Foods known to cause dampness include: milk products (except yogurt), sugar and sweets, white-wheat flour, refined starch and highly processed starch products, excess raw fruits (sugar) and raw vegetables (mould from the soil), excess mushrooms and fungi, peppers, cold beverages (which immobilize immune cells on the …

How do I get rid of dampness in my body?

Acupuncture can help us eliminate the dampness in the body by helping promote circulation as well as supporting the body’s digestion center (spleen and stomach in Chinese medicine). The heat from moxibustion can also help to dry dampness.

Are eggs a damp food?

Damp foods and drinks include: Sugar and sweeteners. Eggs and meat.

What foods help with dampness?

• Grains. Corn, barley, basmati rice. Vegetables. …
• Asparagus, celery, Chinese cabbage. Fruit. Blueberry, cranberry. …
• Button mushroom, olive mushroom, watercress. Nuts. Almonds, walnuts. …
• Seaweed, radish, water chestnut. Fruit. …
• Mustard leaf, onion, scallion. Herbs and spices.

Is Turmeric Good for dampness?

Turmeric is a spice that is very anti-inflammatory, anti- dampness and is known to suppress the growth of new blood vessels necessary for the rapid growth of cancerous cells.

Is Avocado a damp food?

Smoothies are typically ice-cold, which have the tendency to put out digestive fire. Typical smoothie ingredients are also fairly cooling and damp, such as banana, avocado, coconut, protein powders, dairy, and nut butters.

What causes dampness in the body?

Dampness arises from the body being affected in several ways. It can be due to either a problem arising from the inability of the digestive system to transport fluids, or from the body being overwhelmed by external damp from the environment (damp weather, damp living conditions, damp-producing foods).

How can I strengthen my spleen?

1. lentils.
2. quinoa.
3. oats.
4. malted grain beverages.
5. root vegetables including sweet potato and taro.
6. pumpkin and other squash.
7. miso soup.
8. orange peels.

What emotion is connected to the spleen?

Worry is the emotion of the spleen/stomach/pancreas network, organs associated with the earth element. Too much pensiveness, worrying and insecurity can weaken our ability to digest – simply knot the energy. When we are worried to a state of anxiety, we find it hard to digest and accept a situation or life event.

What is dampness TCM?

Dampness is an imbalance arising from having too much moisture/water trapped in the body. You can see it as a little bit like water retention but not entirely and not exactly. It is a condition that you get when your body didn’t have the optimal condition to remove the excessive water in the body.

Article first time published on

Are tomatoes a damp food?

Therefore Chinese medicine identifies a number of especially dampening foods. These include sweet and sour foods such as citrus fruits and juices, and tomatoes; concentrated sweets such as sugar, molasses, and honey, and wheat, dairy products, nuts, oils and fats.

Is Ginger good for damp heat?

Foods and spices known to relieve dampness & dampness heat Eat more spices that contain yeast/fungus – inhibiting properties such as garlic, onion, cinnamon, ginger, scallion, basil, rosemary, dill, oregano, sage, parsley, cardamom, nutmeg, fennel, anise, clove, coriander, leek, chives.

How can I increase my spleen qi?

For example, to strengthen Spleen Qi, CM would suggest eliminating hard-to-digest foods (in particular raw or cold foods that can induce Dampness and Phlegm) while simultaneously eating more foods that tonify the Spleen.

Does tea cause dampness?

You feel hot at the lis and tongues, sometimes maybe the eyes too, feel energetic sometimes, but down very easily. Although most teas are diuretic, but not as many can help to dissipate humid toxins. … According to TCM theory, green tea can cause dampness (fluid/mucus retention) because it is astringent.

Is Matcha good for dampness?

Bringing balance to this body constitution requires clearing excess dampness. Green teas (like matcha, jasmine and mint green) are excellent for this. The unique antioxidants of rooibos also help support vitality.

Does China use turmeric?

