Many people may have heard of the terms “deficient cold constitution” and “hot-cold constitution,” but are unfamiliar with the “phlegm-damp constitution,” and some may not even realize they have it.
Today, let’s discuss this topic: What is the phlegm-damp constitution? How should one nourish the phlegm-damp constitution? Read on as I, Xiao Kang, provide the answers in this article!
What is the Phlegm-Damp Constitution?
The phlegm-damp constitution refers to a condition where the functions of the body’s organs are disordered, leading to the disruption of the movement of qi (vital energy), blood, and body fluids. This results in the accumulation of water and dampness, which transforms into phlegm, manifesting as a phlegm-damp internal retention. Common symptoms include obesity, fullness in the abdomen, chest tightness, excessive phlegm, easy fatigue, a heavy body feeling, a preference for rich and fatty foods, a swollen tongue, and a white, greasy tongue coating. This condition often arises from invasion by cold and dampness, irregular diet, congenital factors, aging, chronic illness, and lack of exercise, with symptoms varying based on the location of phlegm-damp retention.
Predisposition to diseases: Individuals with this constitution are prone to conditions such as diabetes, stroke, and chest obstruction, and they have poor adaptability to humid environments, especially during the rainy season. The primary treatment principle is to dry dampness and resolve phlegm, while also focusing on nurturing and improving the phlegm-damp constitution to prevent the occurrence of phlegm-damp diseases.
How to Nourish the Phlegm-Damp Constitution?
1. Exercise
Individuals with a phlegm-damp constitution often have obesity and a heavy, fatigued feeling. Therefore, it is essential to engage in regular physical exercise, such as walking, jogging, ball games, swimming, martial arts, Ba Duan Jin (Eight Pieces of Brocade), Wu Qin Xi (Five Animal Frolics), and various forms of dance. The intensity of activity should gradually increase, allowing loose flesh to transform into firm, dense muscle. In terms of qigong, practices like moving stance qigong, health qigong, and longevity qigong are recommended to enhance qi circulation.
2. Environmental Adjustments
Avoid living in damp environments; during rainy seasons, be cautious of dampness invasion.
3. Dietary Regulation
Limit the intake of rich and fatty foods, and avoid excessive alcohol consumption and overeating. For those with a phlegm-damp constitution, it is beneficial to consume more vegetables and fruits, especially those that strengthen the spleen, eliminate dampness, and resolve phlegm, such as daikon (white radish), water chestnut, seaweed, jellyfish, onion, loquat, ginkgo (white fruit), jujube (red date), lentils, coix seed (Job’s tears), red beans, fava beans, and cabbage.
4. Herbal Health Care
People living in damp environments are prone to phlegm-damp obstruction of the spleen and stomach, leading to internal retention of phlegm-damp. Treatment should focus on strengthening the spleen, promoting dampness elimination, moistening the intestines, and warming and tonifying kidney yang. Appropriately select herbs that have aromatic, phlegm-resolving, and spleen-strengthening properties, such as Fu Ling (Poria), ginkgo (white fruit), Ban Xia (Pinellia), coix seed (Job’s tears), Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes), Huang Qi (Astragalus), Zhi Ke (Bitter Orange), Huo Xiang (Agastache), Pei Lan (Eupatorium), Bai Dou Kou (White Cardamom), Ge Gen (Kudzu), and Mu Xiang (Aucklandia), to reduce the harm of phlegm-damp and rich foods to the spleen and stomach, gradually resolving internal phlegm-damp.
Note: When consuming certain nourishing foods and herbs, it may lead to abdominal distension and decreased appetite. In such cases, combining with spleen-strengthening and dampness-eliminating methods can help reduce these discomforts.
Individuals with a phlegm-damp constitution often experience obesity, so if you notice abnormal weight gain, it is likely due to phlegm-damp. Timely regulation is necessary to better maintain health.
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