-This article has been reviewed by the Hongxinglin Professional Review Team-
▲Click to listen to the audioGood morning, friends!
Recently, the dreaded southern winds have returned, bringing with thembone-deep dampness, launching a “magical attack” on the south.
On days when the air feels like it could be wrung out for water, with constant light rain and ethereal mist, the glass in our homes fogs up, the floors feel damp, and waking up feeling sticky is truly unpleasant.As the saying goes,all diseases stem from dampness. When you least expect it,dampness quietly invades your spleen and stomach, harming your internal organs and bringing various ailments upon you, leaving you feeling exhausted and at a loss for what to do.Therefore, the first step to good health is toeliminate dampness.
But don’t worry, while I can’t provide you with a “Bing Dwen Dwen”, I can help you get rid of that “dampness”.Before we proceed, let’s understand dampness and see how severe your dampness might be.Remember toshare and forward this to your friends, so we can all work together to eliminate dampness and enjoy a refreshing spring.
Dampness is the Source of All Diseases
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), dampness is one of the “six excesses”that cause disease— wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, and fire.It is the root cause ofall discomfort, inability to lose weight, and various ailments.Specifically, dampness can be categorized into two types: external dampness and internal dampness.
External dampness isrelated to the environment, such as high humidity and frequent rain.Internal dampness, on the other hand, is caused bylifestyle and dietary habits that damage the spleen and stomach, leading to insufficient Yang energy and the production of dampness. Factors like air conditioning, greasy foods, and frequent late nights can contribute to internal dampness.Especially on days with southern winds, prolonged exposure to damp environments can lead to an accumulation of dampness in the body, resulting in a “damp constitution“.
So how can you determine if you have a damp constitution? Here are some common symptoms compiled by me for self-assessment:1. Easily gaining weight, even from drinking water;2. Excessive sweating, feeling sticky, with shiny skin and itchy back;3. Poor mental state, difficulty sleeping, feeling heavy and fatigued, low mood;4. Joint pain on rainy or overcast days;5. Thick yellow tongue coating, lack of appetite, feeling thirsty but not wanting to drink;6. Loose stools that are sticky…If you have more than three of these symptoms, it indicates that you are a “damp person” and need to eliminate dampness as soon as possible.
But what about those who do not have these symptoms? Does that mean you don’t need to eliminate dampness?Not necessarily, due to environmental and lifestyle influences,nine out of ten people have dampness, it’s just a matter of how much dampness they have.More dampness needs to be eliminated, while less dampness needs to be prevented.So how do we properly eliminate dampness?I have specially prepared methods for internal adjustment and external nourishment to help friends suffering from dampness, packed with useful information, so make sure to read to the end!
Internal Adjustment and External Nourishment to Eliminate Internal DampnessDietary Therapy + Acupoints
How do we eliminate dampness from the body? Focus on two key points: strengthening the spleen and supplementing Yang.
Red Bean and Job’s Tears Water—Strengthening the Spleen and Promoting Diuresis
To eliminate dampness, we mustaddress the root cause. If we only treat the symptoms without addressing the root, it’s a waste of effort.So how do we treat the root? Bycutting off the source of dampness.
The “Su Wen: Zhi Zhen Yao Da Lun” states: “All swelling and fullness due to dampness belongs to the spleen.”
This indicates that alldampness originates from the spleen and stomach.
Now think about why the dampness in your body keeps accumulating? It’s because the spleen’s transport and transformation function is impaired.The spleen governs transportation and transformation, with the ability toraise Yang energy and lower dampness.When the spleen and stomach are functioning well, their ability to transport and absorb fluids is strong, providing the necessary fluids to the five internal organs, and excess fluids are sent to the kidneys and lungs to be expelled through urine and sweat, thus eliminating dampness.Therefore, the key to eliminating dampness lies instrengthening the spleen.Thus, the recommendedRed Bean and Job’s Tears Water is a star remedy for strengthening the spleen and promoting diuresis.This remedy consists ofred beans, Job’s tears (which should be roasted to eliminate its cold nature), and coix seed, all of which can be easily found in supermarkets. It has been a staple for strengthening the spleen and eliminating dampness since ancient times.However, while Red Bean and Job’s Tears Water is excellent for eliminating dampness, it should not be consumed in excess as it is cold in nature, which can harm Yang energy; it is also not recommended for pregnant individuals.
Moxibustion on the Shenmai Point—Supporting Yang and Supplementing Qi
In addition to strengthening the spleen, another key point is tosupport Yang.We all know thathealth is about nurturing Yang energy, anddampness is a Yin evil, the enemy of Yang energy.Excessive dampness may indicate insufficient Yang energy, which can lead to dysfunction in the five internal organs, resulting in various ailments.Therefore, when you have excessive dampness, you must consider whether your Yang energy is insufficient.
So what should you do if Yang energy is insufficient?Support and elevate Yang.At this point, you might think of points like Guanyuan, Shenque, and Mingmen.However, today I recommend a point that has been highly regarded by physicians throughout history—Shenmai Point.
This point is a major acupoint on the foot’s Taiyang bladder meridian, meaning it can quickly mobilize Yang energy in the body,supplementing Yang and Qi, and guiding water and dampness.
Its location is easy to find,located on the outer side of the foot,in the depression just below the ankle.Moxibustion on the Shenmai Point should be done until you feel comfortable warmth; those with heavy dampness may feel soreness and distension, and when the area turns slightly red, you will feel a warm flow circulating throughout your body.Of course, what we discussed is only about eliminating internal dampness; it is also essential toeliminate external dampness, so as not to exacerbate the body’s dampness and to maintain health through this spring.
Home Tips for Eliminating DampnessTo Help You Enjoy a Refreshing Spring
Southern winds come every year, so people have summarized severalsimple and practicaltips for eliminating dampness:
1. Use quicklime or laundry detergent to absorb moisture
Place a few fist-sized bags of quicklime wrapped in cloth in the corners of the room, or make holes in laundry detergent bags and place them in the corners toabsorb moisture and eliminate dampness.
2. Mop the floor with hot water and salt
We all know that saltwater can accelerate the evaporation of moisture, and hot water helps dissolve the salt better. Mopping the floor with hot water and salt can effectivelyprevent dampness and water leakage on the floor.
3. Lay down newspapers
In damp areas, such as on the floor or table, or during the day on the bed, laying down a few sheets of newspaper is also a good method to absorb moisture.
Newspapers can absorb most of the moisture, ensuring that your bedding is dry and warm at night.
4. Burn incense to eliminate dampness and mold
Burning incense made frommugwort, Atractylodes, and other herbs with dampness-eliminating properties indoors can not only reduce indoor humidity but also eliminate the musty smell caused by dampness.
Of course, friends should be careful to prevent fire hazards and not place flammable items near the incense.Alright, that’s all for today’s content. Friends, let’s take action and drive away the annoying dampness from our surroundings to enjoy a refreshing and comfortable spring.And if you find the content useful, remember tolike and share it to help your friends enjoy this southern wind season as well!
What other tips do you know for eliminating dampness during southern wind days?Feel free to share in the comments!
Tap “Looking” to avoid dampness tomorrow⬇⬇⬇