In some parts of the world, the summer season is one of high humidity. Such environments can cause the body to produce excessive moisture, which according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), can lead to chronic inflammation in the body. What are the symptoms of excessive moisture and how can they be alleviated?
Symptoms of excessive moisture can include feelings of top-heaviness, fatigue, and edema. Wu Hongqian, a TCM physician from Yisheng Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic in Taiwan shares about the signs of excess body moisture and provides several ways to effectively remove dampness and reduce edema.
4 Signs of ‘Excessive Dampness’
1. Heaviness
A feeling of heaviness in the head and body, a sensation of laziness in the limbs, and an overall feeling of “lifelessness.”
2. Stickiness
A feeling of stickiness occurs throughout the body, such as sticky stools, or recurring eczema.
3. Downward Flowing Energy
In TCM moisture is considered to flow downward—thus symptoms will appear in the reproductive system or the lower part of the body, such as edema of the lower limbs, and itching, odor, and dampness in the genital area.
4. Tightness
Dampness can hinder the body’s movement of qi (vital energy). If you feel chest tightness, have difficulty swallowing, have no appetite, and feel bloated after eating just a little, dampness is likely hindering the movement of the spleen and stomach qi.
Amber Yang
Amber Yang is a certified personal trainer. She met all the requirements of the American Council on Exercise to develop and implement personalized exercise programs. She worked as a marketing manager for natural skin care products for years and as a health and beauty reporter and editor for ten years. She is also the host and producer of the YouTube programs "Amber Running Green" and "Amber Health Interview."
