Is梅核气 (plum pit qi) a type of pharyngitis?
In daily life, many people suffer from pharyngitis, which seriously affects their everyday activities. Some claim that "Mei He Qi" is pharyngitis—so is "Mei He Qi" actually pharyngitis?
Is Mei He Qi Pharyngitis?
"Mei He Qi" is a disease name in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), characterized by a sensation of a foreign body in the throat—feeling as if something is stuck but cannot be coughed up or swallowed down—yet without affecting eating or swallowing function. Mei He Qi is not pharyngitis per se, but it may include cases of pharyngitis and abnormal findings on laryngoscopy associated with functional neurological disorders. From a TCM perspective, the underlying mechanism involves stagnation of phlegm and qi, commonly seen in individuals who are prone to dampness. Discomfort, emotional fluctuations, and liver-qi stagnation can lead to impaired liver-qi dispersion. This results in obstructed flow of qi and phlegm, causing discomfort in the throat.
In otolaryngology practice, pharyngitis is categorized into acute and chronic types. Acute pharyngitis is mostly caused by viral or bacterial infections leading to upper respiratory tract infection, with main clinical symptoms including sore throat, burning sensation, difficulty swallowing, cough, and even fever. Streptococcal toxins may trigger distant organ immune-related complications such as rheumatic fever or acute nephritis. Chronic pharyngitis, on the other hand, is not an infectious disease. It refers to a cluster of symptoms caused by multiple factors such as a sensation of a foreign body in the throat, feeling of blockage, itching, voice fatigue, frequent throat-clearing, and chronic cough, often related to poor lifestyle habits and objective environmental irritants.
In daily life, individuals with pharyngitis should pay extra attention to protecting their throats to prevent worsening of symptoms, which could negatively impact daily activities and overall health. We hope this answer has been helpful to you. Wishing you good health and happiness!
