Dampness, as one of the six evils mentioned in traditional Chinese medicine, is characterized by heavy turbidity, stickiness and downward tendency. Compared with other evil spirits, dampness is particularly stubborn and can easily induce a variety of symptoms. In order to effectively dispel dampness, it needs to go through a long-term conditioning process. For some patients, their condition is more severe, and targeted treatment measures may be required to achieve the purpose of dampness.
1. How is moisture formed?
The birth of moisture is different from external invasion and internal invasion.
External dampness refers to the high humidity of the environment, which exceeds the normal metabolic capacity of the human body, and the humidity is turbid and sticky, which is easy to cause the body's qi to be poor and affect the normal operation.
Endogenous dampness stems from the dysfunction of the viscera, especially the abnormal movement of the spleen and stomach, and the subtlety of the water valley cannot be transmitted normally, and stagnation becomes phlegm and dampness.
The dampness is heavy, and the wood gas is overabundant in spring, which is more likely to lead to spleen and stomach disharmony, middle focus blockage, and phlegm and dampness endogenous. Therefore, we should pay attention to the changes in environmental humidity and reconcile the functions of viscera to maintain human health.
2. Symptoms of dampness trapped in the body
Typical manifestations of dampness attacks the body include persistent fatigue that does not originate from muscle aches. If soreness occurs, it may be caused by problems such as blood deficiency and lack of blood nourishment. In addition, the following symptoms may occur:
1. The body feels heavy and the head is groggy and refreshed, although there is no pain in the head.
2. Eczema may appear on the skin, accompanied by loss of appetite, sticky taste in the mouth, and loss of food taste.
3. When the tongue is sticking out, the tongue can be observed to be fat and pale in color. If the symptoms are severe, tooth marks may appear on the edge of the tongue, forming a shape that resembles a child's skirt, which is called "skirted tongue", indicating that the spleen is more serious and damp and sleepy.
Third, to dispel dampness, the diet should do the following
1. It is recommended to reduce the intake of sweets, which are prone to dampness and block the middle focus.
2. Try to avoid excessive consumption of herbal tea, because herbal tea is cold in nature and may damage the spleen and yang. When drinking herbal tea, you can add pepper, ginger, cardamom and other spicy ingredients in moderation to reconcile the medicinal properties and reduce adverse effects.
3. Aerobic exercise is an effective way to dispel dampness, such as brisk walking, running, ball games, tai chi and swimming. It is recommended that each exercise last about 30 minutes, which can be adjusted according to the individual's physical condition.
Three dampness remedies for you
Barley tea
1. Solution: Barley is cool, sweet and light, which is conducive to water dampness, spleen and diarrhea. This tea is made with barley as the main ingredient and is designed to help remove moisture from the body through the action of water.
2. Efficacy: It is suitable for symptoms such as limb edema, skin itching, and loss of appetite caused by moisture.
3. Analysis of modern pharmacological research: Modern pharmacological studies have shown that coix ester in coix has anti-cancer effects, and can also enhance immunity. In addition, coix in coix also has analgesic and antipyretic effects.
Poria porridge
1. Solution: Poria cocos has the effect of water infiltration, spleen and heart. This porridge uses Poria cocos as the main ingredient, and is designed to remove moisture from the body through the combined effect of water dilution and spleen strengthening.
2. Efficacy: It is suitable for symptoms such as limb edema, indigestion, insomnia and dreams caused by moisture.
3. Analysis of modern pharmacological research: Modern pharmacological studies have shown that the polysaccharides in Poria cocos have the effect of enhancing immunity and can also be anti-tumor.
Winter melon peel tea
1. Solution: Winter melon skin is beneficial to water and swelling, clearing heat and relieving heat. This tea uses winter melon skin as the main ingredient, which is designed to help remove moisture from the body through the action of water.
2. Efficacy: It is suitable for symptoms such as limb edema and skin itching caused by moisture.
3. Analysis of modern pharmacological research: Modern pharmacological studies have shown that the saponin components in winter melon peel have the effect of lowering cholesterol and antioxidant. At the same time, winter melon peel also has a certain anti-cancer effect.
In the theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine, dampness is considered to be a potential cause of many diseases. To this end, we offer three TCM formulas, each with its own unique pharmacological effects and applications. By drinking these herbal teas or ingesting related medicinal diets reasonably, the human body can eliminate dampness from the body in a targeted manner, and then effectively alleviate various symptoms caused by dampness.
Despite this, there are differences in each person's physical condition and disease status. Therefore, when using these prescriptions, we recommend that you choose a medicinal tea or medicinal diet that is suitable for you according to your specific situation. Please pay close attention to your body's reaction during use and seek medical attention immediately if you feel unwell. In addition, in order to effectively prevent the generation of moisture, it is also essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle and diet.
Source: Shanxi Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Editor-in-charge: Summer
Editor: Wang Jun