• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.435-442
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• 2002

Phlegm is defined as the static fluid in excess in one or more parts of the body. It is not only a pathologic product but also a pathogen itself. However, as it says Phlegm is another title for the body fluid. phlegm can be physiological. In Hyungsang medicine. since the Hyungsang which an individual shows determines his or her illness. the principle to treat phlegm also varies according to the individual's Hyungsang. Thus, the author reviewed ‘Jisan’s Special Lectures for Clinicians’ and summarized the concepts and diagnostics of phlegm, and treatment and regimens by Hyungsang medicine. The concepts of phlegm : Phlegm is not only a pathologic product of disharmony of Jung(精), Ki(氣), Shin(神) and Hyul(血) but also a driving force to mature and transform these constituents. Phlegm is another designation for the Fluid. Phlegm can act as an alternative substance or buffering agent. If we describe our body as the habitat of worms. phlegm could be the inhabitant. Diagnostics of phlegm : The infraorbital areas have a dark-gray or blackish coloring. A man who is feminine or a woman who is masculine tends to develop phlegm. One of the major signs of phlegm is pain in Chungwan(中脘). The color of the skin does not change. Treatment of phlegm by Hyungsang medicine. For the Jung type(精科) and the Hyul type(血科), phlegm treatment is to supply Jung and Blood or eliminate Damp-phlegm. The man needs tonifying herbs and the woman needs herbs which promote the flow of Ki(氣). Children and the aged are. tegardless of the nature of disease, to be warmed and supplemented. For the heavy man. treatment is to supplement Ki and eliminate Damp; for the slim man. treatment is to supplement Yin(陰) and purge Heat.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.113-130
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate 93 prescriptions which are all affiliated Phlegm-Fluid Substances chapter depending on Symptoms in Dongeuibogam. Methods : The following conclusions are reached through investigations on the applications of prescriptions which are all affiliated Phlegm-Fluid Substances chapter Depending on Symptoms in Dongeuibogam. Results : 1. Fluid detention disease article represents that Byukeum(癖飮), Hyuneum(懸飮) and Yueum(流飮) have the same treat criteria, in effect, there is not any problem left in case it is reached fluid detention disease is not 8 but 6. 2. Strong water-utilization herbs can be mainly used in treating Fluid detention disease, eliminating phlegm warm herbs are almost used two times more than eliminating phlegm cold herbs in eliminating phlegm disease. 3. Arisamatis Rhizoma is only used by itself in Chongmongseok-hwan, the others are used at the same time with Pinelliae Rhizoma. As a result of this, Arisamatis Rhizoma has an effects on eliminating Wind relative dusease but eliminating phlegm disease which can cause upper body phlegm disease. 4. Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus and Tricosanthis Radix are able to get rid of obstinate phlegm-Fluid disease in eliminating phlegm cold herbs. 5. Gamisachil-tang and Gamieejin-tang which are located in throat chapter are more proper prescriptions to treat phlegm at throat than Gwache-san or Jeoljehwadam-hwan which is located in Phlegm-Fluid Substances chapter in Dongeuibogam. 6. Glycyrrhizae Radix is used 46 times(49%) at total 93 prescriptions in eliminating phlegm disease herbs. It seems to be needed more study whether Glycyrrhizae Radix can control the Phlegm-Fluid disease or not. Conclusions : The 93 prescriptions for eliminating Phlegm-Fluid Substances in Dongeuibogam are mainly composed of Sobanha-tang, Eejin-tang and Baeksang-hwan, etc.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.109-122
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• 2018

