Among the six pathogenic factors of wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, and fire, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is particularly wary of dampness. Why is that? Because dampness can transform into cold dampness when encountering cold, into damp-heat when meeting heat, and into wind-dampness when exposed to wind. Therefore, when there is dampness in the body, it can easily combine with external pathogenic factors, leading to various diseases. Today, I will share some traditional home remedies for those troubled by dampness, professional dampness-eliminating methods, and precautions to prevent dampness, hoping to assist those suffering from related ailments.
[14 Dampness-Removing Methods Recommended by Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners]
1. Celery Soup
250g of celery, decocted into soup, consume both the vegetables and the broth continuously.
2. Cang Er Zi (Xanthium fruit) and Fang Feng (Siler) with Brown Sugar Decoction
60g of Cang Er Zi, 60g of Fang Feng, and 25g of brown sugar. Boil Cang Er Zi and Fang Feng in water to make a concentrated decoction, add brown sugar, and take two tablespoons with hot water each time.
3. Green Bean, Job’s Tears, and Kelp Soup
30g of green beans, 30g of Job’s Tears, and 20g of kelp, boiled in water, sweetened with an appropriate amount of brown sugar. Take 1-2 times daily.
4. Chinese Cabbage Root Soup
200g of Chinese cabbage root, 20g of honeysuckle, 20g of purple-backed duckweed, and 20g of earthly poria, boiled in water, sweetened with brown sugar. Take 1-2 times daily.
5. Chinese Cabbage and Radish Soup
100g of fresh Chinese cabbage, 100g of carrot, and 20ml of honey. Wash and chop the cabbage and carrot, boil with a ratio of 2 bowls of vegetables to 1 bowl of water, cook for 5 minutes, and add honey when drinking the soup, twice daily.
6. Job’s Tears and Red Beans
30g of Job’s Tears and 15g of red beans, boiled together until the beans are soft, sweetened with white sugar, taken in the morning and evening.
7. Decoction of Portulaca Oleracea
30-60g of fresh Portulaca oleracea, boiled in water, taken several times daily, and can also be used for external washing.
8. Winter Melon Soup
250g of winter melon with skin, cut into pieces, boiled and consumed.
9. Decoction of Cucumber
30g of cucumber peel, boiled in water for 3 minutes, sweetened with an appropriate amount of sugar, taken 3 times a day.
10. Green Bean and Kelp Porridge
30g of green beans, 50g of soaked kelp, and an appropriate amount of glutinous rice and brown sugar. Cook the green beans and glutinous rice into porridge, add chopped kelp, and cook for another 3 minutes before adding brown sugar.
11. Moxibustion
Moxibustion is a common TCM treatment method that is very effective in eliminating cold dampness. The method is simple: light the moxa stick and perform moxibustion on 7 acupuncture points: Yongquan (Kidney 1), San Yin Jiao (Spleen 6), Zhong Wan (Ren 12), Ju Que (Ren 14), Yin Ling Quan (Spleen 9), Cheng Shan (Bladder 57), and Qu Chi (Large Intestine 11). The effects on treating heavy dampness are quite good, and with consistent use over time, the cold dampness in the body will significantly reduce.
12. Cupping Therapy
TCM cupping can also effectively remove cold dampness, and it is generally recommended to perform cupping during the hottest days of summer for better results. After cupping, the skin may show some minor issues, such as redness, itching, or small blisters, which usually do not require concern; however, if symptoms are severe, please seek medical attention promptly.
13. Sauna
Regular sauna sessions can help expel dampness and cold from the body. During a sauna, the body temperature rises, causing the pores on the skin to open, allowing sweat to facilitate heat dissipation. Many cold and damp elements are expelled through sweat.
14. Foot Soaking
Consistently soaking feet in hot water can also help eliminate cold and dampness. Therefore, friends with heavy cold and dampness in their bodies can try this method, which is simple and practical. The soaking water can be enhanced with mugwort or Chinese prickly ash for better effects.
[TCM Methods for Eliminating Dampness]
It is worth noting that the above dampness-removing methods can be cumbersome and take a long time. If you truly wish to achieve quick results in eliminating dampness, professional dampness-eliminating methods are still necessary. A selection of 16 high-quality herbs, including 8 aromatic herbs, is used in the renowned formula Bai Xiang · Yu Shi · Tie.
This formula, when applied, can regulate the spleen, stomach, lungs, and kidneys internally; externally, it alleviates symptoms caused by dampness such as throat itchiness, dry mouth, bitter taste, thirst, body aches, dizziness, headaches, oily skin, acne, loose stools, and skin eczema, promoting dampness elimination effects that often show results in just two days.
Aromatic dampness transformation is the core foundation of TCM dampness elimination, and applying it at the navel aligns with the principles of dampness removal. This dual approach ensures a more thorough elimination of dampness. As this formula is a key focus of national support for traditional Chinese medicine, it is accessible via technology, making it suitable for personal use or as a gift for family and friends for daily health maintenance.
[15 Precautions for Eliminating Dampness]
1. Use red beans to eliminate dampness, noting that it is not the same as adzuki beans.
2. Engage in appropriate exercise to promote sweating and balance hormones to eliminate dampness.
3. The most common method is moxibustion on the Guanyuan (Ren 4) point.
4. Consume three slices of ginger every morning.
5. If time permits, remember to maintain a half-hour nap every day.
6. Avoid smoking and drinking unless necessary.
7. Avoid heavy flavors; opt for light and easily digestible foods.
8. Avoid prolonged exposure to damp environments.
9. Maintain a cheerful mood; remember that worry harms the spleen, which can cause damage to the body over time.
10. Ensure good indoor air circulation to help remove excess dampness; tools like fans can assist in this.
11. Sweet and greasy foods can exacerbate dampness; those with heavy dampness should minimize their intake.
12. Limit consumption of raw and cold foods to avoid affecting digestive function, which can worsen dampness.
13. After washing hair, wait until it is dry before massaging the scalp; do not massage while wet to prevent dampness from entering the scalp.
14. Avoid getting caught in the rain or wearing damp clothing; do not seek excessive coolness on hot days.
15. For those long troubled by dampness, consider long-term practices like moxibustion and massage for ongoing regulation; do not be misled by quick-fix dampness elimination methods.
Dampness often troubles our lives, causing significant discomfort and adding many worries. I hope the 14 folk remedies for eliminating dampness, a renowned dampness-eliminating formula, and the 15 precautions to prevent dampness shared today will raise awareness about health. Finally, I wish all patients suffering from heavy dampness will gradually regulate their condition and achieve a healthy body.
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