Phlegm and Thyroid: Ancient Chinese Medicine’s Hidden Logic

Explore how Traditional Chinese Medicine interprets thyroid nodules through the ancient concept “百病皆由痰作祟” — “All diseases arise from phlegm.”
This episode translates and explains new research from Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine (2025) on how internal “phlegm”—representing stagnation of qi, blood, and fluids—links emotional stress to endocrine imbalance. We unpack key treatment strategies like 化痰消瘿 (huà tán xiāo yǐng), “resolving phlegm and dispersing swellings,” and show how TCM integrates the mind, organs, and emotions into one continuous healing system. Join us for a deep look at how ancient medical philosophy still offers insight into stress, metabolism, and balance in the modern world.

Time Codes
00:00 - Phlegm, Mind, and Balance
00:04 - INTRODUCTION
00:58 - SEGMENT 1: BACKGROUND — A MODERN ENDOCRINE PUZZLE
01:41 - SEGMENT 2: THE ROOT THEORY (“百病皆由痰作祟” Bǎi bìng jiē yóu tán zuòsuì)
02:43 - SEGMENT 3: EMOTIONS AND ORGANS — THE PATH OF “PHLEGM-SPIRIT”
03:47 - SEGMENT 4: TREATMENT PRINCIPLES (“化痰消瘿” Huà tán xiāo yǐng”)
05:29 - SEGMENT 5: REFLECTING ON THE PHLEGM METAPHOR
05:59 - SEGMENT 6: CASE INSIGHTS
06:37 - CONCLUSION

Phlegm theory 痰论, Thyroid nodules 甲状腺结节, #TraditionalChineseMedicine 中医, Qi stagnation 气滞, Liver-spleen imbalance 肝脾失调
Herbal therapy 中药疗法, Yin-yang balance 阴阳平衡, Holistic healing 整体治疗, Huà tán xiāo yǐng 化痰消瘿, Emotional regulation 情志调理, TCM metaphors 中医隐喻, Energy medicine 气的医学, Integrative endocrinology 中西医结合, Chinese herbs 中药, Mind-body connection 身心合一

B-Roll
A Beginner's Guide To Traditional Chinese Medicine - Food Stories.webm
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=chinese+medicine&title=Special:MediaSearch&type=video