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Helena Barker ~ Acupuncture & Naturopathy

ACUPUNCTURE, TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

Dampness – How to resolve it…

AUGUST 18, 2013 | HELENABARKER | LEAVE A COMMENT
In traditional Chinese Medicine dampness comes from a failure to burn off or transform moisture in the
body. It is nearly always associated with a weak Spleen, often with a weak Kidney and sometimes a
weak Lung – all from a Chinese Medicine perspective.

In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) the Spleen is expressed as the digestive system, the Spleen is re-
sponsible for adapting food to nourish and support our system. This process is called ‘transportation
and transformation’. The stronger or Spleen function is the be�er we are able to extract nourishment
from any food to support our body’s needs.

Dampness can lodge in a specific part of the body or affect us more generally, dampness can make us
feel heavy and tired and it can make us swell up and it can obstruct our body’s functions.

Some people are more prone to damp than others, a tendency towards dampness can be aggravated by
living in damp conditions and places (ex. Ireland) or by a sedentary lifestyle. It needs the transformative
power of the body’s Yang Qi (energy) to stop it accumulating. Eating in ways which inhibit our Spleen
function or which injure the Yang Qi will increase our tendency towards damp.

Dampness may also be caused by pathogens lodged in the body which have not been properly expelled
or by the use of suppressant drugs.

Foods which promote dampness are:

◦ Dairy – milk, cheese, yogurts, ice cream – Sheep & Goats products are less dampening
◦ Wheat – breads, pastry’s, biscuits, all yeast products
◦ Pork & rich meat
◦ Processed foods, sugar & sweeteners
◦ Concentrated juice’s especially Orange & Tomato
◦ Beer
◦ Bananas – these are a big NO in TCM
◦ Saturated fats

In particular foods that need to be avoided are too much raw, cold, sweet & rich foods and the over--
consumption of fluid, especially cold water.

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Balancing your diet & life-
style is the key to wellness in
TCM

Dampness can be divided into three kinds:

Dampness

This is the generalised condition of dampness associated with weakness of the Spleen, in may manifest
in such ways as tiredness/aches in the limbs, digestive weakness or muzzy head. How it manifests de-
pends on our individual constitution.

Water

This describes a condition of edema where dampness is retained as water; this may be specific or general
in location. It causes us to swell, be become waterlogged.

Phlegm

This describes a more sticky manifestation of dampness. It often lodges in particular organs and com-
bines easily with heat or cold. Phlegm or mucus congeals and obstructs our functioning.

Resolving Dampness though food and Acupuncture:

All dampness is treated by strengthening the Spleen and may also need tonification of the Kidneys,
Lung and Yang. Phlegm demands the reduction of Phlegm-forming foods and the use of Phlegm- re-
solving foods. Water is helped by Water-removing (diuretic) foods. Acupuncture in conjunction with the
correct foods can help eliminate damp, water and phlegm.

Dampness is often the result of overeating or over-nutrition. It is important to support the Spleen to
avoid the over accumulation of Dampness.

Here are some tips on how to assist the Spleen with its digestive function:

◦ Joy – enjoy your food, have a good relationship with food

◦ Positive a�itude – welcome food as wholeheartedly as you can

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◦ Relaxation – the Chinese believe not to mix food with work, watching TV or reading, also important
to relax your posture as not to hinder the passage of food through your body.
◦ Chew well – well chewed food lessens the work for your digestive organs and increases the efficient
extraction of nutrients, it also warms chilled foods.
◦ Stop just before you are full – if you overeat at any one meal, you create stagnation, a temporary
queue of food waiting to be processed. This results in feeling tired.
◦ Don’t flood the Spleen – the Spleen does not like too much fluid with a meal. A li�le warm fluid with
a meal is helpful; nut too much dilutes the Spleen’s action and weakens digestion.
◦ Don’t chill the Spleen – too much raw or chilled food or fluid will also weaken the Spleen, the diges-
tive process needs warmth.
◦ Eat your main meal early – when your main meal is eaten late at night, your system is naturally
slowing down and the food will sit around longer and creates stagnation.

Foods which resolve Dampness

Aduki bean Caraway Garlic Mackerel Pumpkin

Alfalfa Cardamon Green Tea Marjoram Quail

Anchovy Celery Horseradish Mushroom (bu�on) Radish

Asparagus Clove Jasmine Tea Mustard leaf Rye

Barley Coriander Kidney bean Onion Scallion

Basil Corn Kohlrabi Oregano Turnip

Buckwheat Daikon Lemon Parsley Umeboshi plums

Foods which resolve Water

Aduki bean Broad bean Grape Pea Seaweed

Alfalfa Celery Kelp Plantain Squash

Anchovy Clam Kidney bean Plum Tea

Barley Fenugreek Le�uce Raspberry leaf Watercress

Basil Corn Mackerel Rice Water Chestnut

Black Soybean Duck Mungbean Sardine

Foods which resolve Phlegm

Almond Grapefruit Mustard seed Peppermint Tea

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Apple peel Lemon peel Olive Plantain Thyme

Black pepper Liquorice Onion Radish Walnut

Celery Marjoram Orange peel Seaweed Watercress

Clam Mushroom (bu�on) Pear Shiitake

Garlic Mustard leaf Pepper Shrimp

If you would like any further recommendations or advice regarding Chinese food therapy and
Acupuncture please do not hesitate to contact me.

Reference

Helping Ourselves – A Guide to Traditional Chinese Food Energetics – Daverick Legge�

ACUPUNCTURE DIET HEALTH NATURAL MEDICINE

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