In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), damp heat is a common pathological condition that refers to an excessive accumulation of moisture and heat in the body. This imbalance can result from various factors, such as a diet rich in greasy and spicy foods, exposure to damp or humid environments, or chronic stress.
The damp heat mechanism can affect various organ systems and present with a wide range of symptoms. Here are some of the most common manifestations of damp heat in TCM:
Digestive Symptoms: Damp heat can affect the digestive system, leading to symptoms such as abdominal distension, bloating, diarrhea or constipation, and foul-smelling stools. Patients may also experience nausea, vomiting, or a lack of appetite.
Skin Symptoms: Excess damp heat in the body can also manifest on the skin, causing itching, rashes, or eruptions. These skin conditions may be red, swollen, and weepy, with a yellow or greenish discharge.
Urinary Symptoms: Damp heat can also affect the urinary system, leading to symptoms such as painful and burning urination, dark and strong-smelling urine, and a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying.
Gynecological Symptoms: Women may experience gynecological issues related to damp heat, such as vaginal discharge that is yellow or green in color, foul-smelling, or itchy. They may also experience menstrual irregularities or painful periods.
Respiratory Symptoms: Damp heat can also affect the respiratory system, leading to symptoms such as cough with yellow or green phlegm, fever, sore throat, and chest congestion.
Emotional Symptoms: Excess damp heat in the body can also affect a person’s emotional well-being, leading to feelings of irritability, anger, or frustration. Patients may also experience a sensation of heaviness or lethargy, making them feel sluggish or lazy.
TCM practitioners use various methods to diagnose and treat damp heat, such as pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis, and acupuncture. Treatment typically involves a combination of dietary changes, herbal medicine, and lifestyle modifications to reduce moisture and heat in the body and promote overall balance and harmony.
20 acupoints for damp heat
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are several acupoints that are commonly used to treat damp heat. Here are 20 acupoints that may be used for this purpose:
SP9 (Yinlingquan) – located on the inside of the lower leg, about three inches above the ankle bone. This point is commonly used to clear damp heat from the body.
SP6 (Sanyinjiao) – located on the inside of the lower leg, about four fingers above the ankle bone. This point is commonly used to regulate the spleen and eliminate dampness.
ST40 (Fenglong) – located on the lower leg, about one finger’s width below the knee crease. This point is commonly used to clear damp heat from the stomach and intestines.
ST44 (Neiting) – located on the top of the foot, between the second and third toes. This point is commonly used to clear heat and dampness from the body.
LI11 (Quchi) – located at the outer end of the elbow crease. This point is commonly used to clear heat and dampness from the body.
LI4 (Hegu) – located on the back of the hand, between the thumb and index finger. This point is commonly used to regulate the body’s immune system and eliminate dampness.
BL20 (Pishu) – located on the back, about two inches to either side of the spine, at the level of the lower border of the shoulder blade. This point is commonly used to strengthen the spleen and eliminate dampness.
BL22 (Sanjiaoshu) – located on the back, about two inches to either side of the spine, at the level of the lower border of the rib cage. This point is commonly used to eliminate damp heat from the body.
BL23 (Shenshu) – located on the back, about two inches to either side of the spine, at the level of the waist. This point is commonly used to strengthen the kidneys and eliminate dampness.
GV4 (Mingmen) – located on the lower back, in the center of the waist. This point is commonly used to strengthen the kidneys and eliminate dampness.
GV9 (Zhiyang) – located at the base of the skull, in the hollow between the two large neck muscles. This point is commonly used to clear damp heat from the head.
CV3 (Zhongji) – located on the lower abdomen, about four fingers below the belly button. This point is commonly used to eliminate dampness from the body.
CV6 (Qihai) – located on the lower abdomen, about two fingers below the belly button. This point is commonly used to regulate the body’s energy and eliminate dampness.
CV9 (Shuifen) – located on the lower abdomen, about one inch below the belly button. This point is commonly used to eliminate damp heat from the body.
KD3 (Taixi) – located on the inside of the ankle, in the depression between the Achilles tendon and the ankle bone. This point is commonly used to strengthen the kidneys and eliminate dampness.
KD6 (Zhaohai) – located on the inside of the ankle, about one finger’s width above the ankle bone. This point is commonly used to clear damp heat from the body.
LR2 (Xingjian) – located on the top of the foot, between the big toe and the second toe. This point is commonly used to regulate the liver and eliminate dampness.
LR13 (Zhangmen) – located on the side of the body, below
GB34 (Yanglingquan) – located on the outside of the lower leg, in the depression in front of the head of the fibula. This point is commonly used to clear damp heat from the liver and gallbladder.
GB40 (Qiuxu) – located on the outside of the lower leg, about one finger’s width in front of the ankle bone. This point is commonly used to clear damp heat from the body and promote the flow of qi and blood.