What does it mean to have phlegm-dampness obstructing the middle?
Disease description:
Recently, I haven't been feeling well. After visiting the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) department and being diagnosed by a doctor, I was told it's a manifestation of phlegm-dampness obstructing the middle jiao. What does this mean?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. He Haochen
Phlegm-dampness obstructing the middle energizer is a pathological condition in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It primarily arises from irregular diet, excessive alcohol consumption, and overindulgence in rich, greasy, and sweet foods, which impair the spleen and stomach. This impairment disrupts the normal function of transportation and transformation by the spleen and stomach, leading to internal retention of dampness, accumulation of phlegm, and obstruction of the middle jiao. As a result, clear yang qi fails to ascend properly, leaving the orifices of the head inadequately nourished. Clinically, patients with phlegm-dampness obstructing the middle energizer commonly present symptoms such as dizziness, heavy-headedness, mental fogginess, chest tightness, nausea, vomiting of phlegm, poor appetite, excessive sleepiness, a white and greasy tongue coating, and a soft-slippery pulse. Treatment should focus on resolving phlegm, eliminating dampness, strengthening the spleen, and harmonizing the stomach. Additionally, patients should adjust their diet, avoid overwork, and maintain emotional stability to promote recovery.
