12/05/2025
🍂As a Naturopathy I follow the ancient Greek philosophy and teaching of the Humeral System in the body, and as a TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) Acupuncturist I combine this knowledge during my assessment. Here is an example of what I do!. 🍂
** This is an Example of 1 of 4 Temperaments: *known as Phlegmatic or Lymphatic Temperament**
🌬️ The Phlegmatic Trap: When Chill Turns to Chill-OUT 🛋️
Meet Penelope "Penny" Vance, a classic example of the Lymphatic (Phlegmatic) Temperament. She's naturally calm, reliable, and peace-loving... but her lifestyle is turning her stability into stagnation!
❄️ Penny's Natural Temperament (Water/Cool)
Vibe: Patient, easygoing, the ultimate peacekeeper.
The Struggle: Needs a lot of motivation to start, resists change, prone to inertia.
🥶 3 Ways Her Lifestyle Makes It Worse
The Lymphatic type thrives on movement and warmth. Penny's habits are all about Cold and Dampness, reinforcing her inertia:
🍔 The Cold & Damp Diet:
Habit: Constant cold, heavy, and mucus-forming foods (ice cream, cheese, cold drinks).
Effect: Suppresses her already low internal fire, leading to physical heaviness and a constant "sluggish" feeling. 😴
🛋️ Stagnant Work Routine:
Habit: Working from home with zero external pressure, relying on passive entertainment (binge-watching).
Effect: Her natural inertia takes over. No deadlines = extreme procrastination and a sense of feeling mentally "foggy." 🌫️
🚫 Avoidance & Clutter:
Habit: Avoiding conflicts and letting clutter pile up in her environment.
Effect: The physical mess mirrors her internal life. Emotional energy stagnates, leading to deep indecision and an inability to find motivation. 📉
⚠️ The Unbalanced Outcome
Penny's peaceful nature has become apathy. She's stuck, physically heavy, mentally slow, and struggling to turn her stability into action.
👉 If you relate to Penny, you need to introduce WARMTH and DRYNESS! Think spices, movement, deadlines, and a good spring clean.
🚀 Unstuck: The Phlegmatic Prescription! 🔥
If you're a Phlegmatic like Penny (calm, patient, but prone to inertia and sluggishness), your goal is to light a fire and dry up the dampness! 💧➡️☀️
Here are 5 traditional ways to ignite your inner motivation and balance the lymphatic temperament:
1. 🔥 Heat Up Your Plate (Diet)
The Fix: Swap cold, creamy foods for warm, spiced, and dry options!
Action: Add ginger, cinnamon, cayenne, and black pepper to your meals. Favor warm soups, stews, roasted vegetables, and lean, dry proteins (like grilled fish).
🚫 Avoid: Ice cream, heavy dairy, cold salads, and excessive white bread/sugar, which are traditionally considered "damp" and cause sluggishness.
2. 🤸 Move That Lymph! (Exercise)
The Fix: The lymphatic system has no pump—you are the pump!
Action: Choose activities that are vigorous and stimulating, like brisk jogging, cycling, or fitness classes with fun, high-energy music. Even 10-15 minutes of jumping (rebounding/trampoline) is great for circulation!
Bonus: Try dry brushing before your shower to manually stimulate circulation and move stagnant energy.
3. ⏰ Create Intentional Pressure (Work/Routine)
The Fix: Phlegmatics need external pressure to overcome inertia.
Action: Set strict deadlines, even for minor tasks. Work in a slightly warmer environment. Use the Pomodoro Technique (short bursts of intense focus followed by a break) to kickstart movement and prevent procrastination paralysis.
Tip: Clean and declutter your workspace—a dry, organized environment mirrors a clear mind.
4. 🗣️ Practice Assertiveness (Emotional)
The Fix: Your peace-at-all-costs mentality leads to emotional stagnation.
Action: Schedule a time to address one avoided conflict each week. Practice expressing your needs using "I" statements in low-stakes situations. Don't suppress or "stuff" feelings; let that emotional steam out in a healthy way!
5. ☀️ Embrace the Warmth (Environment)
The Fix: Seek out warm, bright spaces to counteract your natural coolness.
Action: Take a warm bath, use a sauna/steam room (sparingly, to dry out, not just add moisture!), and wear warmer, brighter colors (red, yellow, orange). Avoid staying in cold, damp basements or rooms.
🔥 IGNITE YOUR FIRE! Which adjustment are you trying first to get UNSTUCK?
🌎 Phlegmatic: TCM Analogy (In a Nutshell!) 🍎The Lymphatic (Phlegmatic) person is Cold & Damp leading to Stagnation (like a sleepy swamp!). 😴In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this state is best matched by the pattern of Spleen Qi Deficiency with Phlegm-Dampness.
The Solution? 🔥 HEAT & MOVEMENT!
Both TCM and Humorism tell Penny the same thing: You need to introduce Warmth and Dryness through spicy food and vigorous exercise to wake up that inner flow! 🚀
** Disclaimer: The following is fictitious and for information purposes, this article is not meant to diagnose or prescribe **
Michele Arseneault, D.N.M, RMT, TCM Ac
