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Copious Sputum

How Chinese medicine differentiates excessive sputum into the five patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Distinct from this site's Chronic Cough, Chronic Bronchitis and Postnasal Drip pages. Acupuncture only — no herbs.

This page is educational, for practitioners and students — it is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace a proper in-person assessment. Persistent copious sputum with blood, fever, weight loss or breathlessness needs a chest assessment.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for copious sputum — 3 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

PointKey action
BL-13Stimulates the diffusing and descending of Lung-Qi. Expels external Wind. Regulates Nutritive and Defensive Qi.
ST-40Resolves Phlegm and Dampness. Opens the chest and subdues rebellious Qi. Promotes the descending of Lung-Qi and stops cough.
ST-36Benefits Stomach and Spleen. Tonifies Qi and Blood. Tonifies the Original Qi.
The Five Patterns

↑ reinforcing   ↓ reducing   ⊥ even method.

1. Damp-Phlegm in the Lungs View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Copious white sticky phlegm that is easy to expectorate; chest heaviness; poor appetite; bloating; loose stools.
Tongue: Pale, swollen, tooth-marked, thick white greasy coat. Pulse: Slippery.
Treatment principle: Dries Dampness, transforms Phlegm and regulates Qi.
BL-13 ↑ ST-40 ↓ LU-1 ↓ LU-7 ⊥ ST-36 ↑
Note: moxa is appropriate.

2. Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Copious yellow or green sticky phlegm that is hard to expel; chest oppression; heat sensation; wheezing; restlessness; irritability.
Tongue: Red, yellow greasy coat, possibly swollen with red prickles. Pulse: Slippery and rapid.
Treatment principle: Clears Heat, transforms Phlegm and descends Lung Qi.
BL-13 ↓ ST-40 ↓ LU-5 ↓
Note: no moxa.

3. Spleen Deficiency with Dampness

Clinical manifestations: Watery white phlegm that keeps being produced; body and limb heaviness; abdominal bloating worse after eating; loose stools; fatigue.
Tongue: Pale, swollen, tooth-marked, white greasy coat. Pulse: Soggy, slow and weak.
Treatment principle: Tonifies Spleen Qi, dries Dampness and reduces Phlegm at its source.
ST-36 ↑ ST-40 ↓ BL-20 ↑
Note: Mixed Deficiency/Excess. No deck slide combines Spleen deficiency with Dampness — no pattern link is given here.

4. Phlegm-Dampness in the Middle Burner

Clinical manifestations: White sticky phlegm, worse after eating; epigastric fullness and bloating; limb heaviness; greasy mouth; bland taste; loose sticky stools.
Tongue: Pale, swollen, tooth-marked, thick white greasy, excessively moist coat. Pulse: Slippery, may be slow or soggy.
Treatment principle: Dries Dampness, transforms Phlegm and regulates the Middle Burner.
ST-36 ↑ ST-40 ↓ REN-12 ↑
Note: This site's decks have no Phlegm-Dampness-in-the-Middle-Burner slide — no pattern link is given here.

5. Liver Fire Insulting the Lungs View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Bitter taste; yellow thick phlegm, copious during flare-ups; rib pain and distension worse with cough; irritability; facial redness; dry throat and mouth.
Tongue: Red with distinctly redder sides, thin dry yellow coat. Pulse: Wiry and rapid, prominent at the left middle position.
Treatment principle: Drains Liver Fire, clears Lung Heat and restores the descent of Qi.
LIV-3 ↓ ST-40 ↓ BL-13 ↓ G.B.-34 ↓
Note: no moxa.
Related conditions
Chronic Cough Chronic Bronchitis Postnasal Drip

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Acupuncture-only reference — structure adapted (not text) from how other condition-lookup sites organize this kind of content. Let us know what to add or change.