Phlegm damp-heat syndrome

For patients who suffer from a cold syndrome, raw and cold food should be avoided. For patients who suffer from a heat syndrome or a syndrome where the Liver-Yang is ascending, spicy, heavy food, coffee and alcohol should be avoided. For patients who suffer from syndromes of damp-phlegm or damp-heat accumulation, sweet heavy food, milk products, nuts and alcohol should be avoided. Patients who suffer from skin disorders or have wounds which are characterized by itching, oozing and redness should avoid seafood, spicy food and alcohol. 

There are many factors that can cause abnormal discharge of the body fluids and essence besides Qi deficiency. For example, diarrhea can be caused by damp-heat in the intestines excessive urination or spermatorrhea can be the result of damp-heat in the Lower-Jiao shortness of breath can be the consequence of phlegm accumulation excessive sweating is often caused by excess heat or empty-heat in the body. Thus a correct differentiation of the syndrome is required. 

Second, for treating damp-phlegm syndrome, bitter and warm herbs that can dry dampness, or sweet and bland herbs that can leach out dampness, are selected for treating phlegm-heat syndrome, cold and moistening herbs that can dilute phlegm are selected. 

Xuan Fu Hua, Zi Su Zi and Zi Su Ye are warm in nature they are particularly used for damp-phlegm syndrome. Zhu Ru, Pi Pa Ye and Huang Qin are cold in nature they are used for phlegm-heat syndrome. 

Bai Qian is a warm herb and its action of descending the Lung-Qi is stronger than that of Qian Hu. It is suitable to treat damp-phlegm syndrome. Qian Hu is cold in nature and is more suitable to clear heat in the Lung and treat phlegm-heat syndrome. 

The other three herbs are able to leach out dampness and promote urination. They can be selected in the formula to assist the chief and deputy herbs to remove damp-phlegm. Among these herbs, Fu Ling is neutral and can gently tonify the Spleen-Qi Ze Xie and Yi Yi Ren are cold and are more suitable for treating phlegm-heat syndrome. 

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