To distinguish between damp-heat constitution and phlegm-damp constitution, we need to consider the symptoms and causes. Even though both are caused by dampness, the symptoms and causes differ. So how do we differentiate between damp-heat constitution and phlegm-damp constitution?
Different Symptoms:
Symptoms of Damp-heat Constitution:
1. Feeling of heaviness in the body, with noticeable fever in the afternoon that is not relieved by sweating; poor appetite with a bitter taste in the mouth, or alternating between feeling hot and cold; yellowish skin and red eyes.
2. Eruptions or boils easily appear on the skin; joints and tendons are often locally swollen and painful, especially in the limbs.
3. Stuffy and bloated abdomen, nausea, loss of appetite, short and red urine, loose stools; frequent and painful urination with yellow urine; abdominal pain, diarrhea, and burning sensation in the anus due to intestinal damp-heat.
4. People with a damp-heat constitution tend to have extreme body types, either overweight or underweight; they also tend to have an irritable temperament and cannot tolerate damp-heat environments.
5. Prone to catching colds, heat stroke, and other diseases.
Symptoms of Phlegm-damp Constitution:
1. Chest tightness, excessive phlegm, easy fatigue and drowsiness, feeling heavy and weak; a preference for fatty and sweet foods, with a thick white coating on the tongue and a swollen tongue.
2. Phlegm-damp constitution often manifests as obesity, with a full abdomen.
3. Prone to diseases such as diabetes, stroke, and chest congestion; poor adaptation to rainy and damp environments.
Different Causes:
Causes of Damp-heat Constitution:
Dampness refers to water dampness, which can be internal or external. Heat often coexists with dampness. External dampness refers to the environment, such as excessively humid weather or living in a damp environment, leading to a damp-heat constitution. Internal dampness is often related to digestive function, which is reflected in the spleen, responsible for nutrient absorption. Therefore, spleen deficiency is also one of the internal causes. Other external causes include the following:
1. Staying up late and indulging in smoking and drinking for a long time can lead to bad breath, dark teeth, and strong body odor; women may have strong genital odors and excessive vaginal discharge.
2. Improper nourishment: Excessive nourishment can make various organs of the body overly active, which can easily generate or worsen a damp-heat constitution.
3. Emotional repression: Accumulation of liver stagnation and inability to vent emotions for a long time can also aggravate damp-heat in the body.
4. Damp-heat environment: People who live in a damp-heat environment for a long time are more likely to develop a damp-heat constitution.
Causes of Phlegm-damp Constitution:
The internal cause of phlegm-dampness is the imbalance of organ functions related to gasification, resulting in the inability to properly transform qi, blood, and body fluids, leading to the accumulation of water dampness and the formation of phlegm, which then affects organ functions. Other external causes include the following:
1. Invasion of cold and dampness: Dampness invading the body due to damp weather, prolonged residence in wetlands, or exposure to rainwater can lead to the inability of the spleen and stomach to properly transform water dampness, resulting in the accumulation of phlegm-dampness.
2. Irregular diet: Overeating, consuming greasy and sweet foods excessively can damage the spleen and stomach, causing the inability of the spleen and stomach to transform water dampness, resulting in the internal generation of dampness and the accumulation of phlegm-dampness in the body.
3. Congenital factors: If someone has an inherent stomach heat, frequent consumption of greasy and sweet foods can often lead to the inability of the spleen to transform in a timely manner, resulting in the accumulation of dampness and the generation of phlegm.
4. Old age, chronic illness, or sedentary lifestyle: Weakness of the spleen and stomach due to old age or chronic illness leads to a decline in digestive function, resulting in the inability to transform qi and transport water; people who sit for long periods or do not exercise regularly have poor circulation of qi and blood, as well as poor spleen and stomach function, leading to the accumulation of water dampness and the formation of phlegm-dampness.
What to Eat for Damp-heat Constitution:
Bitter Gourd and Lotus Root Shreds:
Ingredients: 1 bitter gourd, 150g lotus root, appropriate amount of shreds, salt, white vinegar, vegetable oil, sesame oil, red pepper shreds, pumpkin, white sugar, ginger shreds, etc.
Method: 1. Wash the bitter gourd, remove the seeds, and cut into thin shreds; scrape off the outer skin of the lotus root and cut into shreds. Blanch the bitter gourd shreds, lotus root shreds, red pepper shreds, and pumpkin shreds in boiling water until they are partially cooked, then place them on a plate.
2. Heat a little vegetable oil in a pan, add ginger and stir-fry until fragrant, then add bitter gourd shreds, lotus root shreds, etc. Stir-fry briefly, then add white vinegar, white sugar, and sesame oil to mix.
Efficacy: Bitter gourd is cool in nature and can relieve heat, diuretic, and clear the mind. It is helpful for clearing heat and eliminating dampness. Lotus root clears heat and benefits the stomach, making it suitable for people with a damp-heat constitution.
Job's Tears and Old Duck Soup:
Ingredients: Half an old duck, 50g Job's Tears, spring onion segments, cooking wine, salt, vegetable oil, suitable amount.
Method: 1. Wash the duck and cut it into pieces. Blanch the duck in boiling water, then wash it and set it aside. Wash the Job's Tears and soak them in clean water for 30 minutes.
2. Heat a little vegetable oil in a pan, add spring onion segments and stir-fry until fragrant, then add the duck pieces, Job's Tears, cooking wine, and enough clear soup. Bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat for 1-1.5 hours until the duck meat is tender. Add salt to taste.
Efficacy: This dietary therapy can clear heat and reduce greasiness, making it very suitable for people with a damp-heat constitution.
What to Eat for Phlegm-damp Constitution:
Tangerine Peel with Lettuce:
Ingredients: 300g lettuce, 20g tangerine peel, suitable amount of salt, sesame oil.
Method: 1. Soak the tangerine peel in hot water, then cut it into fine pieces. Wash the lettuce and slice it thinly, then marinate it with a little salt.
2. Drain the water from the lettuce, put it in a bowl, and add the tangerine peel and salt. Drizzle with sesame oil and mix well.
Efficacy: Lettuce can clear heat and relieve fire, while tangerine peel can relieve thirst, dryness, and dissolve phlegm. This dish is a good choice for nourishing the spleen and stomach of people with a phlegm-damp constitution.
Sesame and Winter Melon Cubes:
Ingredients: 300g winter melon, 30g white sesame seeds, a small amount of red pepper, green bell pepper, suitable amount of sesame oil and salt.
Method: 1. Wash and peel the winter melon, remove the seeds, and cut into small cubes. Stir-fry the white sesame seeds until cooked, then put the winter melon cubes in a bowl and add white sesame seeds, red pepper, and green bell pepper. Mix well.
2. Drizzle with sesame oil and salt.
Efficacy: Winter melon can promote diuresis and detoxification, and relieve intestinal and stomach discomfort. Sesame can nourish the liver, kidneys, and intestines, and relieve dryness. It is helpful for people with a phlegm-damp constitution caused by spleen and stomach damage.
