Things to Know Before Nourishing and Strengthening the Lungs – Strengthen the Spleen, Eliminate Dampness, Detoxify and Dissolve Phlegm
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the spleen and stomach are the source of phlegm, while the lungs are the receptacle for phlegm. The invasion of dampness often begins with dietary desires. Iced drinks and cold, raw fruits, while temporarily relieving the heat, are like frost invading the body's yang energy, extinguishing the body's warm yang fire. The human body has a natural "water management system" that can regulate external temperature and humidity changes. However, for those with weak constitutions, chronic illnesses, or irregular lifestyles, their "water management system" is prone to imbalances, leading to the retention of dampness, like a swamp trapping the body and mind, causing the boat of health to tilt.
Things to Know Before Nourishing and Strengthening the Lungs – Strengthen the Spleen, Eliminate Dampness, Detoxify and Dissolve Phlegm
The Relationship Between Strengthening the Spleen, Eliminating Dampness and Nourishing the Lungs: Why Must the Spleen Be Strengthened and Dampness Eliminated Before Nourishing the Lungs?
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the spleen and stomach are the source of phlegm, while the lungs are the receptacle for phlegm. The invasion of dampness often begins with dietary desires. Iced drinks and cold, raw fruits, while temporarily relieving the heat, are like frost invading the body's yang energy, extinguishing the body's warm yang fire. The human body has a natural "water management system" that can regulate external temperature and humidity changes. However, for those with weak constitutions, chronic illnesses, or irregular lifestyles, their "water management system" is prone to imbalances, leading to the retention of dampness, like a swamp trapping the body and mind, causing the boat of health to tilt.
Excessive dampness in the body not only affects the function of the spleen and stomach but also leads to the internal generation of phlegm and dampness, which in turn affects lung health. Therefore, strengthening the spleen and eliminating dampness, resolving phlegm and detoxifying, must be done before nourishing the lungs to fundamentally solve the problem.
"Signals" of Dampness in the Body
When dampness invades the body, it is like dark clouds covering the sun and turbid fog surrounding the body, bringing a series of discomforts. Although modern medicine does not have the concept of "dampness," many symptoms are consistent with the descriptions of dampness in traditional Chinese medicine. Common symptoms of excessive dampness in the body include:
- Thick, greasy tongue coating: The tongue coating is thick, with obvious teeth marks, indicating internal dampness obstruction.
- Sticky stools: Stools are loose and difficult to flush, indicating damp turbidity flowing downwards.
- Poor appetite: Poor appetite, abdominal distension, indicating spleen and stomach dampness obstruction.
- Heavy, tired limbs: Heavy body, weak limbs, indicating dampness obstruction.
- Dizziness and headache: Dizziness, poor spirit, indicating damp turbidity affecting the head.
- Joint pain: Joint pain, limited movement, indicating dampness retention.
- Chest tightness and shortness of breath: Chest tightness, difficulty breathing, indicating dampness obstructing chest yang.
- Oily skin: Oily skin, prone to acne, indicating damp turbidity overflowing outwards.
- Diarrhea and abdominal pain: Diarrhea and abdominal pain, gastrointestinal discomfort, indicating dampness damaging the stomach and intestines.
What Daily Precautions Should Be Taken to Strengthen the Spleen?
The Relationship Between Spleen Deficiency and Dampness
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the spleen governs the transportation and transformation of water and dampness. Spleen deficiency can lead to dysfunction in the transportation and transformation of water and dampness, resulting in the internal generation of dampness. Excessive dampness, in turn, affects the function of the spleen and stomach, creating a vicious cycle.
- People with spleen deficiency are more susceptible to the influence of external dampness, such as humid environments and cold, raw foods.
- Excessive dampness can hinder the transportation and transformation functions of the spleen and stomach, leading to digestive problems and loss of appetite.
Why Must the Spleen Be Strengthened and Dampness Eliminated Before Nourishing the Lungs?
- The Spleen Is the Source of Phlegm: Spleen deficiency generates dampness, and dampness accumulates into phlegm. If the problem of spleen deficiency and excessive dampness is not resolved, phlegm will continuously be produced in the lungs.
