Chronic Cough · Phlegm-Dampness Accumulation in the Lung Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Chest

Pattern Overview

Phlegm-Dampness Accumulation in the Lung is a common pattern in chronic cough, characterized by airway mucus hypersecretion, cough with profuse white sputum, chest tightness, and poor appetite. The core pathogenesis is Spleen deficiency generating Dampness, which accumulates in the Lung, leading to mucus hypersecretion and cough.

Chronic Cough · Phlegm-Heat Stagnation in the Lung Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Chest

Pattern Overview

Phlegm-Heat Stagnation in the Lung is a common pattern in chronic cough, characterized by chronic airway inflammation, cough with yellow thick sputum, chest fullness, and feverish sensation. The core pathogenesis is Phlegm transforming into Heat and stagnating in the Lung, leading to airway inflammation, mucus hypersecretion, and cough.

Chronic Cough · Wind-Cold Attacking the Lung Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Chest

Pattern Overview

Wind-Cold Attacking the Lung is a common pattern in chronic cough, characterized by cold air-induced cough, white thin sputum, aggravation by cold, and nasal congestion with clear discharge. The core pathogenesis is invasion of Wind-Cold pathogens into the Lung, causing Lung Qi to fail to descend, leading to cough and airway hyperresponsiveness.

Chronic Cough · Wind-Heat Invading the Lung Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Chest

Pattern Overview

Wind-Heat Invading the Lung is a common pattern in chronic cough, characterized by post-infectious cough, yellow thick sputum, sore throat, and fever with aversion to wind. The core pathogenesis is invasion of Wind-Heat pathogens into the Lung, causing Lung Qi to fail to clear and descend, leading to cough and airway inflammation.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome · Damp-Heat Obstruction Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Whole Body

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Obstruction is a pattern in chronic fatigue syndrome, characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation, fatigue, heavy sensation, and sticky mouth. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the body, leading to obstruction of Qi flow, chronic inflammation, and systemic fatigue.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome · Kidney Yang Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Whole Body

Pattern Overview

Kidney Yang Deficiency is a severe deficiency pattern in chronic fatigue syndrome, characterized by HPA axis dysfunction, fatigue, cold intolerance, frequent urination, and reduced metabolic rate. The core pathogenesis is insufficient Kidney Yang failing to warm the body, leading to reduced energy production, cold sensitivity, and systemic fatigue.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome · Liver Qi Stagnation Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Whole Body

Pattern Overview

Liver Qi Stagnation is a common pattern in chronic fatigue syndrome, characterized by chronic stress-induced fatigue, HPA axis and autonomic dysfunction, and 5-HT/DA neurotransmitter imbalance. The core pathogenesis is chronic psychological stress causing Liver Qi stagnation, leading to Qi obstruction, systemic fatigue, and mood disturbance.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome · Qi-Blood Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Whole Body

Pattern Overview

Qi-Blood Deficiency is a chronic pattern in chronic fatigue syndrome, characterized by anemia or subclinical anemia, fatigue, pale complexion, poor sleep, and impaired immune function. The core pathogenesis is insufficient Qi and Blood to nourish the body, leading to reduced energy production, poor tissue perfusion, and systemic fatigue.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome · Spleen-Qi Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Whole Body

Pattern Overview

Spleen-Qi Deficiency is a core pattern in chronic fatigue syndrome, characterized by mitochondrial energy dysfunction, fatigue, poor appetite, loose stools, and weakness. The core pathogenesis is insufficient Spleen Qi failing to generate adequate Qi and Blood, leading to reduced energy production, muscle weakness, and systemic fatigue.

Chronic Gastritis · Blood Stasis in the Stomach Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Blood Stasis in the Stomach is a chronic pattern in advanced chronic gastritis, characterized by gastric mucosal microcirculatory disturbance, epigastric stabbing pain, worse at night, and fixed location. The core pathogenesis is prolonged disease causing blood stasis in the gastric collaterals, leading to microcirculatory disturbance, impaired epithelial renewal, atrophy, and intestinal metaplasia.

