On Dampness
On Dampness
We have just had a heatwave. And now, as only the UK can manage, it is pouring with rain.
I could not think of a more perfect moment to talk about Dampness.
Not just the weather kind. In Chinese medicine, Dampness is one of the most common conditions I see in clinic, and I am yet to meet a person living in London who does not have at least a little of it. The cold, wet climate we live in is part of that. But so is the way most of us eat and live.
What Is Dampness?
In TCM, the Spleen is probably the most important organ you have never thought about. This is not the spleen from your biology GCSE. In Chinese medicine, the Spleen is responsible for digestion, making blood, producing energy (Qi) and holding everything in its place.
The main rule is simple: the Spleen hates Dampness.
When the Spleen is weakened by damp foods, cold foods and a damp environment, it cannot do its job properly. Things slow down, stagnate and accumulate. And you feel it.
Right now, with the rain following straight after a heatwave, I am seeing this a lot in clinic:
Bloating, loose stools or IBS that nobody seems able to explain
Fatigue and heaviness, the kind where sleep does not seem to fix anything
Brain fog and poor concentration, going round in circles mentally
Weight that will not shift despite doing everything right
Puffy skin or fluid retention
Cysts, including ovarian cysts, cystic acne and whiteheads (all a build up of Dampness)
Sinus congestion and mucus that keeps coming back
If you have self diagnosed yourself as gluten intolerant, or noticed your stomach is worse after wine or beer, or your hangovers hit harder than other people's, this is why. Those foods are profoundly damp creating. And most of our diets are full of them.
And I will say it. Even your morning smoothie might be contributing. Cold, iced, dairy or nut milk based smoothies are damp. The Spleen needs warmth to function. It is why I always say: have a hot drink first, ditch the ice, and if you must have one, make it 80 to 90 per cent veg.
This is not a sign your body is broken. It is a sign your Spleen needs some support.
Supporting the Spleen
This is not about restriction. It is about giving your digestion the conditions it needs to work properly.
The number one rule is warmth. The Spleen is weakened by cold and raw food. Hot meals, slow cooked food, warm water rather than straight from the fridge. Even one hot component at every meal makes a difference. I start every morning with a warm cooked breakfast, eggs most days, and it genuinely sets the tone for how my digestion runs for the rest of the day.
Think warming, unprocessed, seasonal and simple. The more complicated and processed the meal, the harder your Spleen has to work.
Foods that actively strengthen the Spleen:
Bone broth, nettle, beetroot, camomile tea
Properly cooked brown rice, oats, spelt
Carb rich vegetables: squash, sweet potato, carrot, pumpkin, peas, turnip
Warming spices: cinnamon, ginger, garlic, black pepper, fennel, leeks, onions
Butter is fine for cooking over vegetable oils, though olive oil is always best as it is anti-inflammatory
Foods that create Dampness and are worth reducing:
Alcohol, especially beer and wine
Dairy
Sugar, fruit juices, sweet fruits
Gluten
White carbs: bread, pasta, white rice
Fried and oily foods
Processed food in general
Nuts and seeds, peanuts especially
One more thing on the smoothie. If you are going to have one, heat your nut milk and add spices to remove the dampening effect. Ceylon cinnamon is a good one as it also helps with blood sugar. Keep fruit to a minimum and go for berries. Always use dark leafy greens as your base, they have the highest minerals per calorie, are blood building, alkalising and anti-inflammatory.
You know that feeling after a really good lymphatic drainage massage, where you feel somehow lighter and less puffy almost immediately? That is what reducing Dampness through diet does, over time. Summer is supposed to be the season where you feel your best. But if you are carrying Dampness, you feel the opposite — heavy, bloated and like nothing fits quite right. Clearing it changes that.
Acupuncture works directly on Spleen Qi. It strengthens digestion, reduces inflammation, calms the nervous system and helps the body process and shift what has accumulated. If your IBS or bloating flares when you are stressed, that is often a Liver issue affecting the Spleen, and acupuncture addresses both. The combination of acupuncture and nutritional support together tends to get results much faster than either alone.
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