Dampness and Using Humidifier / Vaporizer in TCM View

[Guest guest]

I read from somewhere in the net (not so sure) that according to TCM

view, if one lives in a humid area, it can also attribute to the

dampness of the body. Is this true? Will using humidifier/vaporizer

aggreviate the problem too?

 

marilyn

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " emailme_marilyn "

<emailme_marilyn wrote:

>

> I read from somewhere in the net (not so sure) that according to TCM

> view, if one lives in a humid area, it can also attribute to the

> dampness of the body. Is this true?

 

Not only living in a damp climate or house but doing things like not

changing out of damp clothes, sitting on damp ground, etc. Women are

particularly vulnerable to invasion by Dampness during their periods

and for a while after childbirth.

 

In general, Dampness will attack the legs first. It will settle into

the " Lower Burner " (lower part of the body, including Bladder and

Intestines). Once Dampness invades, it sets up a snowballing

situation. The Spleen is most bothered by Dampness, and the Spleen Qi

is responsible for transforming and transporting fluids in the body.

Once Dampness invades and weakens the Spleen and Spleen Qi, there is

less Qi for transporting and transforming fluids, and Dampness

increases. This in turn weakens the Spleen and Spleen Qi still more,

and so on.

 

Dampness primarily affects the Spleen and the Yang Organs (Bowels)

Gall Bladder, Bladder, Small Intestine, and Large Intestine. On the

other hand, Phlegm primarily affects the Stomach and the Yin Organs

Heart, Lungs, and Kidneys. (Giovanni Maiocia, The Foundations of

, p. 299.) Some of the best acupoints for resolving

Dampness are Spleen-9, Sp-6, and Sp-3. The " most important " point for

resolving Phlegm is Stomach-40. (p. 300.)

 

Dampness also weakens Yang, the energy which warms, activates, and

dries. Yang is most vulnerable to Cold, but Dampness also weakens it.

 

> Will using humidifier/vaporizer

> aggreviate the problem too?

 

Not if they're needed. Dryness is also a Pernicious Evil. Dryness can

injure Yin and Blood. (p. 300.)

 

It's important that the environment be neither too dry nor too damp.

Most home heating systems tend to dry the air. People are more

vulnerable to catching colds and having other respiratory problems

when the air is too dry.

 

One of the main symptoms of Dampness is a feeling of heaviness. Even

though Dampness tends to settle in the lower part of the body, it can

produce symptoms in the head - like a " foggy " , out-of-it sensation

because the Dampness " prevents the clear Yang from ascending to the

head to brighten the sense orifices and clear the brain. " (p. 298.)

 

Dampness also is " dirty " . Discharges caused by Dampness will tend to

be dirty too - " such as cloudy urine, vaginal discharges or skin

diseases characterized by thick and dirty fluids oozing out such as in

certain types of eczema. " (p. 298.)

 

Dampness is also " sticky " , and the tongue coating often is sticky.

Maciocia writes that it's the sticky quality of Dampness that accounts

for " its being very difficulat to get rid of. " ( p. 298.)

 

Dampness can team up with Cold or with Heat. The treatment is going

to vary according to if it's just Dampness, Damp Cold, or Damp Heat.

Damp Heat imbalances tend to increase in the summer and immediately

following the summer in areas that have hot and humid summers.

 

It's possible for a person to have both Dampness and Dryness problems

at the same time. I do.

 

Dampness is one of the underlying causes of arthritis. (Along with

Wind and Cold.) But Dampness affects more than just joints. Some

muscle aches are due to Dampness in the muscles.

 

Dampness is one of the things that can interfere with the smooth flow

of Qi.

 

The pulse typically will be Slippery. Or " mushy " .