Phlegm and nodules

"Phlegm and nodules" is a pathological concept and diagnostic syndrome within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) rather than a discrete molecular target like a protein, enzyme, or receptor. This syndrome arises from the stagnation of 'qi' and body fluids, which leads to the accumulation of 'phlegm'—a term in TCM referring to both visible secretions and invisible pathological fluids—eventually manifesting as physical masses, lumps, or nodules in tissues such as the thyroid, breast, or lymph nodes. In clinical practice, therapeutic strategies focus on "resolving phlegm and dissipating nodules" using complex herbal formulations (e.g., Danlou tablets or Xiaolai pills) or acupuncture. While some herbal compounds used to treat this condition have been studied for their effects on molecular pathways like apoptosis and angiogenesis, the term itself describes a clinical presentation and a multi-factorial syndrome rather than a single therapeutic target.

Other names

Tan JieTan HePhlegm-nodule syndromePhlegm-qi stagnationMass accumulation

Softening hardness, dissipating masses, and regulating the flow of qi and blood to resolve fluid stagnation.