Author: Tang Yulan, TCM Practitioner (Apprentice) (Practice License Number: 341431381000002) This article is written by Dr. Tang Yulan, based on classical TCM theories and clinical experience, and is intended for popular science reference only. The practice qualifications can be verified on the official website of the National Health Commission of China.
Have you ever noticed a curious phenomenon: those who are accustomed to clearing their throats and feel as if they have phlegm often find that the more they forcefully "cough—ha—", the more pronounced the sensation of something stuck in their throat becomes? This is no illusion. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) holds that this action itself may be exacerbating the root cause of the problem—because clearing your throat is not "expectorating", but rather a repeated irritation of the pharyngeal mucosa, which may even disturb the internal Qi flow. So, what kind of body code is hidden behind this seemingly simple sensation of having phlegm?
Maihe Qi: The "Imaginary Enemy" of Phlegm
If you always feel as if there is something stuck in your throat, neither coughing it out nor swallowing it, but when checked, there is no actual phlegm—this is likely not real phlegm, but...