What symptom often indicates the presence of phlegm damp obstructing the LU?

Coughing up phlegm is a primary symptom associated with phlegm damp obstructing the lungs. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the presence of phlegm damp indicates a pathological condition where excess moisture and phlegm accumulate in the body, often due to impaired digestion, leading to difficulties in the respiratory system. The lungs are particularly affected because they govern the dispersal and descending of Qi and fluids. When phlegm damp accumulates in the lungs, it can manifest as a productive cough where the individual frequently coughs up phlegm. This symptom is directly related to the obstruction that phlegm damp causes in the lung meridian, affecting the organ's ability to function properly.

Other symptoms might arise from different conditions or imbalances, but coughing up phlegm is specifically indicative of the obstruction caused by phlegm damp in the lungs. This distinction is essential for diagnosis and treatment in TCM practices.