Dampness is a common pathological phenomenon we encounter in clinical practice, which can be categorized into cold dampness and damp-heat. Many people have tried various methods to clear heat and eliminate dampness, yet damp-heat remains.
Why is it so difficult to eliminate dampness? This is because dampness has a sticky and heavy nature, akin to oil being added to the body, making it hard to separate.
Furthermore, the fiery nature of heat combined with dampness can rise and fall, spreading throughout the body.
To drive away damp-heat, we must locate where it hides and use targeted treatments to achieve maximum results with minimal effort.
As the saying goes: “Illness enters through the mouth,” thus damp-heat loves to hide in the spleen and stomach. When damp-heat lingers in the spleen and stomach, the most obvious symptoms are abdominal distension, feeling overly full after eating a little, and a heavy sensation in the limbs, as if stones are tied to the legs. Additionally, the face and scalp tend to be oily, and upon waking, one may feel a sticky mouth with an unpleasant taste. Although there is thirst, drinking water does not alleviate it. In this case, you can use Huo Xiang Qing Wei Wan (Agastache Stomach Clearing Pill) to treat and clear the damp-heat from the spleen and stomach.
Secondly, damp-heat also likes to hide in the liver and gallbladder meridians. Patients with liver and gallbladder damp-heat often wake up with a bitter taste in the mouth, have swollen and red gums, and are prone to oral ulcers.
Since the liver meridian traverses the lower jiao (lower abdomen), damp-heat flowing into the lower jiao can lead to symptoms such as dampness and itching in that area. These individuals tend to have a short temper and can easily become angry, experiencing distension and pain in the hypochondriac region, yellowish urine, and dry stools. In this case, we can use Long Dan Cao Xie Gan Tang (Gentian Decoction to Drain the Liver) to clear the damp-heat from the liver meridian.
The third situation is that damp-heat can easily hide in the large intestine. Patients in this category often experience severe abdominal pain after consuming spicy or greasy foods or after drinking alcohol, with diarrhea that resembles a pool of yellow-brown water, accompanied by a foul odor and a burning sensation during bowel movements. After a while, the symptoms may recur, leaving the person feeling exhausted. For this situation, we can use Xiang Lian Wan (Aromatic Lianhua Pill) for treatment.
The fourth situation is that damp-heat can easily reside in the bladder. Bladder damp-heat can cause burning sensations in the urethra, leading to frequent urination, urgency, and incomplete urination. During urination, there is burning pain in the urethra, and one may feel an uncontrollable urge to urinate, only to find that there are only a few drops of urine, which is short and yellow. In this case, we can use Ba Zheng San (Eight Correcting Powder) to clear heat and eliminate dampness.
The final situation is that damp-heat can enter the bones and joints. Individuals in this category often suffer from rheumatism or rheumatoid arthritis, experiencing redness, swelling, and pain in the joints, especially on rainy days, making movement difficult and causing discomfort throughout the body. In this case, we can use Dang Gui Nian Tong Wan (Angelica Pain Relief Pill) for treatment.
Previous Highlights
1. What to do about Yang Fire Rising?
2. TCM Classification Treatment for Yang Deficiency
3. When should one avoid tonics?
4. TCM Treatment for Sinusitis
5. What is Liver Qi Stagnation and Spleen Qi Deficiency?
6. What diseases are caused by emotional factors?