Dampness is a yin disorder characterized by excessive moisture in the body caused by the
environment, poor diet, or internal organ weakness. Most commonly associated with the spleen,
dampness creates a thickness about the body in the form of mucus, excess water, stagnation, poor
circulation, and swelling. When the spleen is weak, digestion is weak, causing many unpleasant
symptoms that are worse in the heat of summer. Through proper diet, hydration, acupuncture,
and cupping, symptoms and more serious conditions can be relieved. Understanding what types
of symptoms you are experiencing can help you pick the proper course of treatment, and stay
cool in these hot summer months.
Internal and Environmental Symptoms
Internal Dampness:
● Mucoid deposits like cysts, edema, tumors
● Overgrowth of yeasts, viruses, bacteria, or parasites
● Difficulty moving joints
● Numbness
● Swelling
● Localized pain
● Poor digestion
● Lack of appetite
● Bloating in abdomen
● Diarrhea
● Headaches
● Thick or greasy coating on the tongue
● Excess phlegm, causing coughing
Summer heat symptoms:
● Excess sweating
● Lethargy, mental and physical fatigue
● Fever
● Nausea or upset stomach
● Dizziness
● Whole body heaviness, or heaviness in arms and legs
● Irritability
● Stuffiness in the chest
● Swelling and bloating
● Do not confuse summer heat and dampness symptoms with heat stroke.
If you are experiencing symptoms like rapid heart rate, fainting, dark urine, then seek immediate medical attention.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a great resource for relieving symptoms of dampness. Particular acupuncture
points are stimulated that release heat and support the spleen. Acupuncture also increases
circulation and supports digestion. Cupping can remove dampness, open meridians, eliminate stagnation, promote Qi and blood circulation, reduce swelling and pain, promote detoxification, and relieve fatigue, all common dampness symptoms.
Diet
Consuming dairy, greasy or heavy foods, and anything fried can exacerbate damp symptoms, but conveniently it seems that these foods are instinctually less appealing when the weather is warm. Our bodies crave cooling and refreshing foods that help keep our body temperature down and keep us hydrated. Foods like watermelon, cucumber and mung bean soup are naturally cooling and help regulate body temperature. Roasted root vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, and radishes strengthen the spleen, and steamed leafy greens like kale and spinach eliminate dampness by supporting the body’s natural detox pathways. Though garlic, ginger, and onions are warming, this very attribute helps dispel dampness by improving circulation and reducing swelling. Eating whole grain foods that are easy to digest, like brown rice, quinoa, barley, and oats, helps support the spleen.
Dampness is considered a spleen deficiency, so focusing on nutritionally supporting the spleen will help eliminate many symptoms of dampness. Avoid raw or cold foods if you regularly experience weakness, coldness, or watery stools. This can be a sign that your digestive process is not strong enough to support the energy required to break down raw food, so lightly cooked and warm foods are better for proper digestion. Other foods like meat, dairy, butter, eggs, nuts, seeds, processed, and high sugar content foods are best avoided to heal from dampness. Eat earlier in the day and smaller portions at a time.
Also, staying hydrated is crucial. Increased water intake is essential, but room temperature water is best, despite the urge for ice cold water on a hot day. When cold water is consumed, it can weaken the spleen and stomach because both organs need a regulated and moderate temperature to function properly. The stomach will work at warming the cold water up by drawing heat from the lower body, weakening circulation and causing swelling, a common symptom of dampness.
Mint tea is a cooling water alternative that is known to relieve heat in the head and chest. Other herbal teas like cardamom, ginger, fennel, chrysanthemum, and lotus leaf are known to clear dampness and promote proper fluid balance within the body. One more liquid to consider is coconut water, or other naturally electrolyte rich drinks.
When experiencing extreme temperatures, ingesting only water can dilute the salts in the body, so replenishing with electrolytes is important. Coconut water is known to reduce swelling, promote stress relief, aid digestion, is a great dairy alternative, and has naturally occurring electrolytes to keep you hydrated.
Dampness is an unpleasant feeling, but with proper diet and acupuncture, relief is possible. Remember to keep yourself cool, refrain from lengthy outdoor activities on the hottest days, and stay hydrated with more than just water. Helping your digestion with proper nutrition will help your body function at its best, and will keep you cool all summer long.
Resources
● https://www.northshoreacupunctureandnaturalmedicine.com/north-shore-acupuncture- blog/foods-summerheat#:~:text=Traditional%20Chinese%20Medicine%20%2D%20Summer%20Heat&text=The%20element%20of%20dampness%20can,body%20and%20elevate%20its%20symptoms.
● Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition- Paul Pitchford
● https://www.macupuncture.com/copy-of-hidden-hazards-of-iced-water#:~:text=The%20Chinese%20believe%20that%20all,in%20order%20to%20function%20properly.
● https://kitchenofyouth.com/5-ways-coconut-water-can-improve-your-life/#:~:text=In%20Chinese%20medicine%2C%20we%20use,urinary%20tract%20infections%2C%20and%20herpes.
● https://www.totemacupuncture.com/blog/what-is-dampness-in-the-body
● https://www.samanthalawacupuncture.com/post/dampness-in-chinese-medicine-how-to-resolve-it