Things We’d Love to Spend More Time Talking About in Clinic Episode One: Dampness
Dampness occurs naturally
There are often instances when we feel like we wish we had more time to explain things to our patients and clients in clinic and so we’ve decided to do some little posts as “episodes,” on some of these various topics!
Episode One? Dampness
In Chinese medicine, dampness occurs when your body’s digestive system struggles to transform food and fluids into usable energy, leading to symptoms like bloating, tiredness, and heaviness. Foods like dairy, sugar, and deep fried things can make it worse by slowing digestion — making it hard for the Spleen and other digestive organs to utilize the foods you’re putting into the body for fuel. It’s important to know that not everyone is equally affected by the same food—your individual constitution plays a big role.
Some people naturally have a "damp" constitution, meaning their bodies are more prone to retaining moisture, especially if they have weak digestion or tend to eat cold, raw foods. Others may be more prone to heat as well, where stress, spicy foods, or alcohol combine with moisture to create an environment where dampness turns into a sticky, inflamed substance (phlegm) that’s harder to eliminate.
The key is understanding your unique body type and adjusting your diet to balance both dampness and heat. Warm, cooked meals are great for clearing dampness, while cutting down on greasy, sugary, or overly spicy foods can help regulate both heat and moisture levels.
Dampness is a real thing, especially for those of us experiencing winter in the PNW!
More healthy dampness : )
Eat warm, cooked meals like soups, stews, and steamed vegetables to support digestion.
Avoid cold, raw foods like salads, smoothies, and iced drinks, which can slow down digestion.
Reduce sugar, dairy, and greasy foods, as they create excess moisture in the body.
Incorporate warming spices like ginger and cinnamon, which help dry out dampness and improve circulation.
Stay active to encourage circulation and help your body move excess fluids.
Avoid worry, when your mind starts to wander or get concerned with something in the future, know those thoughts are being financed by the body’s digestive energy otherwise using it in a way we’d rather not! Bring yourself back to the present moment and focus on what is here and now—this is a practice, a longstanding practice we all work on all the time!
Come get some acupuncture, we know how to combat dampness and warm up your spleen from the moment you walk in the door.
Collaboratively written with Lots of Digestive Love,