Dampness is often referred to as the “source of all diseases.” Among the six pathogenic factors of wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, and fire, TCM is particularly wary of dampness. According to modern medical statistics, over 60 diseases are related to dampness, such as obesity, edema, abdominal distension, eczema, dermatitis, acne, urinary tract infections, and increased vaginal discharge with itching in women.
The most serious consequence is that dampness can lead to stubborn obesity and even malignant tumors, where tumors keep reappearing after being surgically removed.
Many people believe that “dampness” is a southern issue, but this is not the case. The renowned TCM physician Lu Zhizheng has pointed out that the north also has a lot of dampness. The dampness in the human body can be categorized into internal dampness and external dampness, with the south primarily experiencing external dampness and the north primarily internal dampness.
Dampness sneaks into the body like a thief, often unnoticed. Due to changes in lifestyle and dietary habits, people tend to enjoy rich and heavy foods, eat barbecued food, drink chilled beer, consume ice cream throughout the seasons, use air conditioning in summer, and have a heavy and salty diet, while also being exposed to cold air, leading to an accumulation of dampness in modern individuals.
Dampness is so close to you,it’s no wonder you get sick!
If dampness is not eliminated, it can prolong illness. How can you tell if you have dampness in your body? You can judge from the following five major signals.
1Feeling Sleepy Despite Enough Sleep
Even if you have had sufficient sleep, if you still feel very drowsy, fatigued, have a heavy head, or feel like something is wrapping around you, making you reluctant to move, then you should suspect that there is dampness in your body.
2Prone to Rashes
If your skin frequently develops rashes, and sometimes you have small blisters or peeling on your hands and feet, or your face and hair are often oily and uncomfortable, this indicates dampness.
3Sticky and Unsatisfactory Stools
Normal stools should be of moderate consistency. If your stools resemble overripe bananas, soft and sticky, not forming well, and difficult to flush away, this indicates dampness and abnormal digestive absorption.
4Gaining Weight Even from Drinking Water
If you wake up in the morning feeling very sore and heavy in your calves, or notice a significant weight gain recently, this indicates a phenomenon of “false obesity,” which is also caused by excessive dampness in the body.
5Thick and Greasy Tongue Coating
If you notice a thick coating on your tongue or a swollen tongue with very obvious tooth marks on the edges, this indicates excessive dampness in your body, and you should adjust your condition promptly.
Eliminating dampness is the key to health!The lazier you are, the more you need to exercise.
People with excessive dampness in their bodies often lack exercise, but the less they exercise, the more dampness accumulates, which can lead to dampness obstructing the spleen and causing disease over time.
Exercise can relieve stress, promote the functioning of body organs, and accelerate the expulsion of dampness from the body.
1Eat Light and Moderate
The formation of internal dampness is mainly due to excessive intake of nutrients that are difficult to digest, turning into dampness; or consuming cold foods that affect the digestive absorption function of the stomach and intestines.
Recommendations: Reduce intake of alcohol, rich and fatty foods, sweets, and fried foods; avoid cold foods, ice products, or cooling vegetables and fruits.
2Avoid Damp Environments
The generation of dampness in our bodies is not only related to metabolic issues but also significantly influenced by the environment.
In daily life, be mindful: do not sleep directly on the floor, as it is damp and can easily invade the body, causing limb soreness; do not wear damp clothes, do not cover with damp blankets, and dry your hair and body after bathing.
3Poria and Job’s Tears Dampness-Removing Tea
Use 15-20 grams of Poria (Fu Ling), 20 grams of Job’s Tears (Yi Yi Ren), and 3 slices of ginger. Rinse the Poria and Job’s Tears with clean water, place them in a bowl with one and a half bowls of water, and soak for 30 minutes.
Add ginger (if you have a yellow and greasy tongue coating or a tendency to get heat, do not add ginger), bring to a boil, then simmer on low heat for 30 minutes until there is about one bowl of water left. Strain and drink while hot (for the second brew, add another bowl of water, bring to a boil, and simmer for 20 minutes; generally, it can be brewed three times).
Effect: This tea has the effects of clearing heat, strengthening the spleen, and eliminating dampness. If you have a cold constitution, you can add more ginger slices. Diabetics should avoid this tea.
Some images are sourced from the internet, please delete if infringing.
Editor: Jin Xiaoxin