In traditional Chinese medicine, dampness is considered an evil force, along with "wind, cold, heat, dryness, and fire," collectively known as the six pathogenic factors. It is an important cause of various discomfort symptoms in the body. When there is an excessive amount of dampness in the body, not only will one experience mental fatigue and loss of appetite, but it will also greatly increase the likelihood of developing conditions such as arthritis, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Removing dampness from the body is an important means to ensure health.
So how can you accurately determine if you have an excessive amount of dampness in your body? Be cautious when experiencing the following symptoms:
Fatigue and lethargy
When you wake up feeling tired, with lingering drowsiness and abnormal mental fatigue, it is often described as feeling "wrapped in dampness."
Thick white tongue coating
Under normal circumstances, the surface of the tongue is covered with a thin white coating. However, when there is an excessive amount of dampness in the body, the tongue coating becomes thicker and darker, appearing milky white or light yellow.
Sticky and loose stools
When there is an excessive amount of dampness in the body, the characteristics of the stools will also change. Normally, stools have a moderate level of moisture and can be formed. However, when there is an excessive amount of dampness, the stools become sticky and loose, and may adhere to the toilet bowl, making it difficult to flush.
Body swelling
An excessive amount of dampness in the body can also cause changes in physical appearance, such as increased eye bags, facial and lower limb swelling, weight gain, and a bloated figure.
When these symptoms occur, it indicates that there is an excessive amount of dampness in your body, and it is necessary to eliminate the dampness promptly. As the saying goes, "It is easy to eliminate a thousand chills, but difficult to remove dampness." Getting rid of dampness is not easy, but in order to achieve it effectively, it is important to know the causes of dampness.
In fact, most of the dampness in the body comes from what we eat, so it is necessary to make dietary adjustments. First, avoid consuming excessive amounts of cold, greasy, and high-sugar foods that produce dampness. Second, it is essential to consume foods that help eliminate dampness. Here is a recommended one.
Coix seed, known as "water ginseng" in traditional Chinese medicine, is considered to have a sweet and neutral taste and is believed to have the effects of tonifying the middle and reinforcing qi, and eliminating dampness and stopping leukorrhea. It is a food ingredient that can also be used as medicine. It has a more effective dampness-eliminating effect compared to common dampness-eliminating ingredients such as barley, and is rich in amino acids, fats, proteins, and other nutrients, with the additional benefit of tonifying the spleen and nourishing the kidneys. How can coix seed be consumed? Here are a few recommendations.
Coix seed and tremella congee
Prepare an appropriate amount of coix seed, tremella, and rice. Soak the tremella until it softens, tear it into pieces, and wash the rice before setting it aside. Add an appropriate amount of water to a pot, then pour all the ingredients into the pot. Simmer over low heat until the ingredients become soft and the congee becomes thick, then it is ready to be consumed.
Mung bean and coix seed soup
Prepare an appropriate amount of mung beans, coix seed, and lotus seeds. Rinse the ingredients thoroughly, then pour them into a pot with enough water. Stew for about 2 hours until the ingredients are cooked and soft, then add an appropriate amount of sugar for seasoning before consuming.
These two dampness-eliminating food therapies are both simple and delicious. Friends with dampness in their bodies, give them a try!
This article was created by Jiangsu Minfukang Technology Co., Ltd. All rights reserved by Jiangsu Minfukang Technology Co., Ltd. No reproduction without permission.
