastrium
- insomnia
- excessive dreaming
- phlegm expectoration
- sebaceous cysts
- swellings
These manifestations do not appear in every person.
Each case needs to be evaluated individually according to the complete internal pattern.
Understanding Phlegm is another important step in understanding why chronic urticaria is not simply a skin condition.
The skin only shows the external manifestation of deeper internal imbalances.