Talk:Phlegm
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Are there any ill-effects to swallowing phlegm? Yes, hook worms.Aaronchall 03:31, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
Swallowing phlegm does not directly make you sicker, but you will be consuming the bacteria residing in the phlegm. That doesn't exactly make the recovery process any easier.
Is it best to cough up phlegm, or leave it to do whatever it does?
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[edit] Phlegm vs. Sputum
This article refers (but does not link) to Sputum, any reason for that? Also the difference is not entirely clear even when reading both articles. Clarification would be much appreciated.
- From a quick read of Dictionary.com, it appears sputum is *any* matter that is coughed up, including saliva and foreign material. Whereas phlegm is specifically a thick, sticky, stringy mucus secreted by the mucous membrane. It would seem phlegm is just one form of sputum.
[edit] Solid Phlegm?
Does anybody know if what I am coughing up is solid phlegm, I'd like to know if it safe to Cough up because I'm worried I might not be coughing up phlegm. It's yellow and hard and it smells terribly. Can anyone help me on this? --Jack Cox 14:12, 15 September 2005 (UTC)
- These may be Tonsilloliths.
[edit] Commercial link?
The link to the Traditional Medicine article seems somewhat inappropriate to me. Not that we should have a bias against Chinese medicine, but having the only link be to such, as well as the fact that the author has businesses selling herbal products, seems against the spirit of Wiki.
From his site:
"Subhuti Dharmananda helped initiate People's Herbs Incorporated, All-The-Tea Company, and Dharma Consulting International. . ."
[edit] Brownish gray phlegm
I added the information on this variant because I researched everything I could find on the Web and couldn't find any other references to it. When I saw my pulmonary specialist yesterday (I have COPD), I finally got an answer on it. I added it so that the next person who is worried has at least one place on the Web where they can find an answer to what it is they are coughing up. No general doctors could tell me what it was.
[edit] Photo
Please don't include a photo. Ever. ;) 65.92.207.152 00:10, 29 July 2006 (UTC)
Why not? Just because it's disgusting doesn't mean that there shouldn't be a photo of it. Klosterdev 13:28, 9 September 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Phlem
Is it okay to omit the G, as it isn't necessary?
[edit] Hazardous to dogs?
I find the claim extremely dubious, and I put a sources tag on til someone can back this up with veterinary sources.
