Different smells, different problems - TCM perspective

TCM healers start observing an analyzing from the time a client first walks
in the door. Does the person move slowly (possible Cold imbalance) or
rapidly (possible Heat imbalance)? Is the person's voice loud and forceful
(possible Excess) or quiet and hesitant (possible Deficiency)? Is the
complexion reddish (Heat), pale (possible Qi, Blood, or Yang Deficiency), or
yellowish (possible Dampness)? Or, are just the cheeks red or there's a
mottled redness in the face (possible Yin Deficiency)?

One of the things that the healer will be noting are any unusual smells.

The " Cliff Notes " version of the correspondences between the 5 Elements and
smells are Wood - rancid, Fire - burned or scorched, Earth - sweet, Metal -
rank, and Water - rotten or putrid.

These are just general guidelines. What these often translate to is a
rancid smell often will point to stagnation of Heat in the Liver. The Liver
is Yin Wood; the Gallbladder is Yang Wood.

A burned or scorched smell about the person often will point to Heart Fire.
The Heart is Yin Fire; the Small Intestine is Yang Fire.

A sweet smell often points to Spleen Deficiency and/or Dampness problems.
The Spleen (often called the Spleen-Pancreas by Western writers) is Yin
Earth; the Stomach is Yang Earth.

A rank smell often means chronic Phlegm retention in the Lungs. The Lungs
are Yin Metal; the Large Intestine is Yang Metal.

A rotten or putrid smell often points to Damp Heat in the Kidneys and/or
Bladder. The Kidneys are Yin Water; the Bladder is Yang Water.

These are very general guidelines to start out with. There are exceptions.
There is also fine-tuning. For example, Maciocia associates a leathery
smell with Damp Heat. A fishy smell often means Damp Cold (though not
always). (Foundations of , p. 30 and p. 153).

Healers also consider if the smell is generalized (permeates the entire
person and his/her clothes), or if the smell is localized (breath, urine,
feces, sputum from the lungs, mucus from the nose).

Maciocia adds that any strong, foul smell can indicate Heat in the body.
Stools or urine that has a strong smell usually will indicate Heat problems.
In the case of urine, a strong, foul smell also indicates Dampness
problems in the body.

The absence of smell can be Cold. One reason that there may be an absence
of any smell in some Cold conditions is that the Cold closes the pores.
There is no perspiration.

In contrast to Maciocia who associates a fishy odor with Damp Cold, Warner
J.W. Fan, MD, in A Manual of Chinese Herbal Medicine says that fishy and
malodorous sputum can indicate Heat in the Lungs.

Roger Wicke, PhD, in his first text books recognizes that when sweat smells
like fish, this can indicate Wind and Dampness or Stagnated Heat. Wicke
associates a general Body Odor with Heat, " sometimes with local infection. "
Bad breath can be caused by " tooth deay, gum degeneration and infection,
smoking, indigestion from Stomach Heat. " Wicke associates a rotting smell
not just with possible Kidney/ Bladder imbalances but with any " severe Organ
or Blood disharmony, internal abscesses. " (p. 178)

The reason why there are differences in terminology among authors is that
terminology for different smells can differ among individuals. The
experience of the smell also can differ among individuals (Just like the
taste of some herbs and foods can.) Everyone knows what a burned or
scorched smell is. The same for an abnormally sweet smell. But what
exactly is a rank smell? And who sticks around rotten or putrid smells long
enough to notice minor variations between them?

If you guys have any questions feel free to ask and I'll do my best to help. Tweet