- The Lungs Are the Receptacle of Phlegm: The lungs are where phlegm accumulates. If phlegm has already accumulated in the lungs, nourishing the lungs will worsen the condition.
- Strengthening the Spleen and Eliminating Dampness Promotes Lung Health: Normal spleen and stomach function reduces dampness, and phlegm naturally decreases. This provides a good environment for the lungs to be nourished.
Dietary notes:
- Warm Nourishment to Strengthen the Spleen and Replenish Qi: Eat more foods that strengthen the spleen, such as yam, red dates, and lotus seeds, and eat less cold, raw foods.
- Small, Frequent Meals with a Balanced Diet: Reduce the amount of food consumed at each meal, increase the number of meals, and base the diet on grains, supplemented with appropriate amounts of meat, vegetables, and fruits to ensure a balanced nutrition.
Exercise notes:
- Moderate Exercise to Promote Qi and Blood Circulation: Choose low-intensity exercises such as walking and jogging to promote qi and blood circulation and enhance spleen and stomach function.
- Abdominal Massage to Strengthen the Spleen and Stomach: Massage the abdomen clockwise every morning and evening to promote gastrointestinal peristalsis.
Traditional Chinese Medicine External Therapies to Regulate the Spleen and Stomach:
- Moxibustion for Warm Nourishment: Use moxibustion on acupoints such as Zhongwan and Zusanli to warm and replenish the spleen and stomach yang qi.
- Cupping for Dredging: Use cupping on acupoints such as Pishu and Weishu to improve spleen and stomach function.
- Acupoint Massage: Massage acupoints such as Leg Three Miles (Zusanli), Zhongwan, and Shenque.
Keep the Abdomen Warm and Avoid Cold: Pay attention to keeping the abdomen warm and avoid cold stimulation to prevent affecting the stomach and intestines.
Recommended Spleen-Strengthening and Dampness-Eliminating Diet – What to Eat?
While we enjoy the rich culinary offerings of our diverse culture, we also face the challenges of a hot and humid climate in Malaysia. TCM has a saying that the spleen and stomach are the foundation of health, and dampness is a major factor affecting their function. Kang Won TCM Practitioner believes that strengthening the spleen and eliminating dampness is particularly important for the Malaysian population, and has therefore compiled a series of spleen-strengthening recipes to help everyone easily strengthen their spleen and improve their health through daily diet.
Four Gods Soup (Si Shen Tang)
- Ingredients:25g Poria cocos, 25g Chinese yam, 25g Euryale ferox, 25g lotus seeds, 20g ginger, 500g pig stomach or small intestine, appropriate amount of rice wine, appropriate amount of salt.
- Instructions:
- Wash Poria cocos, Chinese yam, Euryale ferox, and lotus seeds, and soak them for about 30 minutes. Wash and slice the ginger.
- Wash the pig stomach or small intestine, blanch it in boiling water with ginger slices and rice wine for about 30 minutes, then remove.
- Put all the ingredients into a pot, add water, bring to a boil, skim off any foam and impurities, then simmer for about 60 minutes.
- Add appropriate amount of salt and rice wine to taste before serving.
- Effects:Strengthens the spleen and stomach, eliminates dampness, and replenishes qi.
Chinese Yam and Red Date Porridge
- Ingredients：100g Chinese yam, 10 red dates, 50g japonica rice, appropriate amount of water.
- Instructions：
- Peel and dice the Chinese yam, wash the red dates, and rinse the japonica rice.
- Put all the ingredients into a pot, add water, bring to a boil, then simmer until the porridge is cooked.
- Add a small amount of rock sugar to taste.
- Effects：Strengthens the spleen and replenishes qi, nourishes the middle and stomach.
Lotus Seed, Euryale Ferox, and Barley Porridge
- Ingredients：20g lotus seeds, 20g Euryale ferox, 30g barley, 50g japonica rice, appropriate amount of water.
- Instructions：
- Soak lotus seeds, Euryale ferox, and barley for 2 hours in advance, and rinse the japonica rice.
- Put all the ingredients into a pot, add water, bring to a boil, then simmer until the porridge is cooked.
- Add a small amount of rock sugar to taste.
- Effects：Strengthens the spleen, eliminates dampness, and tonifies the kidneys.
