Phlegm Fluid and Stagnant Blood

Phlegm fluid and stagnant blood are the pathological products of dysfunction of the zang - fu organs. Both of them, however, having been produced, further affect the zang - fu organs and tissues - either directly or indirectly - and cause numerous diseases. Phlegm fluid and stagnant blood are therefore considered to be a kind of pathogenic factor

Phlegm fluid. Phlegm fluid results from accumulation of body fluid due to dysfunction of the lung, spleen and kidney and impairment of water metabolism. Phlegm is turbid and thick, whilst retained fluid is clear and dilute. The term phlegm fluid is the short form of the combination of the two. Diseases caused by phlegm fluid include numerous syndromes involving either substantial or non - substantial phlegm fluid. Clinical manifestations vary according to the area of the body affected. Retention of phlegm in the lung, for example, may cause cough with profuse sputum and asthmatic breathing ; phlegm afflicting the heart may lead to palpitations, coma and depressive and manic psychosis ; obstruction of the meridians, bones and tendons by phlegm may cause tuberculosis of the cervical lymph nodes, subcutaneous nodules, suppurative inflammation of deep tissues, numbness of the limbs and body, and hemiplegia ; phlegm fluid affecting the head and eyes may cause dizziness, vertigo, and blurred vision. Accumulation of phlegm and qi in the throat may lead to a " foreign body sensation. " Retained fluid attacking the skin and muscles may cause edema, general aching and a heavy sensation of the body ; retention of fluid in the chest and hypochondrium may cause cough, asthmatic breathing, distention and pain there ; retained fluid spreading to the stomach and intestines may lead to nausea, vomiting of sticky fluid, discomfort in the epigastrium and abdomen, and borborygmus

Diseases caused by phlegm fluid cover a wide range, referring not only to those with such symptoms as visible sputum, but also to those with clinical manifestations characterized by phlegm fluid. General clinical manifestations include spitting of profuse sputum or sticky fluid, a rattling sound in the throat, a full sensation in the epigastric and abdominal regions, vomiting, dizziness and vertigo, palpitations, a sticky tongue coating and a string - taut rolling pulse

Stagnant blood. Stagnant blood is mainly caused by impaired blood circulation due to either coldness or deficiency or stagnation of qi. Traumatic injuries may cause internal bleeding which accumulates and is not dispelled, leading to stagnant blood

The clinical manifestations of stagnant blood vary according to the area affected. Stagnant blood in the heart, for example, may result in a suffocating sensation in the chest, cardiac pain and green purplish lips. Stagnant blood in the lung can cause chest pain and haemoptysis. Stagnant blood in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to haematemesis and bloody stool. Stagnant blood in the liver may cause hypochondriac pain and palpable masses in the abdomen. Stagnant blood in the uterus can cause dysmenorrhoea, irregular menstruation, and a dark red menstrual flow with clots. Stagnant blood on the body surface may cause a purplish or green color of the skin and subcutaneous haematoma

Diseases due to stagnant blood, although they can be varied, share certain common characteristics :

• Pain which is worse with pressure and stabbing in nature
• Bleeding which is deep or dark purple in color containing clots
• Ecchymoses or petechiae, accompanied by pain in the affected parts, indicate stagnant blood retained in the superficial portion of the body. The tongue may be deep purple in color or show purple spots
• There may be fixed purplish masses accompanied by pain