Phlegm-Fire Harassing the Heart
All of a sudden they talk non-stop and off the thread, laugh or cry without being able to stop, do not sleep and are deeply agitated.
In plain words
All of a sudden they talk non-stop and off the thread, laugh or cry without being able to stop, do not sleep and are deeply agitated.
Heat that has been inside for a while thickens the body's fluids into Phlegm (Tan 痰), a sticky residue. That hot phlegm rises and clouds the mind, which loses a clear place to rest on: hence agitation with overflowing behavior, not just bad temper. The thick yellow coating and the slippery pulse are the trace that phlegm leaves.
Characteristic symptoms
- Extreme mental agitation, mania or irrational behavior
- Severe insomnia with disturbing dreams
- Inappropriate and uncontrollable laughing or crying
- Incoherent or rushed speech
- Strong palpitations and sensation of heat in the chest
- Dry and bitter mouth
- Dark and scanty urine
- Tendency toward agitation or euphoric states
Key clues to recognize it
- The coating is yellow, thick and sticky, not yellow and thin as in Fire
- Behavior overflows: laughter or crying they cannot stop
- Speech speeds up and loses the thread, even though the person is awake
Tongue and pulse
- Tongue
- Red or crimson tongue with thick, dry yellow coating
- Pulse
- Rapid (shuò), slippery (huá) and full pulse
Treatment principle
Clear heat, resolve phlegm, calm the mind and tranquilize the Shen
Common points
Reference formula
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang + Wen Dan Tang (Coptis Detox + Warm Gallbladder)
What not to confuse it with
What aggravates it
- Alcohol and fatty or heavily seasoned food
- Whole nights without sleep
- Stimulants: too much coffee, energy drinks
- Continuous overstimulation: screens, noise, non-stop news
Lifestyle advice
Reduce intense mental stimuli, screens and disturbing news. Practice sedating meditation and deep breathing. Avoid spicy foods, alcohol and stimulants. Eat foods that cool Phlegm: pear, radish, seaweed, lotus tea.
When to see a doctor
Health notice. Educational and study content. It describes concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Needling, medicinal herbs and invasive techniques must be applied by trained professionals. Safety guide.
