If you’ve been following me—or any acupuncturist—for very long, you’ve likely heard us use this dreaded word: Damp. If your Spleen Qi Deficiency (fatigue, bloated, loose stool) persists, then Dampness will likely accumulate.
Why am I Damp?
When your Stomach & Spleen (partner organs in TCM) aren’t happy, digestion suffers. You can’t absorb the nutrients you’re paying dearly for at the grocery store. And you can’t effectively eliminate the waste.
Your period cycles can get longer, with more pink spotting in between fresh red bleeds, and your ovaries can harbor many cysts…or, like me, eventually ovarian tumors.
Oh, and cystic acne.
It’s not your fault. Modern society tells us from a young age that raw veggies are the healthiest snack, raw cold salads are the healthiest lunch, and you should drink ice water all day.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. Traditional Chinese Medicine (what we acupuncturists are practicing) realized over the past 2,000 years of trial and observation that warm, cooked foods are almost always better than cold, raw foods.
Diets heavy in cold, raw foods and iced beverages lower digestive function and lead to a (now) common pattern of imbalance called “Spleen Qi Deficiency.” If this continues, it allows excess Dampness to accumulate around the body.
If we don’t resolve the Dampness soon, it can fester into Phlegm manifestations, which are even worse. Think polycystic ovaries or even tumors, yikes.
How Can I Resolve My Dampness?
Prevent dampness by keeping your Stomach like a warm bowl of soup at all times…limit iced drinks and raw salads, dairy and sugar.
If you’ve already got the dreaded Damp, I’ll adjust your food lists to include things like more spices and citrus rinds to help burn it off & drain it out.
Your exercise style should focus on gentle, warming activities that don’t overexert your precious deficient Qi (vital energy).
If you need more support, we have herbal formulas to kick-start the process. Book a Virtual Visit to find out your patterns of imbalance and get your custom holistic Wellness Plan to resolve them, naturally, for good.