It is easy to remove a thousand cold ailments, but difficult to eliminate dampness. Dampness is the source of myriad diseases, and its harm to the human body is slow and insidious. Dampness is sticky and turbid, like oil in flour. When dampness combines with cold, it is called cold-damp; with heat, it is damp-heat; with wind, it is wind-damp; and with summer heat, it is summer-damp. If dampness is not eliminated, consuming any amount of tonics or medicines is like scratching an itch through a boot, or hitting a cow across a mountain. Many people in daily life suffer from fatty liver, asthma, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and even malignant tumors, which are actually related to dampness and phlegm. Staying up late, indulging in meat, craving cold foods, drinking alcohol, lack of exercise, exposure to air conditioning, insufficient clothing, being exposed to wind during confinement, high work pressure, living in areas with heavy dampness, or staying in poorly ventilated rooms can all easily exacerbate dampness in the body.
Dampness is the most widespread pathogenic factor, causing numerous diseases. Moreover, dampness is sticky and often manifests slowly, making it difficult to eliminate after the onset of illness. Western medicine has no effective approach, but Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has methods to dispel dampness. The dampness from heaven is caused by hot weather, mist, and rain; the dampness from the earth is found in low-lying areas, near rivers, lakes, and seas; the dampness from humans is due to overeating, excessive consumption of tea and alcohol, and indulging in raw and cold foods. The dampness from heaven and earth is mostly external, while dietary issues often lead to internal dampness.
The discussion of dampness began in the Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon) and Nanjing (Classic of Difficulties). The term dampness can be traced back to the Jinkui Yaolue (Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Chamber) regarding damp-heat diseases. The earliest mention of dampness syndromes appears in the Jingyue Quanshu (Complete Works of Jingyue), with specialized discussions by Xue Xue in the Wet Heat Disease Chapter.
Below are 12 self-assessment criteria for dampness and methods to eliminate it.
1. Dampness Accumulation in the Stomach
Symptoms: Distension and discomfort in the stomach area, fullness after eating, nausea, poor appetite, belching, pale red tongue with thin white greasy coating, slippery or soft pulse.
Treatment Principle: Aromatic transformation of turbidity, harmonizing the stomach and descending rebellious qi.
Recommended Formula: Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San (Agastache Correct Qi Powder) modified.
2. Dampness Obstructing the Spleen
Symptoms: Abdominal distension, fatigue, heaviness in the limbs, poor appetite, aversion to greasy foods, sticky mouth, white greasy tongue coating, slippery pulse.
Treatment Principle: Aromatic awakening of the spleen, drying dampness and moving qi.
Recommended Formula: Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San (Agastache Correct Qi Powder) modified.
3. Damp-Heat Accumulation
Symptoms: Discomfort in the chest, abdominal distension, heaviness in the limbs, dry and sticky mouth, constipation or sticky stools, yellow and turbid urine, afternoon fever, irritability, pale red or red tongue with yellow greasy coating, slippery or rapid pulse.
Treatment Principle: Clear heat and dispel dampness, regulate the middle and move qi.
Recommended Formula: Huang Lian Jie Du Tang (Coptis Decoction to Relieve Toxicity) combined with San Miao Wan (Three Marvels Pill) modified.
4. Cold-Damp Obstruction
Symptoms: Abdominal distension with dull pain, worsened by cold, relieved by warmth, clear and watery diarrhea, poor appetite, pale tongue with white greasy coating, deep and slow pulse.
Treatment Principle: Warm the middle, disperse cold, dry dampness, and move qi.
Recommended Formula: Fu Zi Li Zhong Tang (Aconite Decoction to Regulate the Middle) modified.
5. Spleen Qi Deficiency with Dampness
Symptoms: Abdominal distension worsened after eating, heavy head, pale yellow complexion, fatigue, laziness to move, pale tongue with teeth marks, thin white greasy coating, weak pulse.
Treatment Principle: Tonify qi, strengthen the spleen, transform turbidity, and dispel dampness.
