How to manage dampness and excessive liver heat

Aug 15, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Sun Lianqing

Introduction

Dampness accumulation and excessive liver heat can generally be managed through dietary adjustments, emotional regulation, lifestyle modifications, moderate exercise, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) regulation. Reduce consumption of spicy, greasy, and sweet foods; increase intake of heat-clearing and dampness-resolving foods such as mung beans, winter melon, and bitter melon. Drinking chrysanthemum tea or coix seed tea can help clear internal heat, reduce fire, and promote the elimination of dampness through diet, thus avoiding exacerbation of internal dampness and heat by food.

Generally, excessive internal dampness and excessive liver fire can be managed through dietary adjustments, emotional management, lifestyle modifications, moderate exercise, and herbal remedies. If symptoms persist, it is recommended to seek medical advice promptly. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Dietary adjustments: Reduce consumption of spicy, greasy, and sweet foods. Increase intake of heat-clearing and dampness-resolving foods such as mung beans, winter melon, and bitter melon. Drinking chrysanthemum tea or coix seed tea can help clear internal heat, reduce fire, and promote the elimination of dampness, thus avoiding foods that may exacerbate internal damp-heat.

2. Emotional management: Maintain a calm mindset and avoid prolonged anxiety or anger. Emotional stress can be relieved through activities such as listening to music or taking walks. This helps prevent emotional fluctuations from triggering excessive liver fire and alleviates symptoms such as irritability and insomnia caused by excessive liver heat.

3. Lifestyle modifications: Ensure adequate sleep and avoid staying up late. Develop a routine of going to bed early and waking up early. Falling asleep before 11 PM helps the liver detoxify and reduces accumulation of liver fire. Regular sleep patterns also enhance spleen and stomach function, promoting the transformation and transportation of dampness.

4. Moderate exercise: Engage in activities such as jogging, swimming, or practicing Tai Chi, aiming for 3–4 sessions per week. Exercise helps accelerate blood circulation, expel dampness from the body, relieve stress, and prevent emotional stagnation that may worsen liver fire.

5. Herbal remedies: Under professional guidance, take proprietary Chinese medicines such as Long Dan Xie Gan Wan (Dragon胆Liver-Draining Pill) or Yin Zhi Huang Oral Liquid (Gardenia and Scutellaria Oral Solution), or consume decoctions containing ingredients like Gentiana (Long Dan Cao), Capillaris (Yin Chen), and Poria (Fu Ling). These herbal treatments help clear heat, resolve dampness, regulate liver function, and reduce excessive internal fire and dampness.

Consistency over a prolonged period is essential during the regulation process; quick results should not be expected. If symptoms such as worsening dizziness, headache, or bitter taste in the mouth occur, consult a healthcare professional promptly to adjust the treatment plan. Additionally, avoid alcohol and tobacco to reduce external stimuli to the body and enhance the effectiveness of the调理.

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What symptoms are associated with excessive liver fire?

Under normal circumstances, the main symptoms of excessive liver fire include dry and bitter mouth, dizziness and headache, dry eyes and redness, poor sleep quality, and irritability. If discomfort symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek timely medical treatment at a regular hospital. In addition, some patients may also experience symptoms such as tinnitus, yellowish-red urine, and constipation. If you notice any of the above symptoms, you should adjust your lifestyle habits promptly and avoid staying up late.

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What are the symptoms of excessive liver fire?

Under normal circumstances, excessive liver fire manifests various obvious symptoms, commonly including dry mouth and throat, red and dry eyes, irritability, poor sleep, bitter taste and bad breath. If discomfort symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek timely treatment at a regular hospital. In addition, some patients may also experience symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and constipation. If you notice yourself having the above symptoms,

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What symptoms are associated with excessive liver fire?

Under normal circumstances, excessive liver fire may present symptoms such as dry mouth and throat, insomnia with vivid dreams, dry and red eyes, irritability, headache, and dizziness. In addition, individuals with excessive liver fire may also experience yellowish urine and constipation. At the same time, it is important to avoid long-term late nights and reduce the intake of spicy and irritating foods in daily life to help alleviate symptoms of excessive liver fire.

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What Are the Five Major Taboos of Drinking Water Infused with Ophiopogon japonicus (Lilyturf Root)?

In general, there are several contraindications for drinking water infused with Ophiopogon japonicus (Mai Dong). These include avoiding excessive consumption by individuals with a cold body constitution, avoiding use by those experiencing cough due to wind-cold, phlegm-dampness excess, spleen-stomach deficiency-cold with diarrhea, and those in the early stages of an external contraction (e.g., common cold). Additionally, it is important to avoid taking large amounts of cold-natured foods or ingredients along with Ophiopogon-infused water, such as crab and bitter melon.