Objectives : The teaching which states, "Pi is the source of the phlegm and lung is the container of the phlegm" is a sentence that is regarded to have been based on the understanding of the production and container of phlegm based on physiology and pathology of viscera and bowels. However, the author's suspicion that this sentence has not received enough research as to truly understand its meaning has led to further study into this sentence. Methods : Medical book database was searched and historic medical books were reviewed in order to understanding the true meaning of this sentence. First, the meaning of the sentence was pondered upon based on how it was introduced in the original text, and each of the two parts of the sentence were closely analyzed for its relations in order to get a clear meaning of the sentence. Results : The source of this sentence is Bencaogangmu, and it describes the phenomenon of cough in the phlegm appearing more than that from pi and lungs. Later, some disagreements on this sentence developed, claiming that kidney is the source of phlegm whereas stomach is the container. Pi deficiency derives from abnormality in the transportation and transformation of pi, and it originates from kidney deficiency. Thus, kidney can be understood as the origin of phlegm. When phlegm is dispersed all around the body, it's difficult to see the stomach as a container of the phlegm. Conclusions : The pathology of the production and container of phlegm is that deficiency in kidney qi leads to the malfunction of transportation and transformation of pi, and this creates the bodily fluid to become stagnant, making pathological products such as dampness, phlegm, and retained fluid. This can be expressed as "Kidney is the origin of the phlegm, and pi is the source of the phlegm." Here, phlegm is created and stored either when phlegm enters the lungs in the process of pi dissipating into the lungs, or when pi affects the lungs which inhibits the pi movement in the lungs. This is the true meaning of "lung is the container of the phelgm."

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.129-132
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• 2010

This article aims at clarifying the formation and accumulation of the "phlegm" in the body. If the phlegm can't be dispelled, it would do great harm to the body health in many aspects, even leading to various diseases which are complex and hard to cure. "phlegm blocking the orifices of the heart", "Gi(氣) activities blocking", "the blood vessels choking", "muscular striae[肌腠] overflowing", " tumor accumulated", "inveterate phlegm loss the path", are the outstanding pathogenic characteristics of the "phlegm". Ancient and modern physicians accumulated rich experiences on preventing and treating the phlegm diseases. Those are worth excavating, organizing and clarifying deeply for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the phlegm diseases efficiently.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.752-762
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• 2010

Objective : In the present study, we investigated genetic distribution of eight single nucleotide polymorphisms of PON1 between Dampness and Phlegm and non Dampness and Phlegm pattern identification(PI) among Korean stroke patients. Materials and Methods : One hundred forty stroke subject without Dampness and Phlegm and fifty eight stroke subjects with Dampness and Phlegm were participated in this study. After informed consents, eight single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) in PON1 of each subjects were identified by DNA sequencing and primer extension method and statistical analysis was performed to determine the significant difference between Dampness and Phlegm and non Dampness and Phlegm groups. Results : Among anthropometric characteristics and blood parameters, waist circumference and total cholesterol were significantly higher in Dampness and Phlegm. Among 8 SNPs of PON1, frequency of M allele and subjects with M allele in L55M SNP were significantly higher in Dampness and Phlegm group (p=0.0032 and p=0.0053, respectively) but subjects with T allele in C-2033T SNP were lower in Dampness and Phlegm group(p=0.0302). Effect of L55M and C-2033T on Dampness and Phlegm were 3.07% and 1.75%, respectively. Conclusion : Our results suggest that L55M SNP in exon and C-2033T in promoter region of PON1 maybe affect to Dampness and Phlegm pattern identification. However, further study should be carried out to find out the detailed mechanism how L55M and C-2033T can affect Dampness and Phlegm stroke patients.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.279-284
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• 2020