Recommended Formula: Huang Qi Bu Zhong Tang (Astragalus Tonifying the Middle Decoction) modified.
6. Diffuse Dampness, Affecting Both the Middle and Upper Jiao
Symptoms: Chest tightness, abdominal distension, heavy head, poor appetite, sticky mouth, lack of thirst, pale red tongue with white greasy coating, slippery pulse.
Treatment Principle: Disseminate lung qi, regulate qi, and strengthen the spleen to dispel dampness.
Recommended Formula: Ban Xia Hou Po Tang (Pinellia and Magnolia Bark Decoction) modified.
7. Dampness Obstruction, Liver and Spleen Disharmony
Symptoms: Distension in the hypochondrium, abdominal discomfort, dull pain, pain worsens with stress, pain alleviated after bowel movement, fatigue, poor appetite, pale tongue with white greasy coating, weak and wiry pulse.
Treatment Principle: Soothe the liver, relieve stress, dry dampness, and move the spleen.
Recommended Formula: Xiao Yao San (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) combined with Tong Xie Yao Fang (Important Formula for Painful Diarrhea) modified.
8. Dampness Obstructing the Liver and Gallbladder, Causing Jaundice
Symptoms: Chest and hypochondriac fullness, pain and distension in the ribs, yellowing of the skin and eyes, abdominal distension, dry and bitter mouth, nausea, poor appetite, heavy limbs, yellow greasy tongue coating, deep and wiry pulse.
Treatment Principle: Soothe the liver, benefit the gallbladder, clear heat, and dispel dampness.
Recommended Formula: Yin Chen Hao Tang (Artemisia Yinchenhao Decoction) modified.
9. Dampness Obstruction, Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency with Dampness Accumulation in the Stomach
Symptoms: Abdominal distension and discomfort, intermittent sharp pain, alleviated by warmth, poor appetite, pale complexion, fatigue, heaviness in the body, cold limbs, loose stools, lower back pain, pale tongue with teeth marks, white greasy coating, deep and slow pulse.
Treatment Principle: Tonify the spleen and kidneys, warm yang, and transform dampness.
Recommended Formula: Fu Zi Li Zhong Tang (Aconite Decoction to Regulate the Middle) modified.
10. Damp-Heat Obstructing the Intestines
Symptoms: Diarrhea with red and white pus and blood, burning sensation in the anus, abdominal pain and distension, urgency with a feeling of heaviness, fever and irritability, short and red urine, yellow greasy tongue coating, slippery and rapid pulse.
Treatment Principle: Clear heat, dry dampness, regulate qi, and invigorate blood.
Recommended Formula: Shao Yao Tang (Peony Decoction) modified.
11. Dampness Obstructing the Uterus, Affecting the Dai Mai
Symptoms: Excessive vaginal discharge, either clear and thin like mucus or yellow and turbid with a foul smell. Heaviness and soreness in the lower back and knees, distension in the lower abdomen, fatigue, greasy tongue coating, slow and slippery pulse.
Treatment Principle: For white discharge, strengthen the spleen, dry dampness, and stop discharge; for yellow discharge, clear heat, dry dampness, and stop discharge.
Recommended Formula: Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) modified.
12. Dampness Accumulation in the Bladder
Symptoms: Distension in the lower abdomen, frequent urination, painful urination with a burning sensation, sticky mouth, lack of thirst, yellow greasy tongue coating, slippery and rapid pulse.
Treatment Principle: Clear heat, dispel dampness, and promote urination.
Recommended Formula: Ba Zheng San (Eight Correcting Powder) modified.
Recommended Reading:
| The Ancient Formula for Dispelling Dampness, Addressing the Root Cause |
| Curing Rheumatoid Arthritis Once and for All |
| Regular Consumption of Astragalus Soup for Disease Prevention and Health Maintenance |
| Damp-Heat Job’s Tears, Cold Damp Atractylodes, Understanding the Differentiation in Dampness Treatment |
| Most Pain is Due to Dampness; Treat Dampness First to Alleviate Pain |
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