Dry, itchy throat, constantly feeling like you have phlegm? Don't jump to the conclusion that it's pharyngitis right away! Traditional Chinese Medicine believes the human body is an organic whole; discomfort in the throat is often a distress signal from other organs. Today, let's talk about which 3 organs might be causing trouble behind the scenes.

The first: Lungs

In traditional Chinese medicine, the lungs and throat are closely connected. If the fluids in the lungs are insufficient—commonly referred to as lung yin deficiency—the throat lacks adequate moisture, leading to dryness, itchiness, and pain, along with frequent coughing, often with yellow phlegm. In such cases, individuals may also experience a dry mouth and constant thirst, hot palms and soles, possible night sweats during sleep, and restless sleep. For this condition, one might consider using Yangyin Qingfei Wan to nourish lung yin.

Second: The Liver

If the liver is out of balance, it can also affect the throat. For instance, when liver qi stagnates in the body, the flow of body fluids is disrupted, making it easier for phlegm-dampness to accumulate. This phlegm-dampness, rising with the liver qi, can cause a sensation of throat obstruction—like having phlegm that’s hard to cough up or swallow, especially noticeable when swallowing saliva. This feeling often worsens during episodes of anger. Additionally, individuals may frequently experience distending pain in the chest and ribs, irritability, a tendency to anger easily, and even insomnia with vivid dreams. The sides of the tongue may appear noticeably swollen. In this case, the focus should be on regulating liver qi, and one might consider using Banxia Houpo Tang with modifications to soothe the liver and regulate qi.

Third: The Spleen and Stomach

The spleen and stomach are like the kitchen brigade in our body; if this brigade slacks off, the body fluids become uncooperative, unable to be excreted and accumulating together, leading to the formation of phlegm-dampness. People in this condition may feel phlegm stuck in their throat, as if they can never clear it, and may also experience a lack of appetite, feeling full after eating just a little, indigestion, bloating, and in severe cases, nausea. Their stool may frequently be loose and sticky, clinging to the toilet bowl. In such cases, we need to strengthen the spleen, resolve phlegm, and dispel dampness. One may consider using Erchen Wan for regulation.

Therefore, when experiencing throat discomfort, don’t focus solely on treating the throat; instead, look for the underlying cause. The content of this article is for informational purposes only. If you experience physical discomfort, please seek medical attention promptly! Do not self-medicate haphazardly, as this may lead to wasted efforts and even delay treatment.