Expert interviewed: Zhou Fusheng (Professor of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chief Traditional Chinese Medicine Physician, Doctoral Supervisor, Spleen and Gastroenterologist, Nationally Famous Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor, Famous Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor in Guangdong Province)

When it comes to removing dampness, many people’s first reaction is to eat barley and adzuki beans. However, after taking it for a few days, I found that not only was it ineffective, but I felt even more uncomfortable. What's the problem? How to get rid of dampness?

There are three ways to remove dampness, with different mechanisms.

Let me first ask a question: What is the method to remove a pool of water on the ground?

There is an answer in Li Yongcui's "Sheng Zhi Hui Bu": "Wind defeats dampness, dryness defeats dampness, and light infiltration dampness is used. The three are exhausted." This means that you can use wind to blow dry (aromatically dissolve dampness) ), you can use dry things to absorb it (dry the moisture), or you can drain it through the sewer (drain the moisture). These three methods are enough.

Aromatic and dehumidifying, like a breeze, it can dry out all moisture. It can be used regardless of cold and dampness, dampness and heat. Representative medicines include Agastache, Amomum villosum, white cardamom, Perrin, etc. To dry dampness, the representative drugs are mainly Magnolia officinalis, Atractylodes, Caoguo, etc.

The common barley and adzuki bean medicines are diuretic and dampness-removing medicines. Although they have the effect of removing dampness, their strength is slow, the dosage is large, and they need to be taken for a long time. The effect will be natural after taking it a few times. Not good. Moreover, barley is slightly cold. If you have a cold-damp constitution, taking barley for a long time may have adverse effects.

These three methods of removing dampness have different mechanisms and should be used in combination as needed.

Dampness can be divided into cold and heat, so you need to choose the right medicinal materials.

Dampness can be divided into cold and heat. Dampness has different manifestations depending on the cold and heat, and the methods of removing dampness are also different.

◎ Cold and Damp

People with cold and damp constitutions tend to eat raw and cold foods, such as cold drinks, ice cream, etc. Common symptoms include a pale tongue with white and greasy coating; sensitivity to cold or aggravation of cold symptoms; abdominal pain and diarrhea when eating cold foods; a pale mouth and dislike of drinking water; fatigue easily, and in severe cases, swollen hands and feet, and swollen eyelids.

To regulate and remove dampness, you should warm the body and dispel cold. Avoid raw and cold food, and use moxibustion to dispel cold and dampness. Medicinal diet is suitable for choosing neutral or warm ingredients, such as ginger, pepper, tangerine peel, Amomum villosum, etc. You can also choose appropriate spleen-strengthening ingredients such as Codonopsis pilosula, Poria cocos, and Huaishan. Chinese patent medicines such as Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction and Linggui Zhugan Decoction are preferred.

It is not advisable to use cold ingredients to avoid aggravating spleen deficiency and dampness.

◎ Damp and hot

People with a damp and hot constitution tend to eat fried and barbecued foods. If subdivided, there are three types of damp heat: moisture is more important than heat, heat is more important than moisture, and dampness is more important than heat. The performance is slightly different.

Generally speaking, people with damp-heat constitution often present with red or purple tongue, yellow and greasy tongue coating; no desire to eat, upper abdominal distension; bitter mouth, dry mouth, sticky mouth; sores on the mouth and tongue, and lip ulcers. Red face; drowsiness and weakness, not sleeping enough for a long time, headache and weight loss; sticky stools, hot and painful anus after defecation; burning in urine; irritability, mental irritability, etc.

Different types of damp-heat treatment require slightly different treatments and medications. The general principle is to clear away heat and dry away dampness. You can use cold ingredients appropriately for conditioning, such as mung beans, loofah, adzuki beans, watermelon, winter melon, chicken bone grass, smilax, yinchen, dandelion, barley, etc. Chinese patent medicines include Huoxiang Zhengqi Powder, Wang's Lianpu Drink, etc.

It is not advisable to use warm ingredients, eat less spicy, greasy and sweet foods, and avoid alcohol to avoid "adding fuel to the fire". Cold and cool products can easily damage the spleen and stomach, and should not be taken in large amounts for a long time.

"Sheng Zhi Hui Bu" also says: It is not suitable to treat dampness with heat or cold. How to grasp this degree? It is best to ask a professional Chinese medicine practitioner to check.

For rheumatism in joints, do not take medicine without permission

Rheumatism in Chinese medicine is completely different from that in Western medicine. Rheumatism in Western medicine is mostly a disease of the immune system; in traditional Chinese medicine, rheumatism refers to pain, numbness, and difficulty in flexion and extension in muscles, joints, meridians, muscles, etc. caused by wind, cold, and dampness, which can be subdivided into wind evil Types such as excessive excess, severe dampness evil and severe cold evil.

There are different types of rheumatism in traditional Chinese medicine, and the treatment methods and drugs will also have different emphasis.

The general principle is to dispel dampness, dispel cold, and relieve pain. It is often used together with drugs for strengthening bones and muscles and tonifying kidneys (such as Duhuo, Qianghuo, Fangji, Lorus, Acanthopanax, etc.).

Rheumatism is mostly a chronic disease, and medicines are often taken in the form of pills or medicinal wine. Because antirheumatic drugs are dry in nature, long-term use can easily deplete yin blood. For safety reasons, they should be used under the guidance of a doctor and cannot be chosen by yourself.

Taking some rheumatism-repelling medicines and soaking your feet in boiled water can also help promote blood circulation and relieve symptoms.

Recommended foot soaking recipe

30 grams of rhubarb, 30 grams of sour root, 20 grams of cinnamon, 10 grams of safflower, and appropriate amount of ginger. Add water to boil, let it cool slightly, and soak your feet. It is best to immerse your ankles in the water for 15 to 30 minutes each time.

These medicated meals are suitable for all ages

Many people may be confused after seeing this. Everyone’s constitution is different, and the methods of removing dampness are divided into different categories. There are not some A simple and easy universal method to remove dampness?

In the Lingnan area, many housewives are good at making soup. In fact, drinking some medicated soup and tea can remove the dampness evil as soon as it shows its signs.

Spleen-strengthening and dampness-removing tea

10 grams of Huoxiang, 10 grams of Peilan, 10 grams of Tongcao, 10 grams of perilla leaves, 20 grams of Yunling, 10 grams of white komong kernels (bottom below), 30 grams of malt, 10 grams of tangerine peel, 10 grams of apricot, and 10 grams of Oregano.

Efficacy: aromatic and turbid, strengthens the spleen and stomach, guides stagnation and eliminates food. It mainly treats internal and external dampness, especially suitable in humid seasons.

Usage: 1 dose per day, boil water instead of tea. Use 3 to 5 doses in a row, and then stop using it after getting rid of it.

Spleen-invigorating and damp-removing soup

1. 30-60 grams of five-finger peach, 30 grams of raw coix seed, 3-4 slices of ginger, 10 grams of tangerine peel, and 10 grams of yinchen.

2. 30 grams of astragalus, 10 to 15 grams of kapok, 10 to 15 grams of plumeria, 10 grams of tangerine peel, and 3 to 5 red dates.

3. Stir-fried 20 grams of Atractylodes macrocephala, 30 grams of Yunling, 5 grams of tangerine peel, 30 grams of fried lentils, and 10 to 15 grams of kapok.

Effects: Strengthen the spleen, remove dampness, and replenish qi.

Usage: The three prescriptions are all based on "Southern medicine", with Lingnan characteristics, and can be used for daily health care. It can be cooked with lean pork in soup, simmer for about 1 hour until the meat is cooked and then seasoned and eaten.