Abstract
Phlegm in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a sign for various problems caused by disturbance in fluid metabolism. We describe an example of using TCM concepts in combination with modern medicine investigations to diagnose pulmonary thrombo-emboli. A 71-year-old man with previous history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heavy smoking and thrombosis in left leg vessels presented with signs and symptoms of lung infection. He was initially considered to be treated for pneumonia. Despite anticoagulant therapy his INR (international normalized ratio) was lower than expected. In addition on tongue examination we found a sign in TCM: dark reddish purple tongue with a thick greasy coat. Based on this clue we suspected that “blood stasis” could be the probable underlying cause for this condition. This primary diagnosis was confirmed by investigations including computed tomography-scan and doppler ultrasound. This sign helped us to think that thrombosis could be the possible cause for changes of tongue.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
