What is the difference between phlegm-dampness and cold-dampness trapping the spleen, with solutions attached?

We often hear people say that the body has heavy moisture, phlegm-dampness, and cold-dampness. How are these dampnesses differentiated and how to regulate them? This article will explain in detail how to differentiate between phlegm dampness and cold dampness and how to regulate them.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the generation of phlegm-dampness is most closely related to the spleen. The spleen is mainly responsible for transporting water and is therefore the "source of phlegm". Simply put, if the function of the spleen is impaired, there will be problems with the body's water metabolism, and abnormal accumulation will produce phlegm and dampness.

Traditional Chinese medicine says that "fat people have more phlegm and dampness". Obesity is probably a concentrated manifestation of the phlegm-dampness constitution. In addition, facial skin is often more oily, eye bubbles are slightly floating, the abdomen is plump and soft, the tongue is usually fat and large, and the tongue coating is white and greasy.

Conditioning method: Shenling Baizhu Powder addition and subtraction

What are the symptoms of phlegm-dampness constitution?

People with phlegm-dampness constitution are obese, have more oil on their faces, and have swollen eyelids. , the footsteps are loud, and I don’t fall in love when I sit down on my butt. Don't like to drink water. Drinking too much water will cause discomfort, abdominal bloating, facial puffiness, swelling of hands and feet, weight gain, and difficulty in defecation. Long-term urination is cloudy and foamy. Sweating can be dichotomous, with either a marked lack of sweating or no sweating, or excessive sweating. Slow movement, chest tightness, dizziness, drowsiness, staying in bed, and liking to fall asleep. The stool is dry or sticky and has a strong odor. Low menstrual flow or even amenorrhea. As long as you have these symptoms, you basically have a phlegm-dampness constitution.

How is phlegm-dampness constitution formed?

Phlegm-dampness constitution is related to innate endowment. Therefore, if one of the father or mother has central obesity, the child should be especially careful. Pay more attention to diet and exercise. Another more important factor in the formation of phlegm-dampness constitution is acquired malnutrition and poor function of the spleen and stomach. Normally, phlegm and dampness should be excreted from the body. Why does it accumulate in the body? It is because of overeating, irregular eating, or eating too much thick and greasy food that the transportation and transformation functions of the spleen and stomach are damaged, resulting in the inability to discharge excess material, resulting in the accumulation of phlegm and dampness.

Cold-dampness trapping the spleen is mostly caused by spleen deficiency, or eating cold food, being exposed to rain, lying in wetlands for a long time, dampness trapping the spleen yang, and being unable to transport water and dampness. Symptoms include reduced diet, stomachache, etc. Abdominal fullness and tightness, nausea and vomiting, sticky mouth, or unwillingness to drink, heavy head and body, diarrhea and swollen limbs, or dark and yellow skin, excessive leucorrhea, and thick white greasy coating are common in chronic gastroenteritis, Chronic hepatitis and certain edema diseases.

Conditioning methods: Modification and subtraction of Fuzi Lizhong Decoction

External factors are mostly caused by living in a lake, wading in the rain, and lying in wetlands for a long time; internal factors are mostly caused by eating raw and cold foods, drinking melons and fruits, Drinking food, milk, and cold products, the spleen is damp soil, and the same qi seeks each other, so it is easily invaded by dampness evil, which is heavy and turbid and stagnant. Its nature is yin, and it is most likely to damage yang qi. Cold is generated internally, and the combination of cold and dampness troubles the spleen. It forms the syndrome of cold-dampness trapping the spleen.

Once phlegm-dampness forms, it is a major hazard to health, causing trouble wherever it flows.

On the head, it can cause dizziness, drowsiness, and even confusion. When it reaches the mouth, the mouth will be sticky or sweet.

If it stops in the throat, it will feel like there is a foreign body in the throat.

On the skin, the body is fat, sweaty and sticky.

If it stops at the chest and diaphragm, you will have chest tightness, asthma, and cough with excessive phlegm.

It gathers in the genitals, and women have excessive leucorrhea.

When it reaches the joints, there will be severe joint pain, stiffness, and edema of the limbs (sunkenness when pressed).

Summary

People with phlegm-dampness often eat sweet and greasy foods, which tend to produce phlegm and help dampness. Therefore, people with severe phlegm-dampness should have a light diet, with less oil, less salt and less sugar, and should also control their eating speed and food intake. The conditioning methods in the article are for reference only and should not be copied.