Chronic Gastritis · Damp-Heat Middle Obstruction Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Middle Obstruction is a common pattern in chronic gastritis, characterized by H. pylori-related inflammation, epigastric pain, sticky mouth, nausea, and poor appetite. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the middle Jiao, causing gastric mucosal inflammation, oxidative stress, and pain.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Chronic Gastritis · Liver-Stomach Qi Stagnation Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Liver-Stomach Qi Stagnation is a common pattern in chronic gastritis, characterized by stress-induced gastric mucosal ischemia, epigastric pain, bloating, belching, and aggravation with stress. The core pathogenesis is emotional stress causing Liver Qi stagnation, which invades the Stomach, leading to Qi dysfunction, mucosal ischemia, and pain.

Chronic Gastritis · Spleen-Stomach Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Spleen-Stomach Deficiency is a common pattern in chronic gastritis, characterized by gastric mucosal atrophy, epigastric pain, poor appetite, fatigue, and loose stools. The core pathogenesis is Spleen and Stomach Qi deficiency failing to transform and transport, leading to mucosal atrophy, reduced gastric secretion, and digestive dysfunction.

Chronic Gastritis · Stomach-Yin Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Stomach-Yin Deficiency is a chronic pattern in chronic gastritis, characterized by gastric mucosal atrophy, epigastric pain, dry mouth, poor appetite, and heat in palms and soles. The core pathogenesis is insufficient Stomach-Yin failing to moisten the mucosa, leading to mucosal atrophy, reduced gastric secretion, and impaired repair.

Chronic Pharyngitis · Liver-Qi Stagnation Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Liver-Qi Stagnation is a common pattern in chronic pharyngitis, characterized by globus sensation (plum pit qi), foreign body sensation in the throat, aggravation with stress, chest tightness, and frequent sighing. The core pathogenesis is emotional stress causing Liver-Qi stagnation, leading to Phlegm-Qi obstruction in the throat and autonomic dysfunction.

Chronic Pharyngitis · Lung-Kidney Yin Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Lung-Kidney Yin Deficiency is the core pattern in chronic pharyngitis, characterized by pharyngeal mucosal atrophy, dry throat with mild pain, dry cough with scanty sputum, afternoon aggravation, and hoarseness. The core pathogenesis is Lung-Kidney Yin deficiency with deficiency fire blazing upward, causing pharyngeal mucosal atrophy, reduced glandular secretion, and chronic irritation.

Chronic Pharyngitis · Phlegm-Blood Stasis Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Phlegm-Blood Stasis is a common pattern in chronic pharyngitis, characterized by lymphoid follicle hyperplasia on the posterior pharyngeal wall, foreign body sensation, sticky sputum, hoarseness, and dark red pharynx. The core pathogenesis is Phlegm-Dampness congealing and Blood stasis intermingling in the throat, causing lymphoid follicle hyperplasia, lymphatic tissue proliferation, and local microcirculatory disturbance.

Chronic Pharyngitis · Spleen-Stomach Weakness Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Spleen-Stomach Weakness is a common pattern in chronic pharyngitis, characterized by reduced pharyngeal mucosal immune function, dry throat, fatigue, poor appetite, and loose stools. The core pathogenesis is Spleen-Stomach deficiency failing to transform and transport, leading to reduced immune function, impaired mucosal barrier, and chronic throat irritation.

Chronic Prostatitis · Damp-Heat Downpour Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Pelvis

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Downpour is a common pattern in chronic prostatitis, characterized by prostatic inflammation with bacterial colonization, perineal pain, burning urination, yellow or purulent urethral discharge, and urinary frequency. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the lower Jiao, causing prostatic inflammation, bacterial colonization, and urethral irritation.

Chronic Prostatitis · Kidney Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Pelvis

Pattern Overview

Kidney Deficiency is a chronic pattern in chronic prostatitis, characterized by neuroendocrine dysfunction with sexual symptoms, chronic prostatitis, fatigue, low back soreness, erectile dysfunction, and frequent urination. The core pathogenesis is Kidney deficiency failing to nourish the prostate and lower Jiao, leading to neuroendocrine dysfunction, sexual symptoms, and chronic inflammation.