A 45-year-old man presents with chest oppression, abundant phlegm, a heavy cloudy head sensation, slowed speech and response, and restless sleep. Tongue coat is thick and greasy. Pulse is slippery. What is the most likely pattern?
Four training angles
Phlegm, Chest Oppression, and Clouded Mind: Pattern
Phlegm, Chest Oppression, and Clouded Mind: Treatment Principle
Phlegm, Chest Oppression, and Clouded Mind: Formula
Phlegm, Chest Oppression, and Clouded Mind: Points
Open the individual question practice pages
Phlegm, Chest Oppression, and Clouded Mind: Pattern
Open to answer first, then reveal the answer and explanation.
Phlegm, Chest Oppression, and Clouded Mind: Treatment Principle
Open to answer first, then reveal the answer and explanation.
Phlegm, Chest Oppression, and Clouded Mind: Formula
Open to answer first, then reveal the answer and explanation.
Phlegm, Chest Oppression, and Clouded Mind: Points
Open to answer first, then reveal the answer and explanation.
Case-to-knowledge links
Greasy Coating
A greasy coating commonly indicates phlegm, dampness, food retention, or other turbid obstruction.
Slippery Pulse
A slippery pulse commonly points to phlegm, dampness, or food retention, and may appear with phlegm-heat patterns as well.
Insomnia
Insomnia may occur in Heart blood deficiency, Heart-Spleen deficiency, yin deficiency heat, or phlegm-heat disturbing the Heart.
Phlegm Misting the Heart Orifices
The key to this pattern is that turbid phlegm blocks the clear orifices and disturbs mental clarity. In exam stems it often appears with chest oppression, abundant sputum, nausea, mental fogginess, greasy coating, and slippery pulse.