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, catching wind during confinement, high work pressure, living in damp areas, or staying in poorly ventilated rooms can all easily exacerbate dampness in the body.
Dampness is the most widespread harm, causing numerous diseases. Moreover, dampness is sticky and sluggish, and damp diseases often develop slowly, lingering after onset and difficult to remove. Western medicine has no effective approach, but Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has methods to eliminate dampness. The dampness from the heavens 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 caused by overeating, excessive consumption of tea and alcohol, and indulging in raw and cold foods. The dampness from heaven and earth primarily harms from the outside, while dietary issues primarily cause internal dampness.
The discussion of dampness began in the “Inner Canon” and “Classic of Difficulties”. The term damp disease can be traced back to the “Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber: On Dampness and Heat Diseases”. The earliest mention of damp syndrome appears in the “Complete Book of Jingyue: On Damp Syndrome”, with specialized discussions by Xue Xue in the “On Damp-Heat Diseases”.
Below, we will explore 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 and vomiting, 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 Qi Rectifying Powder) modified.
2. Dampness Obstructing the Spleen
Symptoms: Abdominal distension, fatigue, heaviness in 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 Qi Rectifying Powder) modified.
3. Damp-Heat Accumulation
Symptoms: Discomfort in the chest, abdominal distension, heaviness in limbs, dry and bitter sticky mouth, sticky stools or constipation, yellow turbid urine, afternoon fever, irritability, pale red or red tongue with yellow greasy coating, slippery or rapid pulse.
Treatment Principle: Clear heat and eliminate dampness, regulate the middle and move qi.
Recommended Formula: Huang Lian Jie Du Tang (Coptis Detoxifying Decoction) combined with San Miao Wan (Three Marvels Pill) modified.
4. Cold-Damp Obstruction
Symptoms: Abdominal distension, dull pain that worsens with cold, relief with warmth, clear watery diarrhea, poor appetite, pale tongue with white slippery 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 worsens after eating, heavy head, pale yellow complexion, fatigue, laziness, poor appetite, loose stools, pale tongue with teeth marks, thin white greasy coating, weak pulse.
Treatment Principle: Tonify qi, strengthen the spleen, transform turbidity and eliminate dampness.
Recommended Formula: Huang Qi Bu Zhong Tang (Astragalus Tonifying the Middle Decoction) modified.
6. Diffuse Dampness, Affecting Both 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 eliminate dampness.
Recommended Formula: Ban Xia Hou Po Tang (Pinellia and Magnolia Decoction) modified.
7. Dampness Obstruction, Liver and Spleen Disharmony
Symptoms: Distension in the hypochondrium, abdominal discomfort, dull pain, pain worsens with diarrhea, relief after bowel movement, fatigue, poor appetite, pale tongue with white greasy coating, weak and wiry pulse.
Treatment Principle: Soothe the liver, relieve urgency, 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 hypochondrium fullness, pain in the ribs, yellowing of the skin and eyes, abdominal distension, dry sticky mouth, nausea and vomiting, poor appetite, heavy limbs, yellow greasy tongue coating, deep and wiry pulse.
Treatment Principle: Soothe the liver, benefit the gallbladder, clear heat and eliminate 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 discomfort, intermittent pain, relief with 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 spleen and kidney, 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, Causing Disharmony in 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 and dry dampness; for yellow discharge, clear heat and dry dampness.
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, eliminate dampness, and promote urination.
Recommended Formula: Ba Zheng San (Eight Correcting Powder) modified.
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