While the ‘golden spice’ has recently taken the Western health market by storm, it has been a mainstay of Chinese traditional medicine for thousands of years. Known as jiang huang in China, turmeric has long been used as a water decoction, or tea, in the country and combined with other herbs to treat various maladies.

What is dampness evil?

Dampness makes the body susceptible to many diseases. It easily harms the “Yang” energy. Common symptoms of dampness: Head pain, chest tightness, sluggishness, sore or swollen joints, poor flexion and extension of limbs, sticky phlegm, and cloudy urine.

Is oatmeal good for dampness?

Oats are traditionally said to be soothing and restorative to the nervous and reproductive systems. They supplement Qi and Blood, strengthen nerves, muscles, and sinews, and dispel dampness. This makes oats suitable for pretty much everyone.

Is peanut butter a damp food?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, peanuts are considered thermally “hot” and also “damp”, which basically means they can exacerbate conditions like pain, heaviness, brain fog, grogginess in the morning, yeast issues, water weight, dandruff, sugar cravings, etc.

What herbs help spleen?

The Lamiaceae family have the most effective herbs for treatment of diseases of the liver, spleen or both. Hemp Agrimony, Irsā, and Fūdhanj achieved the highest scores.

What foods nourish the spleen?

Moderate quantities of cereals and pulses sustain good spleen function. Rice, wheat, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, lentils, dried beans, chickpeas and peas of all kinds should be eaten everyday. They can be accompanied by generous portions of vegetables, and sensible portions of meat or fish.

Which organ is responsible for anger?

Amygdala. The amygdala helps coordinate responses to things in your environment, especially those that trigger an emotional response. This structure plays an important role in fear and anger.

How do you keep your spleen healthy?

To keep your spleen, lymphatic system and immune system working properly, you should drink plenty of water, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight. Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. By staying healthy, you’ll help your immune system protect you from infections and illness.

Which tea is good for spleen?

When it comes to the Spleen, licorice helps with digestion and managing blood flow throughout the body. Try drinking licorice root tea after a meal–it’s nice and sweet and will help you digest your food. If you’re not a fan of tea, licorice is also usually available in pills and tinctures.

Is turmeric good for spleen?

The present results indicate that turmeric enhances spleen cell response in murine models.

Is Ginger good for the spleen?

Traditionally it has been used as remedy for different digestive problems, coughing, pain and general problems of metabolism. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine ginger has strong effects on Stomach, Lungs and Spleen meridians.

How can Chinese medicine reduce internal heat?

1. Eat “cool” foods. Watermelon, lemon, apple, pineapple, summer squash, radish, zucchini, spinach, and cucumber are the top “cooling” foods in TCM.
2. Avoid warm or damp foods. …
3. Stay hydrated. …
4. Wear lightweight clothing. …
5. Avoid sunburn.

What causes phlegm TCM?

“Phlegm” is mainly produced by a challenged digestive system (Spleen in TCM). It can either be because the Spleen is inherently weak or because we bombard it with too many heavy dietary factors; dairy, wheat, sugar, overconsumption of cold/raw food, and deep fried/greasy food being the largest culprits.

What does Ginger do in Chinese medicine?

HOW IS GINGER PREPARED IN TCM? 1. Fresh Ginger – Fresh Ginger has mild warming properties for the stomach, which is beneficial for digestive issues caused by Qi deficiency (low energy). Also, it has properties to dispel cold.

Is Ginger yin or yang?

Ginger is a hot food, which is Yang, with diaphoretic function while ginger skin is cool, which is Yin, with diuretic function.

What causes weak spleen?

Spleen Qi Deficiency is caused by overexertion, poor dietary habits, and/or emotional imbalances. Irregular eating,155 consuming cold or raw foods and drinks, skipping meals, not eating enough, or overeating all weaken Spleen Qi. Overthinking, worrying, or feeling anxious can lead to mental strain and harm Spleen Qi.