This summer has been exceptionally hot! High temperature warnings have been issued across the country!
Feeling so hot that you are sweating, as if just pulled out of the water, and the sun can easily scorch you. This image shared by netizens is quite vivid.
Image source: @Internet
Hot, hot, hot, unable to sleep soundly at night, waking up without energy in the morning, feeling weak and lethargic, often accompanied by a heavy head and headaches, as if your head is wrapped in layers.
If you experience these symptoms, you are likely suffering from a “Phlegm-Damp Constitution”. The phlegm and dampness in your body are binding you, making it hard to move.
This constitution is particularly difficult to endure in summer. Why is that?
Because the high temperatures in summer are very humid, and when the temperature rises, you often turn on the air conditioning, eat cold drinks, fruits, and enjoy barbecues, all of which contribute to dampness.
Moreover, the summer heat and dampness can easily invade the body, further exacerbating the level of phlegm and dampness. So how can you determine if you have phlegm and dampness in your body?
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Loose stools that easily stick to the toilet;
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Swollen tongue, slippery and thick coating, tongue color pale or yellow, often with teeth marks on the sides;
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Constantly not wanting to eat, feeling phlegm in the throat, especially when eating, feeling nauseous after a little food, or experiencing abdominal bloating and discomfort;
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Often feeling weak, sleepy, and lacking energy, with a heavy feeling in the limbs and a foggy mind as if wrapped in cloth;
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Overweight individuals often have phlegm, appearing chubby, especially in the abdomen and thighs, with love handles and elephant legs;
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Cold intolerance, the lower abdomen feels cool to the touch, and prone to diarrhea;
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Complexion dull and yellow, hair and face feeling greasy;
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Swollen eye bags, and the body is prone to edema.
If you have more than three of these symptoms, your body is likely dominated by phlegm and dampness. Do you know what a phlegm-damp constitution is?
/ What is a Phlegm-Damp Constitution /
The term “phlegm” in phlegm-damp constitution refers not only to the tangible phlegm but also to an intangible form of phlegm, which usually indicates an imbalance in the functions of the organs, leading to dysfunction in the movement of qi, blood, and fluids, resulting in the accumulation of dampness and phlegm, manifesting as phlegm-dampness within the body.Phlegm is caused by the poor movement of dampness, hence it is often referred to as “phlegm-damp”..
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that, phlegm is a more advanced form of dampness, and the emergence of phlegm-dampness is fundamentally due to metabolic issues, which can lead to numerous diseases, such as obesity, chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes, menstrual irregularities in women, and even tumors, all of which are closely related to excessive dampness in the body according to TCM.
In fact, nine out of ten people are troubled by dampness.Phlegm-damp constitution not only has a certain genetic tendency but also poor lifestyle habits and environmental conditions can easily lead to this constitution.
Especially in summer, with more rain, it is easier to exacerbate dampness; combined with daily consumption of cold drinks, chilled watermelon, and air conditioning, it is easy to develop a “phlegm-damp constitution”; those who love to eat meat are also prone to excessive dampness.
According to traditional TCM theory, eating meat easily generates phlegm, which is related to the condensation of phlegm and dampness. Additionally, lack of exercise and long-term staying up late can also lead to the occurrence of phlegm-damp constitution.
TCM has a saying, “All diseases are caused by phlegm”; those with this constitution often also experience dysfunction of the liver, gallbladder, spleen, and stomach, as well as endocrine disorders, so it is particularly important to regulate phlegm-damp constitution in summer. If you have a phlegm-damp constitution, the following set of nurturing methods may help you, so let’s take a look!
/ Regulation Plan for Phlegm-Damp Constitution /
1. Gua Sha
Gua Sha can invigorate yang energy, strengthen the spleen and qi, promote metabolism, and help resolve dampness and phlegm. It can also improve symptoms caused by the accumulation of dampness within the body.
Moreover, regular Gua Sha can also prevent diseases commonly associated with phlegm-damp constitution.
[Gua Sha Points]: Zhongwan (中脘), Qihai (气海), Feiyu (肺俞), Piyu (脾俞), Zusanli (足三里).
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2. Moxibustion
Moxibustion stimulates the meridians through heat, thereby regulating the body’s immune function. It has a certain regulatory effect on conditions of weak yang energy and excessive phlegm-dampness.
[Moxibustion Points]: Zhongwan (中脘), Shuifen (水分), Shenque (神阙), Guanyuan (关元), Yinlingquan (阴陵泉).
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3. Dietary Therapy
Individuals with a phlegm-damp constitution often have stagnant fluids and accumulated phlegm, so it is advisable to avoid sweet, sticky, greasy, and cold foods.
The diet should be light, and it is recommended to consume more foods that strengthen the spleen, eliminate dampness, and promote qi and phlegm transformation, such as Ginkgo (白果), Red Beans (红小豆), Winter Melon (冬瓜), Loofah (丝瓜), Carp (鲤鱼), Job’s Tears (薏米), Poria (茯苓), and Cotton Flower (木棉花).
Yunling Bai Zhu Powder and Poria Soup
[Ingredients]: Yunling (云苓) 30g, Bai Zhu (白术) 15g, Fresh Poria (粉葛) 250g, Lean Meat 100g, Dried Tangerine Peel (陈皮) 20g, Salt to taste.
[Method]: Add an appropriate amount of water to a clay pot, boil over high heat, then add all the above ingredients. Once it boils again, switch to medium heat and simmer for about 60 minutes, adding salt to taste.
[Effects]: Strengthens the spleen, generates fluids, transforms phlegm, and eliminates dampness.
4. Lifestyle and Daily Routine
Keep your living environment dry, and wear breathable clothing to disperse dampness;in humid and cold weather, reduce outdoor activities to avoid getting cold and wet.
If you get wet in the rain, be sure to dry off promptly.
5. Gradual Exercise
Those with a phlegm-damp constitution are often overweight and easily fatigued, so it is important to maintain regular physical exercise, such as walking, swimming, Tai Chi, and Ba Duan Jin (八段锦)..The amount of activity should gradually increase, allowing loose flesh to gradually transform into firm, dense muscle..
Additionally, when exercising, wear loose clothing made of breathable natural fibers like cotton, linen, or silk, which helps sweat evaporation and removes dampness from the body.
In conclusion, a phlegm-damp constitution is a type of constitution that makes one prone to illness. If we do not properly regulate it in our daily lives, it can easily lead to the onset of diseases and harm our health. Therefore, when you find that you have a phlegm-damp constitution, it is best to actively regulate it and take preventive measures against diseases.
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