Dampness according to Chinese Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Dampness can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like dampness here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here dampness is often associated with edema, nausea and loose stools in the pattern “Yin Excess”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of dampness we’ve identified two herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat dampness.
Yin Excess, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause dampness
In Chinese Medicine dampness is a symptom for the pattern "Yin Excess". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Water Plantain (Ze Xie) is the king ingredient for Wu Ling San, a formula used for Yin Excess
Yin Excess
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Tight (Jin), Wiry (Xian), Full (Shi)
Tongue coating: Thick white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Excess Yin is a Full Yin state pattern. Its symptoms are like those of the Cold and Damp Heat Pernicious Influences such as Edema. It is a result of over-exposure to cold environments and bad diet.
In addition to dampness, other symptoms associated with Yin Excess include edema, nausea and loose stools.
Yin Excess is often treated with Wu Ling San, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Water Plantain - Ze Xie - as a key herb). Wu Ling San belongs to the category of "formulas that promote urination and leach out dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Promotes urination,".
Two herbal formulas that might help with dampness
Wu Ling San
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Promotes urination,. Warms the Yang. Strengthens the Spleen. Promotes Qi transformation function. Drains Dampness. Clears edema.
Why might Wu Ling San help with dampness?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Yin Excess' of which dampness is a symptom.
Wu Pi Yin
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Reduces edema, diuretic. Regulates and strengthens Spleen Qi.
Why might Wu Pi Yin help with dampness?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Yin Excess' of which dampness is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat dampness
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with dampness?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat dampness and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat dampness as a symptom (such as Wu Pi Yin for instance).
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Why might Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) help with dampness?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat dampness and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat dampness as a symptom (such as Wu Ling San for instance).
Atractylodes Rhizomes is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen Qi. Fortifies the Spleen Yang and dispels Damp through urination. Tonifies Qi and stops sweating. Calms restless fetus when due to Deficiency of Spleen Qi.
Why might Polyporus (Zhu Ling) help with dampness?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat dampness and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat dampness as a symptom (such as Wu Ling San for instance).
Polyporus is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Bladder and the Kidney.
Its main actions are: Drains Dampness and encourages urination
Why might Ginger Peel (Sheng Jiang Pi) help with dampness?
Because it is a key herb in Wu Pi Yin, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Yin Excess' (a pattern with dampness as a symptom)
Ginger Peel is a Cool herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Spleen and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Promotes urination and reduces edema at its early onset. Disperses the Exterior.
Why might Water Plantain (Ze Xie) help with dampness?
Because it is a key herb in Wu Ling San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Yin Excess' (a pattern with dampness as a symptom)
Water Plantain is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Bladder and the Kidney.
Its main actions are: Causes urination and removes Damp-Heat
Other symptoms often associated with dampness
Edema Diarrhea Loss of appetite Vomiting Abdominal pain Urinary tract infection Abdominal colic Abdominal bloating Palpitations Miscarriage