TCM Basics 101: Colours of Phlegm - What do they mean in Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine?
Although there are overlapping similarities, the concept of Phlegm in Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine are still essentially different in the two schools of thoughts.
In Western Medicine, phlegm is a type of mucus that comes from the lungs and the respiratory tract.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, phlegm is not just limited to the definition of mucus that comes from the lungs but is also broadly representative of the endogenous pathological factor which occurs when the body fluid is not metabolized properly and accumulates in the body. Read more about What is the Difference between Phlegm and Dampness here.
As such, changes in colour of phlegm can signify changes in states of the lungs and respiratory system in Western Medicine and it can also tell the states of the health of the person on a whole from a Traditional Chinese Medicine point of view.
Here I will list out the possible colours of Phlegm and what they represent from Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine perspectives for reference.
White Phlegm
In Western Medicine, white phlegm can signify nasal congestion which may arise from allergies, asthma, viral infections. White phlegm are essentially mucus that become thicker and cloudy causing it to appear as white when the nasal cavity is congested and slowed down the passage of mucus through the respiratory tract.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, white phlegm can mean that there is the exogenous pathogenic factor of cold involved which usually occurs in patients with flu symptoms such as feeling cold, cold hands and feet, nausea, vomiting, a feeling of oppression of the chest and epigastrium, dull-white complexion, pale urine, Pale-Swollen tongue with wet-white coating, Slippery-Slow pulse.
Yellow Phlegm
In Western Medicine, yellow phlegm can mean that white blood cells are fighting the infection and the phlegm can pick up the yellow tinge at the site where the infection reacts with the white blood cells.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, yellow phlegm can signify there is excessive heat and toxins in the body together with the accompanying symptoms of increased body temperature, thirst, oily skin, breathlessness, dark urine, mental restlessness, Red- Swollen tongue with sticky-yellow coating, Rapid-Slippery pulse.
Green Phlegm
In Western Medicine, green phlegm indicates a widespread and robust immune response. The white blood cells, germs, and other cells and proteins that the body produces during the immune response give the phlegm its green color.
Most infections that lead to green phlegm are viral and often change to white after a few days. If such green phlegm does not change in color over a prolonged period of time, it may indicate a bacterial infection.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, green phlegm can mean there is remnants of heatiness in the body and usually appears towards the end of cold and flu.
Brown Phlegm
In Western Medicine, brown phlegm signifies chronic lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis. Dried old blood and chronic inflammation of the lung tissues can cause the phlegm to appear brown.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, phlegm appears brown when pathogenic Heat and Fire repeatedly injure the Lung’s blood vessels little by little over time, causing the blood to stain the phlegm brown.
Red Phlegm
In Western Medicine, red phlegm signifies presence of blood which can be due to excessive coughing, nosebleeds, tuberculosis or lung cancer.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, phlegm with redness accompanied by foul smell can mean that the pathogenic Heat is not cleared from the lungs and remains to be transformed to Heat-toxins which breaks the blood vessels and causes pus to form which results in the foul smelling phlegm.
Read more about Everything you need to know about Acupuncture here.
Further Reading:
Everything you need to know about Dampness
Weight Gain from Digestion Induced Dampness
Holistic Treatments for High Functioning Anxiety
The Grass is Not Always Greener on the Other Side
Testimonial for Sleep Improvement
Facial Acupuncture - How to differentiate the real deal from the fakers
