Objective To summarize self-reported symptoms and their influence on daily life in patients with phlegm-turbidity syndrome by interview

and to develop the efficacy evaluation scale for phlegm-turbidity syndrome.Methods Semi-structured interviews

which were interviewing closely around the outline

and the interviews didn’t end until information saturation

were conducted. Information on self-reported symptoms and those had influences on daily life of patients was extracted from the interview data with both qualitative and quantitative analytical methods.Results It is showed by interviewing 32 patients with phlegm-turbidity syndrome that

the self-reported symptoms of this syndrome include: fullness and oppression in the stomach

low food intake

heavy sensation in the limbs

much sticky phlegm

foreign body sensation in the pharynx

slimy sensation in the mouth

much sleep

sleepiness

heaviness in head

white and greasy tongue coating

and sticky stool. These symptoms had different influence on the patients’ diet

sleep

emotion

creation

social activities

etc. Conclusion Patients with phlegm-turbidity syndrome have various symptoms

which are closely related to their underlying disease. The influence is mainly about diet and sleep.