Promoting health knowledge for a better life

Click below to follow for free↓↓↓

The term “dampness” is now widely recognized. People often drink dried tangerine peel tea or eat Job’s tears porridge to eliminate dampness. However, after trying these methods, the results are often unsatisfactory. So how exactly can we remove dampness?

What exactly is “dampness”?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), dampness is a concept that can also be referred to as “damp evil” (shī é). This damp evil is divided into external dampness and internal dampness. As the name suggests, external dampness refers to the invasion of damp evil into the body due to long-term residence in damp and cold environments.

Internal dampness, on the other hand, arises from within the body, such as from long-term consumption of cold, raw foods or greasy, heavy foods, which can damage the spleen and stomach, leading to improper transformation and transportation of fluids, resulting in dampness. In TCM, internal dampness is considered a pathological product that can cause numerous bodily symptoms. Modern medical conditions such as arthritis pain, coronary heart disease, pneumonia, and gastric ulcers are all related to dampness.

Heavy Dampness Is Often Related to Spleen Deficiency

From a TCM perspective, the spleen governs transformation and transportation, processing food and fluids. If the spleen is damaged and weak, its ability to transform and transport is diminished, leading to the stagnation of dampness. If not addressed for a long time, this can easily result in heavy dampness.

Everyone can check if they have heavy dampness. In TCM, there is a saying: “A thousand cold conditions are easy to remove, but dampness is hard to eliminate!” Removing dampness is not an overnight task; it requires persistence. As mentioned earlier, while Job’s tears and dried tangerine peel can help eliminate dampness, consistent use is necessary to see results. If one gives up halfway, the effects of dampness removal will naturally be minimal.

Additionally, while we often say that food supplements are better than medicinal supplements, for cold-natured foods like Job’s tears, long-term consumption may burden the spleen and stomach, worsening the condition.

Today, the doctor will share a method for removing dampness that even those with poor spleen and stomach health can use long-term.

In fact, exercise and sweating are good methods for removing dampness, but with the hot weather approaching, many people are reluctant to exercise. No worries, you can try using Sanfu Plaster (sān fú tiē).

Sanfu Plaster has a long history, dating back to the Qing Dynasty. It is one of the best methods for expelling cold and dampness under the concept of “treating winter diseases in summer”.

The Sanfu period is the time when Yang energy is at its peak during the summer. We can utilize this time by using some warm and spicy herbs, which are processed into a paste and made into plasters, applied to specific acupuncture points to achieve the effect of dampness removal.

Of course, during the dampness removal phase, diet is particularly important. The spleen is the source of dampness and phlegm production, so it is advisable to consume foods that benefit the spleen and stomach, such as the following 4 items.

1. Poria (Fú Lìng)

Poria is sweet and bland, with a neutral nature. It promotes diuresis and dampness elimination, strengthens the spleen and stomach, and calms the mind, with a primary focus on dampness removal. Additionally, it can strengthen the spleen, enhancing its ability to transform and transport fluids, thus achieving dampness removal.

2. Chinese Yam (Shān Yào)

Chinese yam is well-known, with a sweet taste and neutral nature. It nourishes the spleen and stomach, generates fluids, benefits the lungs, and nourishes the kidneys. While its dampness removal ability may not compare to Poria, it is beneficial for the spleen, lungs, and kidneys, which are all related to fluid metabolism, thus aiding in dampness removal.

3. Fox Nut (Qiàn Shí)

Fox nut is sweet and astringent, with a neutral nature. It benefits the kidneys, secures essence, strengthens the spleen, stops diarrhea, and eliminates dampness. Its astringent properties help alleviate diarrhea caused by heavy dampness.

4. Lotus Seed (Lián Zǐ)

Lotus seed is quite similar to fox nut, but in addition to benefiting the spleen and stopping diarrhea, it also nourishes the heart and calms the mind. It can help alleviate insomnia caused by spleen and stomach disharmony.

The above 4 food-medicinal materials, when combined, can be referred to as “Four Gods Soup” (Sì Shén Tāng). While they have a good nourishing effect on the spleen, they are all sweet herbs, so those with heavy dampness should still control their intake.

Promoting health knowledge for you

Click below to follow for free↓↓↓

Editor shares good articles with friends

1. Heavy damp-heat in the lower jiao? Using Longdan Decoction, but it keeps recurring? Here’s a tip on how to use it correctly

2. What are the symptoms of a damp-heat constitution? What is it related to? How to improve it?

3. So precious! Over 800 folk remedies, there’s no illness that can’t be adjusted, save for future use!

4. The most comprehensive collection of Tui Na techniques videos—if you want to learn Tui Na massage, hurry and save it!

Like is a form of encouragement Share to spread joy