Phlegm-Dampness Obstructing tán shī nèi zǔ · 痰湿内阻

What it describes: heaviness, a muzzy or foggy head, a feeling of fullness, a sticky taste in the mouth, loose or sluggish stools - grouped as phlegm and dampness obstructing the interior.

Note this carefully: the word phlegm here is a theoretical category, not sputum you can see. This is one of the most common sources of confusion for English readers, and one of the most common claims in health advertising.

How it is read: as a pattern of several symptoms taken together. Claims such as 'removes dampness' by themselves carry no measurable meaning and should not be treated as a diagnosis.