Today, let’s talk about eliminating dampness. Why do many people have significant dampness but experience poor results even after taking many medications?
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, this is because the treatment is not targeted. There is a saying: “To eliminate dampness, one must first strengthen the spleen; to strengthen the spleen, one must first soothe the liver.”
Understanding this principle allows for more effective dampness elimination. Here’s a method to soothe the liver and strengthen the spleen, effectively clearing dampness!
1. Why is it said that to eliminate dampness, one must first strengthen the spleen?
The spleen governs transformation and transportation, and when its function is impaired, it generates dampness. The spleen’s function is to transform and transport the food and fluids ingested. If the spleen’s function is impaired, it leads to abnormal metabolism of fluids, causing them to accumulate in the body, which over time generates dampness.
Such individuals may experience oily hair, a greasy tongue coating, a sticky mouth, and often suffer from abdominal bloating, poor appetite, and diarrhea after consuming greasy foods. Therefore, to eliminate dampness, one must first strengthen the spleen; only when the spleen’s function is normal can dampness be transformed and eliminated.
2. Why is it said that to strengthen the spleen, one must first soothe the liver?
The liver wood overcomes the spleen earth, The spleen belongs to the earth element, while the liver belongs to the wood element; wood overcomes earth, meaning the liver can inhibit the spleen. The characteristics of trees are that their branches are expansive and grow upwards, and similarly, the liver’s characteristic is to “promote upward growth and smooth flow.” It does not like to be constrained. The liver governs the smooth flow of qi; if a person is often in a bad mood, it can lead to liver qi stagnation, which over time can inhibit the spleen and stomach, affecting the spleen’s transformation and transportation function.
Such individuals, in addition to having spleen deficiency and heavy dampness, often feel pain and fullness under the ribs, are frequently depressed, unhappy, and sigh often. Therefore, to strengthen the spleen, one must first smooth the liver qi to prevent the liver from overcoming the spleen.
For those with liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency, eliminating dampness should be done in two steps:First soothe the liver, then strengthen the spleen.
Soothe the liver: You can use Xiao Yao Wan or Chai Hu Shu Gan Wan, both of which are commonly used liver-soothing and qi-regulating formulas.
Strengthen the spleen + eliminate dampness: Most herbs that strengthen the spleen also have dampness-eliminating effects. You can use Shen Ling Bai Zhu San or Liu Jun Zi Wan, once the spleen is strengthened, dampness will naturally dissipate.
9 Herbs to Drive Away Cold
1. Heart Cold: Gui Zhi (blood stasis, dark blue tongue, profuse cold sweat)
2. Liver Cold: Wu Zhu Yu (vertex headache, lower abdominal pain, pale nails)
3. Lung Cold: Sheng Jiang (congested white phlegm, runny nose, cough with wheezing)
4. Kidney Cold: Fu Zi (cold hands and feet, bone-deep cold, lower back pain, weak knees)
5. Spleen Cold: Ding Xiang (thirst without desire to drink, sallow complexion, frequent diarrhea)
6. Stomach Cold: Hu Jiao (dull stomach pain, worsened by cold foods, nausea and acid reflux)
7. Bladder Cold: Wu Yao (frequent urination, clear and thin urine, urgency and incontinence)
8. Large Intestine Cold: Rou Gui (loose stools, abdominal pain with cold sensitivity)
9. Small Intestine Cold: Yin Xiang (lower abdominal cold pain, gurgling intestines)
3. What is “Damp Heat Accumulation”?
1. What is damp heat accumulation? Many people misunderstand this, so today we will learn together what damp heat accumulation is, what symptoms it presents, and how to regulate it.
The three burners of the human body: the upper burner is the heart and lungs, the middle burner is the spleen and stomach, and the lower burner is the kidneys, bladder, and large and small intestines.
Damp heat accumulation: refers to the internal dampness and heat evils clashing and forming damp heat, which flows downwards from the upper burner to the lower burner, resulting in damp heat accumulation.
This damp heat primarily originates from the spleen and stomach; the spleen and stomach in the middle burner are responsible for the transformation and transportation of fluids. Originally, this “dampness” should be transformed and eliminated by the spleen and stomach. However, if the spleen and stomach are weak, over time, stagnation can lead to heat generation, resulting in damp heat. Because dampness is heavy and turbid, damp heat tends to flow downwards to the lower burner.
2. What are the manifestations of “damp heat accumulation”?
The lower burner includes the kidneys, bladder, and large and small intestines, and damp heat accumulation affects all of them.
① First, the kidneys are most affected, presenting as: soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, cloudy urine, dampness in the male scrotum, possible nocturnal emissions and spermatorrhea, yellow and foul-smelling vaginal discharge in females, and vulvar itching.
② Next, the bladder is affected, presenting as: frequent urination, urgency, painful urination, sand-like particles in urine, and hematuria (blood in urine);
③ Then, the large intestine is affected, presenting as: abdominal pain, diarrhea, sticky and unsatisfactory stools, mucus or blood in stools, and short, red urine with a yellow greasy tongue coating.
