Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) labels for obesity: phlegm-dampness, qi deficiency, yang deficiency, blood stasis, and spleen excess.

The kidneys are the root of phlegm production.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that "the kidney is the water organ, governing body fluids," and that governing body fluids is one of the important physiological functions of the kidney.

First, this function is mainly accomplished through the qi transformation function of the kidneys, which is manifested in the following aspects:

(1) Ascending the clear and descending the turbid: The qi transformation of the kidney causes the clear qi to rise to the lungs, be distributed throughout the body, and nourish the internal organs.

In the lungs, this process is called "ascending the clear." The turbid substances descend through the lungs to the kidneys, where they are further transformed by the kidneys' qi.

The clear portion of the turbid fluid is allowed to return to the lungs via the spleen to exert its nourishing function; the turbid portion of the turbid fluid is then expelled through the bladder.

In addition, this process is called turbidity reduction, thus maintaining the dynamic balance of the water.

(2) Controlling the opening and closing of the bladder: The opening and closing of the bladder depends on the qi transformation function of the kidney. The qi transformation function of the kidney is normal.

Normally, the opening and closing are appropriate. Opening allows metabolic waste products to be excreted; closing allows the body to retain the water it needs.

It can be stored.

(3) Promote the qi transformation function of the lungs, spleen, liver, and triple burner: Kidney yang is the root of yang qi in the whole body.

The spleen's functions of transportation and transformation, the lung's functions of dispersing and descending, and the triple burner's functions of regulating water metabolism all depend on the function of kidney yang to exert their proper effects.

Normal functions.

"The kidneys govern water; when water overflows, it becomes phlegm, and the root of phlegm lies in the kidneys." Phlegm is water, and its origin lies in...

The kidneys. The kidneys are closely related to body fluids, essence, water, and blood. Deficiency of kidney essence and qi leads to insufficient nourishment of the internal organs.

When the body's warming and promoting functions are weakened, the lungs lose their ability to disperse and descend qi, the spleen fails to transport and transform, and the stomach fails to distribute and overflow, thus obstructing the flow of food essence.

Microorganisms cannot properly distribute fluids throughout the body, leading to stagnation of body fluids, the generation of dampness and phlegm, and blood stasis; secondly, it leads to fluid depletion.

Deficiency of body fluids leads to impaired distribution, causing fluid retention and condensation, resulting in phlegm and blood stasis. Alternatively, deficiency of Yang may cause coldness, resulting in insufficient warming and nourishing properties.

Cold congeals the blood vessels, causing blood to stagnate and form blood stasis and phlegm.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the kidneys are the "foundation of innate essence," the first organ to form in the body, and the organs they store are the foundation of life.

The essence of heaven refers to what we call innate endowment. It is inherited from the reproductive essence of the parents and is present at birth.

From the very beginning of the human body's formation, the essence is inherited from the parents and stored in the kidneys, forming the basis of human life.

The fundamental nature of obesity is determined by one's physical constitution, and body shape is influenced by innate endowment. A congenital deficiency of kidney essence is a cause of obesity.

One of the important reasons.

"Kidney deficiency is the root of all diseases, while strong kidneys eliminate all diseases." The kidneys are the foundation of the internal organs and also the center of the twelve meridians.

The root. The kidneys are the root of the yin and yang of the internal organs and the source of life. The most fundamental yin and yang of the human body is what we call...

Both "original yin" and "original yang" reside within the kidneys, serving as the source of primordial qi. Primordial qi is essential for human life activities.

The driving force has the function of stimulating and promoting the functions of various organs. "Although the Qi of the spleen and stomach fills the spleen and stomach, it is actually..."

It originates within the two kidneys; without the water element of the kidneys, the stomach's energy cannot rise... Only with the two energies of kidney water and fire...

"Only then can the Qi of the spleen and stomach rise and not descend." The spleen's function of transforming and transporting Qi and blood depends on the warming effect of the kidney Yang.