- Ingredients: 200g pumpkin, 50g millet, appropriate amount of water.
- Instructions：
- Peel and dice the pumpkin, and rinse the millet.
- Put the millet into a pot, add water, bring to a boil, then simmer.
- When the millet porridge is thick, add the pumpkin cubes and continue to cook until the pumpkin is cooked.
- Add a small amount of rock sugar to taste.
- Effects: Strengthens the spleen and harmonizes the stomach, replenishes the middle and boosts qi.
Crucian Carp and Chinese Yam Soup
- Ingredients: 1 crucian carp, 150g Chinese yam, 3 slices of ginger, appropriate amount of scallions, appropriate amount of salt.
- Instructions：
- Clean the crucian carp, peel and dice the Chinese yam, slice the ginger, and cut the scallions into sections.
- Pan-fry the crucian carp until golden brown on both sides.
- Put the crucian carp, Chinese yam, ginger, and scallions into a pot, add water, bring to a boil, then simmer for 30 minutes.
- Add salt to taste before serving.
- Effects: Strengthens the spleen and replenishes qi, promotes diuresis and reduces swelling.
Red Date, Longan, and Chinese Yam Soup
- Ingredients: 150g Chinese yam, 10 red dates, 10 longans, appropriate amount of rock sugar, appropriate amount of water.
- Instructions：
- Peel and dice the Chinese yam, wash the red dates, and remove the shells from the longans.
- Put the Chinese yam, red dates, and longans into a pot, add water, bring to a boil, then simmer for 30 minutes.
- Add rock sugar to taste and cook until the rock sugar melts.
- Effects: Strengthens the spleen and nourishes blood, replenishes qi and calms the mind.
- Ingredients: 20g Chinese yam, 15g Euryale ferox, 20g roasted barley, 20g hyacinth bean, 20g red beans, 15g Astragalus membranaceus. For meat eaters, add 150g pork ribs. For vegetarians, add 3 pitted red dates.
- Instructions：
- Roast the barley in a pan until slightly yellow. Wash the pork ribs and chop them into pieces.
- Wash the Euryale ferox, hyacinth bean, red beans, and Astragalus membranaceus. Put all the ingredients into a pot, add water, cook for one hour, and season to taste.
- Effects: Strengthens the stomach and refreshes the spleen, eliminates dampness and relieves fatigue, especially suitable for those with spleen deficiency and dampness, fatigue, and loose stools. Not suitable for those with constipation.
Lotus Seed, Chinese Yam, Poria Cocos, and Red Bean Soup
- Ingredients: 20g roasted barley, 20g lotus seeds, 20g Chinese yam, 20g Poria cocos, 20g red beans.
- Instructions：
- Roast the barley in a pan until slightly yellow. Wash the lotus seeds, Chinese yam, and Poria cocos.
- Put all the ingredients into a pot, add water, and cook for one hour. For meat eaters, add pork ribs or black-bone chicken to enhance the flavor. For vegetarians, add 3 pitted red dates.
- Effects: Strengthens the spleen, eliminates dampness, and calms the mind, especially suitable for those with spleen deficiency and dampness, restlessness, and irritability.
Key Points for a Spleen-Strengthening and Dampness-Eliminating Diet:
Spleen-Strengthening and Dampness-Eliminating Foods:
- Grains and tubers: millet, japonica rice, glutinous rice, Chinese yam, sweet potato, barley, red beans.
- Vegetables: pumpkin, carrots, hyacinth beans, winter melon, lettuce.
- Meats: crucian carp, pig stomach.
- Fruits: red dates, longans.
- Others: lotus seeds, Euryale ferox, Poria cocos.
Warm and Nourishing Spleen-Strengthening Foods:
- White fungus, lotus root, lily bulb, pear, crucian carp, carrots, apples, Chinese yam, lotus seeds, Euryale ferox, pig stomach, duck.
*Precautions:
- When spleen deficiency and dampness are present, strengthen the spleen and eliminate dampness to remove excess water from the body (diuresis) or reduce and eliminate substances that cause immune responses, and warm and nourish the spleen and stomach is the best way to relieve dampness.
- Dampness often comes with "cold," so pay attention to keeping warm and avoid catching cold. Avoid eating too many cold, raw foods. Avoid eating greasy, spicy, and other irritating foods, in order to avoid damaging the spleen and stomach.
