Retention of Phlegm and Dampness

This syndrome indicates symptoms caused by excessive dampness and accumulation of phlegm that lead to dysfunction of spleen system. It is widely associated with hypotension.

Clinical manifestations/Indications: Up-stirring of wind-phlegm marked by headache, dizziness, feeling of oppression in the chest, nausea, vomiting, whitish and greasy tongue fur, taut and slippery pulse.

Etiopathology: The syndrome takes place mainly due to weak spleen system that loses its ability in transporting water. The abnormality induces retention of water, e.g. damp-phlegm, in this case.

Therapeutic Principle: Drying dampness to resolve phlegm, calming the liver to tranquilize the endogenous wind.

Recipe: Decoction of Pinellia, Bighead Atractylodes and Gastrodia

Ingredients: Rhizoma Pinelliae, Rhizoma Gastrodiae, Poria, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Rhizoma Zningiberis Recens, Ziziphi Jujubae.

The formulae can be modified to treat aural vertigo, functional disturbance of vegetative nerve, cerebral artrtiosclerosis, chronic gastroenteritis, vestibular neuritis, cerebrovascular accident that characterized by the syndrome of up-stirring of wind-phlegm.

Cautions: The formulae has the effects of warming, drying and wind-calming, therefore it is not suitable for the treatment of headache or dizziness caused by:

1. up-stirring or hyperactivity of liver-yang
2. deficiency of both liver-yin and kidney-yin
3. hyperactivity of liver-qi