Therefore, there is a saying that "the spleen's yang originates from the kidney's yang." A physician named Xu Shuwei once said: "The innate essence..."

It resides in the kidneys, which are the root of the whole body. Kidney yang is the foundation of spleen yang, and spleen yang needs the nourishment of kidney yang.

Only then can the body function properly. Therefore, when kidney yang is weak, spleen earth fails to function properly. When the fire of the kidney's gate of life is weak and cannot generate earth, then there is nothing at the bottom of the pot.

Firewood cannot be properly fermented; if the kidneys are not firm, the spleen will not be able to ascend the clear qi, ultimately leading to impaired spleen function and obesity. If the kidneys...

When the Yang Qi in the middle Jiao (middle burner) is damaged, the Yang Qi in other organs cannot be properly generated, thus affecting the control of obesity in the body.

Being overweight plays a decisive role.

What are the TCM labels for obese people?

Similar to Western medicine, obesity also has different characteristics in traditional Chinese medicine theory. During the Qin and Han dynasties...

Many medical professionals developed a preliminary understanding of obesity, and the mainstream view at this time was that obesity was related to poor diet.

The two are closely related. Based on the constitution and clinical manifestations of obese individuals, it is believed that phlegm-dampness and blood stasis can lead to...

The occurrence of obesity. During the Song, Jin, and Yuan dynasties, there was relatively in-depth research on the constitutional classification of obesity, and at the same time...

Obesity can be categorized into deficiency and excess patterns. Research during this period focused on two main causes: obesity due to qi deficiency and obesity due to phlegm and dampness.

By the Ming and Qing dynasties, physicians had a more detailed and comprehensive understanding of obesity. Looking at physicians throughout history...

According to this viewpoint, obese people exhibit characteristics such as phlegm-dampness, qi deficiency, yang deficiency, blood stasis, and spleen excess, and these symptoms...

Hou Changjian and others coexist.

Many people have phlegm and dampness.

This means that obese people are prone to phlegm and dampness. This kind of obesity is not a normal plumpness, but rather a condition caused by phlegm.

This is caused by excessive dampness. Zhu Danxi, one of the four great masters of the Jin and Yuan dynasties, first proposed the concept of "fatness" in his book "Danxi's Essential Methods of Treatment".

The view that "white people tend to have more phlegm and dampness" was later elaborated upon and supported by physicians of the past, forming a unique characteristic of traditional Chinese medicine.

The theory states: "Obese people tend to have more phlegm and dampness." The *Zhang Yuqing Medical Case Records* also states: "Those with a plump physique tend to have more dampness and phlegm."

Obese people often have insufficient Yang energy. When Yang energy is insufficient, Yin and cold easily accumulate in the body.

Therefore, the body cannot effectively transport and vaporize fluids, causing them to remain in the body.

The stagnation of bodily fluids is abnormal; over time, phlegm and dampness will form. - Pu Fu, a renowned modern traditional Chinese medicine doctor.

Zhou also believed that: "Those who can eat a lot and become fat are physically strong; those who eat little and become fat are not strong, but rather suffer from phlegm."

Obese people are most afraid of feeling their skin as soft as cotton when pressed.

Fat people are often angry

This means that obese people generally have insufficient Qi (vital energy). Qi plays an important role in the basic theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Qi is considered the fundamental substance that provides the driving force for human life activities, including the internal organs and meridians.

The functions of the body, organs, and orifices all require the stimulation and impetus of Qi to perform their respective functions.

It has a certain effect. Therefore, when a person's Qi is insufficient, it cannot effectively promote the body's response to...

The absorption of nutrients and the excretion of waste products lead to their accumulation in the body, causing...

obesity.

