Understand Excessive Dampness | Symptoms | Heat & Cold Dampness | Eliminate Dampness
Understand Excessive Dampness | Symptoms | Heat & Cold Dampness | Eliminate Dampness
What is Excessive Dampness
Depending on an individual's constitution, the manifestation of dampness can vary. Generally, people with a cold constitution tend to experience cold dampness, while those with a hot constitution tend to experience heat dampness. If a person has a deficient Yang constitution, the spleen's Yang energy is insufficient to expel dampness, leading to cold dampness. On the other hand, if a person has a relatively strong Yang constitution, the Yang energy will try to expel the dampness, but if it cannot completely eliminate it, a state of heat-dampness will occur.
There are two types of dampness:
- External dampness: Caused by external environmental factors, such as living in a damp environment, rainy weather, or working by the sea or in water.
- Internal dampness: Generated internally and is closely related to the spleen and kidney organs.
Heat Dampness & Cold Dampness
Depending on an individual's constitution, the manifestation of dampness can vary. Generally, people with a cold constitution tend to experience cold dampness, while those with a hot constitution tend to experience heat dampness. If a person has a deficient Yang constitution, the spleen's Yang energy is insufficient to expel dampness, leading to cold dampness. On the other hand, if a person has a relatively strong Yang constitution, the Yang energy will try to expel the dampness, but if it cannot completely eliminate it, a state of heat-dampness will occur.
- Heat-dampness
Often accompanied by dry mouth, Tongue coating is generally yellow and dry, Tongue coating tend to be dry, Patients often feel hot / fear heat. - Cold-dampness
Typically no dry mouth, Tongue coating is generally white and moist, The tongue coating is usually slippery and coated with a thin layer of fluid, Patients often feel cold/afraid of cold.
Symtopms of Excessive Dampness
In TCM, the spleen is likened to the "foundation of the acquired," while the kidneys are considered the "foundation of the innate." The spleen is responsible for digesting food and converting it into nutrients that the body can use, while the kidneys provide the energy to help the spleen transport and eliminate excess fluids. When the spleen and kidney functions are impaired, fluids accumulate, leading to the condition known as "dampness" or "dampness accumulation." TCM believes that the balance of Yin and Yang is fundamental to health, and the kidneys play a crucial role in balancing Yin and Yang. However, certain modern lifestyle unhealthy habits can damage the spleen and kidneys, leading to a prevalence of dampness-related problems.
- Abnormal tongue coating
Enlarged tongue with a thick, greasy coating, or a white, greasy coating with teeth marks on the sides. - Edema
Weight gain, soft and distended abdomen, and swelling of the limbs. - Fatigue
Feeling heavy-headed, lethargic, and weak. - Digestive issues
Loose, sticky stools and poor appetite. - Skin Problem
Eczema, acne, itchy skin, and enlarged pores. - Other symptoms
Bad breath, body odour, and drooling while sleeping.
Ilnesses Triggered by Excessive Dumpness
There is a saying in TCM: "Dampness is the root of all diseases." Excess dampness can trigger a variety of illnesses:
- Pulmonary Diseases Related to Dampness
Cough, phlegm, drinking disorders, asthma, wheezing, pulmonary distension - Liver and Gallbladder Diseases Related to Dampness
Jaundice, pain in the hypochondriac region, distension of the gallbladder, ascites, stones - Spleen and Stomach Diseases Related to Dampness
Stomach pain, abdominal pain, constipation, vomiting, diarrhea, dysentery, bloody stool, fox madness (a historical TCM term for certain mental disorders) - Kidney and Bladder Diseases Related to Dampness
Edema, urinary disorders, urinary retention, strangury, premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, prostatitis - Heart and Brain Diseases Related to Dampness
Dizziness, stroke, insomnia, palpitations, chest pain, hyperlipidemia, hypertension - Diseases Related to Qi, Blood, Body Fluids, and Dampness
Qi and blood deficiency, sweating, diabetes, syncope, dampness caused by infusion
Eliminate Dampness
Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to take precautions on removing dampness in your daily life. Once you notice symptoms of excess dampness, it is crucial to take immediate action. Here are some tips for removing dampness compiled by Kang Won TCM Practitioner:
- Regulate the Spleen and Stomach
Herbal dietary therapy： ncorporate foods like yam, ginseng, coix seed, red adzuki beans, and poria into your diet by cooking them into porridge or soups. These ingredients have the function of invigorating the spleen and removing dampness.
Herbal dietary combinations: Consult a TCM practitioner to choose suitable herbal dietary combinations based on your individual constitution. - Dietary Guidelines
Light diet: consume plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, such as winter melon, loofah, and bitter melon. Try to maintain a low-salt, low-sugar, and low-oil diet.
Warm foods: Incorporate warm foods like ginger and jujube to help dispel cold and dampness.
Dietary restrictions: Avoid cold, greasy, and spicy foods as they can increase the burden on the spleen and stomach. Limit consumption of cold drinks, green tea, and alcohol, and drink more warm water.
Reduce processed foods intake: Processed foods contain a lot of additives and are not conducive to good health. - Active Lifestyle
Regular exercise: Aim for 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity exercise 3-4 times a week. Activities like jogging, swimming, and cycling are recommended. Consistent exercise and sweating can promote blood circulation and accelerate the removal of dampness. - Manage Stress
Maintain a positive moodEngage in activities like listening to music, meditation, and yoga to help relax your mind and body.
Ensure sufficient sleepLack of sleep can affect spleen and stomach function and worsen dampness. - Prevent Dampness from Entering the Body
Keep warm: Pay special attention to keeping your feet warm to avoid catching a cold.
Ensure good ventilation: Maintain good air circulation indoors to reduce dampness. Minimize outdoor activities during rainy days to avoid getting wet. After showering, make sure to dry yourself thoroughly and blow dry your hair before going to bed. - Other Methods for Removing Dampness
Foot baths: Soaking your feet in water with mugwort or ginger can promote blood circulation and expel cold and dampness.
Cupping therapy and gua sha: Cupping therapy and gua sha can help clear meridians and remove dampness.
Massage: Massaging the spleen and stomach meridians and the Zu San Li acupoint can help regulate spleen and stomach function.
Kontea Recommendation Products
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.
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.
Black Bean Soup
Effects: People of the modern era are under heavy stress; their bodies are getting frail and they need to start taking care of their liver in order to focus and improve their health. Eucommia and black beans are great for the kidney, energy, and bone and nerve strength, and Gordon Euryale seeds are great for removing dampness in the spleen as well.
Suitable for: Recommended for people with frequent lower body pains and urination in the middle of the night. If you experience leucorrhoea (whitish or yellowish discharge), it may be caused by excessive internal dampness, and it is recommended to include this into your diet.
Cooling Jelly
Effects:Kontea's exclusive Cooling Jelly can clear heat and cool blood, nourish Yin and generate fluids, remove dampness and relieve itching, and nourish blood and replenish Qi.
Suitable for: People with eczema, ringworm (fungal infection on the skin), and itchiness. Also great for people who stay up late, frequently smoke and drink, and people with bad breath.
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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