TCM- Body Fluid Pattern Identification (Test 2)

Patterns:
1. Deficiency of Body Fluids
2. Edema

• Edema arises from deficiency of Spleen, Lungs or Kidneys or all three of them. Lungs, Spleen and Kidneys are the three organs that are most involved in the transformation and transportation of fluids. If one or two or three of these organs is deficient, the Body Fluids are not transformed properly, they overflow out of the channels and settle in the space under the skin. This is the origin of edema.
  
  If edema is caused by Lung Qi deficiency it will affect the top part of the body such as face and hands. This type of edema can also be caused by invasion of exterior Wind-Cold interfering with the Lung function of dispersing and descending the Body Fluids.
  
  Edema from Spleen-Qi deficiency tends to affect the middle part of the body, such as the abdomen (ascites).
  
  If edema is caused by Kidney-Yang deficiency, it will affect the lower part of the body such as the legs and ankles.

3. Phlegm

• The main cause for the formation of Phlegm is Spleen deficiency. If the Spleen fails to transform and transport Body Fluids, these will accumulate and change into Phlegm. The Lungs and Kidneys are also involved in the formation of Phlegm. If the Lungs fail to disperse and lower fluids and if the Kidneys fail to transform and excrete fluids, these may accumulate into Phlegm. However, the Spleen is always the primary factor in the formation of Phlegm.

Non Substantial Phlegm:

-Under the Skin

-In the Channels

- Misting the Mind

- In Gall Bladder and/or Kidneys

- In the joints

Phlegm can assume different forms, according to its associations with other pathogenic factors.

• Wind-Phlegm
• Phlegm-Heat
• Cold Phlegm
• Damp-Phlegm

Qi-Phlegm: This type of Phlegm is non-substantial and is manifested with a feeling of swelling the throat (but no actual swelling), a difficulty in swallowing and a feeling of stuffiness of chest and diaphragm.
This form of Phlegm is usually associated with stagnation of Qi in the throat. It is caused by emotional problems giving rise to (or deriving from) stagnation of Liver Qi. The typical feeling of constriction of the throat is called “plum stone syndrome” in Chinese medicine and this feeling appears and disappears according to mood swings.

Phlegm-Fluids: 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, while retained fluid is clear and dilute. The term Phlegm-fluid is the short form of the combination of the two. This is a type of substantial Phlegm is characterized by very watery and thin sputum. It can actually heard splashing in the body.