The theory of "eccentric diseases are generally due to phlegm (怪病多屬痰)" means that phlegm is a major cause for intractable diseases including cerebrovascular accident, depression, insanity, and shock from strange things or evil sprint. It has been a key foundation for the diagnosis and treatment of phlegm in traditional Korean medicine. However, the origin of the theory is not clear and controversial. In this study, we critically reviewed the origin and developing process of the theory in the viewpoints of philology and pathology in Korean medicine. Wang Yin-Jun (王隱 君) did not claim that eccentric diseases are generally due to phlegm in Taidingyangshengzhu-lun (泰定養生主論). The miscitation by following medical literature caused the misunderstanding in the meaning of Taidingyangshengzhu-lun, that phlegm can cause variable symptoms and signs. In the Ming dynasty, some poor medical doctors had tended to diagnose any difficult case as phlegm syndrome and to use Kuntan-huan (滾痰丸) as a standard herbal formula for treating phlegm syndrome. However, the tendency to categorize delicate cases easily to phlegm syndrome is not desirable. Besides, the tendency to use Kuntan-huan as a basic formula for the phlegm syndrome might cause diverse and severe adverse effects. Thus, we cannot accept the theory of eccentric diseases is generally due to phlegm without a doubt. In conclusion, this theory might be a valuable aphorism in terms of considering the possibility of the secondary pathologic factors including phlegm and blood stasis which should be considered first in case of intractable diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.104-109
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• 2017

Objectives: Epicardial fat is true visceral fat that is known to be associated with metabolic syndrome, high abdominal fat, insulin resistance, coronary artery diseases, low coronary flow reserve and subclinical atherosclerosis. Dampness-Phlegm pattern is one of the pattern diagnosis of traditional Korean medicine. Previous studies showed that Dampness-Phlegm pattern is associated with hypertension, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome. This study is intended to find association between Dampness-Phlegm pattern and epicardial fat thickness. Methods: This study was a community-based single center trial. Ischemic stroke patients within 30 days after their ictus were enrolled. Epicardial fat thickness was measured using transthoracic echocardiography. Other measured and obtained variables are medical history, weight, height, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerol, high density lipoprotein, lipid and low density lipoprotein. Results: Three hundred sixty six were enlisted, and one hundred forty were diagnosed with the Dampness-Phlegm pattern. Dampness-Phlegm pattern group had significantly thicker epicardial fat. Binary logistic regression also showed statistically significant result. Conclusions: This study showed close association between epicardial fat and Dampness-Phlegm pattern. This result suggests a clue to standardization of pattern identification.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was designed to evaluate the relationship with abdominal visceral fat area in obese patients identified as phlegm type. Methods : This research were performed in 201 cases, visited Kirin Oriental Hospital from March 2005 to February 2006 for weight loss. We measured body mass index(BMI), abdominal CT, and classified all patients into two groups, normal and obesity group. And then we differentiated patients with phlegm-retention symptom from patients without it through questionnaire made by Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine. Results and Conclusions : Phlegm type was significantly higher than them of no symptom of phlegm in the abdominal visceral areas(P=0.036) and ratio(P=0.007), in obesity group$(BMI{\geq}25)$. On the other hand, there is little difference between abdominal visceral fat areas of phlegm type and no symptom of phlegm in normal group. According to the above results, if obese patients are diagnosed as identification of phlegm type there is good chance of abdominal visceral obesity.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.53-59
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• 2016

Objectives : To find the causes, the development factors and trend of phlegm-damp constitution in previous dynasties, Chinese medicine books were reviewed, to provide literature basis. Methods : The paper looks into the references to phlegm-damp constitution in Traditional Chinese medicine classics literatures, to analyze the its causes, the development factors, and the recuperation methods. Results : Phlegm-damp constitution is one of common type of human constitution. The development trend of phlegm-damp constitution is Xiaodan(消瘅), similar to the dispersion-thirst disease, stroke, chest discomfort, asthma, infertility to name a few. Conclusions : The phlegm-damp constitution is related to the natural endowment and the acquired life style and behavior factor. General recuperation is a basic and effective approach for preventing and treating the constitution.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.79-82
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• 2007

A headache due to retention of phlegm has vomitting, dizziness, nausea, etc. A headache due to retention of phlegm mainly was occurred by insufficiency of the spleen and stomach. Banhabaekchulcheonmatang(半夏白朮天麻湯) has effects of strengthening the spleen and reducing phlegm and calming the endopathic Wind relieving fainting. I prescribed the Banhabaekchulcheonmatang(半夏白朮天麻湯) to a patient with headache due to retention of phlegm. After taking these medicines, the patient was cured.