- These foods can be eaten in combinations based on personal taste and constitution.
- People with weak spleen and stomach should choose easy to digest cooking methods.
Kontea Recommendation Products
Digestive Comfort Soup
Effects: Lotus seed nourishes the stomach, strengthens kidneys, improves lungs, and boosts metabolism. Chinese yam can improve digestion and treat diarrhoea-related diseases, as well as remove toxins and help with the overall complexion. Other than that, Chinese yam contains allantoin, which helps repair the gastric mucosal barrier and improves digestive functions. Gordon Euryale Seed nourishes the liver, strengthens bones, strengthens the immune system, and promotes longevity.
Suitable for: Easy defecation, dampness in the spleen, insomnia, skin darkness, swelling in the lower body, bloating in the face in the morning.
Moisture-Eliminating Tea
Effects:
With today’s fast-paced urban working lifestyle, excessive dampness is caused in the human body, which in turn contributes to fatigue, lethargy, loss of appetite, and stickiness and discomfort to the facial skin. One of the easiest and most effective ways to relief this issue is to drink moisture-eliminating herbal tea every day. Plantain and corn silk, i.e. the ingredients of the herbal tea, are both able to induce diuresis for removing edema, and reduce blood pressure and blood lipid.
Suitable for: Yellow and turbid urine, pain while urinating, urinary tract infections, calculus of urethra, and gallstones.
Vitality Herbal Paste
Effects:Increases vitality and detoxes. Protects the liver, decreases stress, improves blood circulation, Improves allergic constitution, prevents fatigue, improves vitality and Strengthen Immune System.
Suitable for:Commonly recommended for children or the elderly, bad appetite, bloating, stomach pains, frequent fever, sinus, sweating, and fatigue. Enuresis in children, bad digestion, diarrhea, stool with undigested food scraps.
Moisture-Eliminating Paste
Effects: Largehead atractylodes rhizomes are dry in nature, which helps the body to remove excessive dampness. Similarly, stewing fried atractylodes with raw barley and lotus seeds helps to dry the body, reduce swelling, and increase metabolism, helping the body to burn excess fat.
Suitable for:People with oily skin and scalp; people who gain weight easily; heavy body odour; people with excessive discharge; people with yellow skin; white tongue; frequent diarrhea; and sticky stool.
Ginseng Soup
Effects:Ginseng promotes strength in the Chi, lungs, and spleen, and can fight against fatigue, increases metabolism and helps with the immune system, as well as slows down ageing. Chinese yam is often called “natural ginseng”, as it also nourishes the lungs and spleen, and together with Polygonatum Odoratum, promotes healthy and optimal organ function.
Suitable for:Frail-bodied patients recovering from a big disease or treatment, bad appetite, and profusely sweating people.
(Nourishing Spleen) Moisture-Eliminating Tea
Effects:For both mixing barley will help improve the digestive system and reduce heatiness and dampness. Akebiaquinata and Alisma can enhance the effect of barley to relieve swelling. Semen lablab albums have a good ability to invigorate the spleen and dissolve dampness. Together, they can relieve the coldness of other drugs and strengthen the effect of dampness.
Ginseng Soup
Effects: Ginseng promotes strength in the Chi, lungs, and spleen, and can fight against fatigue, increases metabolism and helps with the immune system, as well as slows down ageing. Chinese yam is often called “natural ginseng”, as it also nourishes the lungs and spleen, and together with Polygonatum Odoratum, promotes healthy and optimal organ function.
Suitable for:Frail-bodied patients recovering from a big disease or treatment, bad appetite, profusely sweating and weak immunity people.
Kang Won Herbalist
Kang Won TCM Practitioner also recommends seeking medical attention as soon as rheumatic symptoms begin to appear. Early consultation allows us to provide you with suitable treatment and prevention plans based on your symptoms and underlying causes.
Our TCM Practitioner specializes in diagnosing and treating various internal health issues in the internal medicine field. We are dedicated to balancing the body's energy flow to alleviate internal problems and improve overall health. Therefore, if you have any concerns about rheumatic diseases, we welcome you to consult with us in person to learn more.
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