Phlegm and fluid retention (tan-yin)

pathology

Tan (phlegm) and Yin (fluid stagnation) are pathological products that arise from an imbalance in fluid metabolism, most often due to weakness of the spleen, lungs, or kidneys. Tan is a thick, viscous substance; it can be “visible” (phlegm when coughing) or “invisible” (contributing to the formation of lumps, dizziness, mental confusion, and numbness). Yin is a more fluid accumulation in body cavities and under the skin (edema, “water” in the chest and abdomen). Phlegm can be combined with cold, heat, or wind, resulting in corresponding syndromes. Treatment is aimed at both removing the phlegm and addressing its root cause—the weakness of the organs responsible for body fluids.