④ Finally, the small intestine is affected; due to the relationship between the heart and small intestine, heart fire can descend to the small intestine, causing red and yellow urine, heat in urination, urgency, and continuous dribbling of urine, possibly with glycosuria.
All the above symptoms are caused by damp heat accumulation. How can we regulate this?
3. How to regulate “damp heat accumulation”?
Treatment principles: Generally, one should eliminate dampness first and then clear heat, because eliminating dampness can remove the “attachment” of the “heat evil.” To “remove the root,” one must strengthen the spleen, as damp heat originates from the spleen.Strengthening the spleen is essential to “cut off its source,” removing damp heat from the root so it does not flow to the lower burner.
If one does not understand where damp heat originates and only focuses on “clearing heat and eliminating dampness,” damp heat accumulation will recur and remain untreated.
Additionally, when clearing heat and eliminating dampness, attention must also be given tosoothing the liver and strengthening the spleen. This is because the spleen is responsible for the transformation of fluids, and the liver’s meridians circulate around the yin qi; the liver’s smooth flow function will also assist the spleen in transforming fluids.
Moreover, the heat generated within the body is related to the liver; when liver qi is stagnant, it can generate heat, which we refer to asliver and gallbladder damp heat.
Therefore, when clearing damp heat, it is important to pay attention tosoothing the liver and strengthening the spleen.
4. What is the difference between lower burner damp heat and damp heat accumulation?
① Lower burner damp heat: refers to the symptoms and location, where damp heat is present in the lower burner, leading to various issues.
It can cause many problems, such as damp heat in the large intestine, damp heat in the bladder, damp heat in the reproductive organs, damp heat in the skin, and damp heat in the joints, as well as dampness in the scrotum, referred to as lower burner damp heat.
② Damp heat accumulation: refers to the accumulation of damp heat in the lower burner, butthe damp heat originates from above and descends downwards. The source is the spleen and stomach, meaning that damp heat is generated in the “stomach,” flowing down along the liver meridian, as dampness tends to flow downwards, leading to damp heat accumulation in the lower burner.
This results in various symptoms in the lower burner: urinary issues, bowel issues, reproductive organ issues, skin issues, scrotal dampness, yellow and turbid vaginal discharge, vulvar itching, etc. These are all symptoms of lower burner damp heat. At this point, the cause of lower burner damp heat is due to damp heat accumulation.
Difference:Lower burner damp heat is damp heat that originates in the lower burner, while damp heat accumulation is damp heat that originates in the middle burner and migrates to the lower burner. To put it metaphorically, lower burner damp heat is like a “local bandit,” while damp heat accumulation is like a “migrant bandit.”
For men with lower burner damp heat, remember these 5 TCM formulas:
For men with lower burner damp heat, remember these 5 TCM formulas, as many men experience issues with lower burner damp heat, such as moisture in the groin area, which can lead to itching, rashes, and may even trigger inflammation or gout, causing pain in the toes and joints. Let’s learn about these TCM formulas together.
① Er Miao Wan: Composed of Cang Zhu and Huang Bai, it can clear heat and eliminate dampness, suitable for eczema, damp sores, and swelling and pain in the feet and knees caused by lower burner damp heat.
② Si Miao Wan: Based on Er Miao Wan, it adds Niu Xi to invigorate blood circulation and strengthen the liver and kidneys, enhancing the effect of guiding the medicine downwards; it also adds Yi Yi Ren to promote the smooth flow of meridians, suitable for redness and swelling, and joint pain caused by damp heat accumulation, making it a good option for gout symptoms.
③ Compound Jin Qian Cao Granules: Mainly used to clear lower burner damp heat. Symptoms include: scrotal dampness, frequent urination, urgency, painful urination, and waiting to urinate.
④ Shen Ling Bai Zhu San: Suitable for those with spleen deficiency and heavy dampness, presenting as sallow complexion, fatigue, and unformed stools.
⑤ Fen Qing Wu Lin Wan: Mainly used for yellow and red urine, frequent urination, urgency, and burning pain during urination caused by damp heat accumulation.
For women with lower burner damp heat, remember these 3 TCM formulas:
For women with lower burner damp heat, here are 3 TCM formulas that can help improve dampness in the body.
① Compound Jin Qian Cao Granules: Mainly clears lower burner damp heat, symptoms include: burning during urination, frequent urination, urgency, and symptoms of urethritis, making it suitable for taking Compound Jin Qian Cao Granules.
② Shen Ling Bai Zhu Wan: Suitable for those with spleen deficiency and heavy dampness, often feeling fatigued, waking up with edema, and even experiencing abdominal bloating and diarrhea.
③ Shi Du Qing: Suitable for skin itching caused by blood deficiency and dampness, it nourishes blood, moistens dryness, transforms dampness, and alleviates itching.
Note:
Reminder: The above content is for reference only and may not be suitable for everyone. It is recommended to regulate under the guidance of a physician.