Yuan Dynasty scholar Zhu Danxi stated in his *Danxi's Essentials of Treatment*: "A plump, pale-skinned person who is lethargic and listless is suffering from qi deficiency." (Ming Dynasty)

Yu Tuan also clearly pointed out in his "Medical Orthodox Transmission: Sores and Ulcers" that "obese people are probably suffering from qi deficiency with phlegm."

The classic Chinese medicine text, *Huangdi Neijing*, states: "Those who are plump and have a radiant complexion have abundant qi and blood; those who are plump but lack radiance have deficient qi."

Those with excess blood but insufficient blood; those who are thin and lack luster have both insufficient qi and blood.

Obese people often have yang deficiency.

Traditional Chinese medicine has a theory called "Yang transforms into Qi, Yin forms into shape," which means that the Yang Qi in the human body...

When this is insufficient, Yang cannot properly transform Qi, and insufficient "Yang Qi transformation" leads to "Yin essence."

The generation of waste. This is actually based on the same principle mentioned earlier: the accumulation of unnecessary substances in the body.

Excessive accumulation, whether of nutrients or waste products such as phlegm and dampness, can lead to health problems.

It can lead to obesity.

The Qing Dynasty physician Zhang Xugu said in his book "Medical Advice": "If the body is plump and fair-skinned, with tender skin and loose muscles, and the pulse..."

Large and soft, though the patient eats a lot, he drools daily; this indicates a constitution of excessive Yin and deficient Yang. "There was also a physician named Jinzi..."

Later, in his book "Medical Collection", he also mentioned: "Plump and voluptuous body, soft and white skin, yang..."

He clearly has a weak constitution, is physically robust, and seems to suffer from Yang deficiency. He has a fondness for tea and alcohol, which suggests internal dampness, with a predominance of damp phlegm.

There is no loss.

Obese people often have blood stasis

Blood stasis, as the name suggests, refers to abnormal blood circulation and stagnation in the body. The physician Yu Tuan described this in his medical text...

The *Xue Zheng Chuan* states: "Thick and sticky body fluids become phlegm and fluid retention; over time, they seep into the blood vessels, making the blood turbid." This is...

What does this mean? It means that the body's fluids and blood originate from the same source and can complement each other.

Normal bodily functions are closely related to the metabolism of body fluids. We previously mentioned that obese people often have phlegm and dampness, and...

"When phlegm and dampness accumulate internally, blood stasis occurs." Obese people often have both phlegm and blood stasis.

Obese people often have strong spleens

Traditional Chinese medicine distinguishes between deficiency syndromes and excess syndromes. Obese people often have an excess spleen, meaning that the spleen of obese individuals is often solid.

Evidence. The *Huangdi Neijing·Lingshu* clearly points out the excess of the spleen: "The spleen stores the *ying* (nutritive qi), which houses the mind; the spleen *qi*..."

When the spleen is deficient, the limbs become weak and the five internal organs are uneasy; when it is excessive, abdominal distension and difficulty in menstruation and urination occur. In other words, when the spleen is excessive, it will...

Abdominal distension is a symptom; the spleen governs the flesh, and a strong spleen indicates excess flesh and a bulky appearance. (The famous physician we mentioned earlier...)

Li Dongyuan made significant contributions to the theory of the spleen and stomach. In his work "Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach," he pointed out: "The spleen and stomach..."

When both spleen and stomach are strong, one can eat a lot and become fat; when both spleen and stomach are weak, one cannot eat and becomes thin; or one can eat little but become fat, though the limbs are weak.

The presence of this condition indicates a robust spleen and an excess of pathogenic factors. This suggests that regardless of the amount of food consumed by obese individuals, a robust spleen can be observed.

A real phenomenon.

In reality, obese people may have only one type of characteristic, or they may have multiple characteristics at the same time.

Whether viewed from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine or Western medicine, obesity, besides congenital factors, is related to our diet,

Exercise and other lifestyle habits are inextricably linked; therefore, cultivating good lifestyle habits is crucial for prevention.

Preventing obesity is of great significance.