Phlegm-Dampness Constitution

Manifestation Characteristics

• Physical Signs: The main characteristic is the accumulation of phlegm and dampness, which manifests as an overweight physique, a full and distended abdomen, a sticky sensation in the mouth, and a greasy tongue coating.

• Body Shape: The body is typically overweight, with a full, distended, and soft abdomen.

• Common Manifestations: Oily facial skin, excessive and sticky sweat, chest tightness, abundant phlegm, a sticky or sweet sensation in the mouth, a craving for rich, sweet, and greasy foods, a greasy tongue coating, and a slippery pulse.

• Psychological Characteristics: The personality tends to be mild-mannered, steady, and often patient.

• Disease Tendencies: Susceptible to conditions such as “wasting-thirst disorder” (消渴, similar to diabetes), stroke (中风), and “chest impediment” (胸痹, related to heart conditions like angina).

• Adaptability: Poor ability to adapt to the plum rain season and environments with heavy dampness.

Conditioning Methods

• Environmental and Lifestyle Adjustments: It is important to stay away from damp environments and take precautions against the invasion of damp pathogenic factors during rainy seasons. Engage in more outdoor activities, wear breathable cotton clothing that helps dissipate moisture, and get regular sun exposure.

• Physical Exercise: Individuals with this constitution may feel a sense of heaviness and fatigue easily, so they should adhere to a long-term exercise regimen. Activities like running, ball sports, martial arts, and dancing are recommended. The intensity of the activity should be gradually increased to help firm up loose skin and muscles.

• Mental Adjustment: Prone to mental fatigue and lethargy. It is beneficial to participate in various activities and listen to relaxing music to nourish the spirit through movement.

• Dietary Conditioning: Consume less sweet, sticky, and greasy foods. Drink less alcohol and do not overeat. Eat more bland foods that strengthen the spleen, promote urination to remove dampness, and resolve phlegm. Examples include lotus leaf, white radish, green onion, ginger, ginkgo, and adzuki beans.

• Medicinal Conditioning: The focus should be on regulating and tonifying the Lungs, Spleen, and Kidneys. Herbs that are warm and drying to resolve dampness can be used, such as Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel), Hou Po (Magnolia Bark), Ban Xia (Pinellia Rhizome), Fu Ling (Poria), Ze Xie (Alisma Rhizome), Gua Lou (Trichosanthes Fruit), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), and Che Qian Zi (Plantain Seed). A representative formula is Ping Wei San (Calm the Stomach Powder).