In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), stroke is referred to as 中风 (zhòng fēng), which includes ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Through thousands of years of research, TCM has identified that the fundamental cause of stroke is the accumulation of damp-heat in the body. The famous physician Zhu Danxi from the Jin-Yuan dynasty stated that the cause of stroke is “湿土生痰，痰生热，热生风也” (shī tǔ shēng tán, tán shēng rè, rè shēng fēng yě), meaning that heavy dampness in the body accumulates over time, generating heat, and the combination of phlegm and heat can lead to a stroke.
The key to preventing stroke lies in clearing damp-heat. How can you tell if you have heavy damp-heat? You can check for the following 7 symptoms:
7 Characteristics of Heavy Damp-Heat in the Body
1. Difficulty waking up, feeling groggy
If you have had enough sleep but still feel like you haven’t woken up in the morning, feeling groggy and tired, this is a manifestation of heavy damp-heat in the body. Dry mouth and bitter taste are also signs of damp-heat.
Heavy dampness obscures the clear orifices, blocking the brain, leading to persistent grogginess and dizziness.
2. Foul-smelling, sticky, unformed stools
If your stools are very foul-smelling, sticky, and unformed, making them difficult to flush, this indicates heavy damp-heat in the body. The heavy dampness prevents proper formation, leading to stickiness, while the heat causes the foul odor.
3. Thick, greasy, yellow tongue coating
If you stick out your tongue and see a thick, yellow, greasy coating, this is a typical sign of heavy damp-heat in the body, often accompanied by a red tongue body.
4. Noticeable bad breath
Many people may have bad breath, but if it is very noticeable and foul, even making you feel nauseous, this is usually a sign of damp-heat in the gastrointestinal tract. The accumulation of damp-heat in the stomach prevents the stomach qi from descending, resulting in noticeable bad breath.
5. Quick to feel hungry but eat little
If you feel hungry quickly but when it’s time to eat, you can only eat a little before feeling full and experiencing bloating, this indicates heavy damp-heat in the body. This is due to heat in the gastrointestinal tract causing quick hunger, but dampness obstructing proper digestion leads to early satiety.
6. Irritable temperament
Your temperament can also indicate whether you have heavy dampness or damp-heat. Those with heavy dampness but no heat evil tend to be calm, introverted, and patient; however, those with damp-heat tend to be irritable, easily angered, and impatient.
7. Oily skin
Individuals with heavy damp-heat often feel their skin is especially oily in summer, and their hair is also greasy. This is due to the excessive secretion of sebaceous glands under the influence of damp-heat, leading to a sticky and uncomfortable feeling.
1 Tea and 1 Soup to Clear Damp-Heat and Prevent Stroke
1. Winter Melon and Lotus Leaf Tea
Preparation: Take 5g of dried winter melon peel and 5g of dried lotus leaf, place them in a health pot, add about 1000ml of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-low heat and simmer for about 15 minutes. This can be consumed as tea. Each pot can be refilled with water 2 to 3 times.
Dried winter melon peel has the effect of clearing heat, transforming phlegm, promoting urination, and eliminating dampness, while lotus leaf can clear heat, relieve summer heat, and promote urination to eliminate dampness. Together, they are very helpful in clearing damp-heat from the body.
For those with purple lips and varicose veins under the tongue due to damp-heat stasis, adding 5 rose flowers can help invigorate blood circulation, clear heat, and eliminate dampness.
It is recommended to persist in drinking for 1 to 3 months to effectively clear damp-heat from the body, especially during the summer and winter seasons.
2. Job’s Tears and Old Duck Soup
Preparation: Take 50g of raw Job’s tears (薏苡仁, yì yǐ rén) and one old duck. Clean the old duck thoroughly, stuff it with the raw Job’s tears, place it in a clay pot, add 3 slices of ginger, 1 green onion, and water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-low heat and simmer for 1.5 hours. After adding some seasoning, the soup can be consumed along with the meat and Job’s tears.
Job’s tears have the effect of clearing heat, expelling pus, promoting urination, and eliminating dampness, making them an excellent ingredient for clearing damp-heat from the body. The old duck has the properties of clearing heat and nourishing yin. Individuals with damp-heat often have their yin fluids damaged, known as “湿热伤阴” (shī rè shāng yīn). Job’s tears and old duck soup can both clear damp-heat and nourish yin fluids.