How to manage excessive dampness in women
Aug 18, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Women with excessive dampness can generally regulate their condition through post-menstrual dampness-resolving dietary therapy, mild exercises to expel dampness, abdominal moxibustion therapy, drinking brown sugar ginger tea, and avoiding raw and cold foods. During the first week after menstruation, they can consume water decocted or soup stewed with red beans, dates, and poria. During this phase, women's blood and qi are relatively deficient; red beans and poria help remove dampness, while dates nourish blood and qi, thereby achieving both dampness-resolving and body-nourishing effects.
Women with excessive dampness generally can regulate their condition through post-menstrual dietary therapy for removing dampness, moderate exercises to expel dampness, abdominal moxibustion for regulation, drinking brown sugar ginger tea, avoiding raw and cold foods, and other methods. If concerns persist, it is recommended to seek medical advice in advance. Detailed explanations are as follows:
1. Post-Menstrual Dietary Therapy for Dampness Removal: During the week following the end of menstruation, consume water or soup cooked with red beans, jujubes, and poria. During this phase, women tend to have relatively deficient qi and blood; red beans and poria help remove dampness, while jujubes replenish qi and blood, effectively addressing both dampness removal and nourishment, suitable for women's physical characteristics.
2. Moderate Exercise for Dampness Expulsion: Choose moderately intensive exercises such as yoga, Baduanjin (Eight Pieces of Brocade), or brisk walking, and maintain 4–5 sessions weekly, each lasting about 30 minutes. Gentle exercise promotes circulation of qi and blood, avoids excessive depletion caused by intense exercise, and helps women expel dampness while maintaining physical stamina.
3. Abdominal Moxibustion Regulation: During non-menstrual periods each month, perform moxibustion on acupoints such as Guanyuan (CV4), Qihai (CV6), and Sanyinjiao (SP6), twice weekly for 15 minutes per session. Moxibustion warms meridians, dispels cold, and removes dampness, providing auxiliary improvement for menstrual irregularities and lower abdominal distension caused by cold-dampness in women.
4. Drinking Brown Sugar Ginger Tea: Take three slices of ginger and an appropriate amount of brown sugar to make tea, best consumed in the morning or after exposure to cold. Brown sugar nourishes the blood and warms the uterus, while ginger dispels cold and removes dampness, making it suitable for women to alleviate symptoms such as cold hands and feet and menstrual discomfort associated with excessive dampness.
5. Avoid Raw and Cold Foods: Reduce intake of icy beverages, cold dishes, and cold-natured fruits. Add warming ingredients such as ginger and Sichuan pepper appropriately during cooking. Women's bodies tend to be relatively cold in nature, and raw and cold foods can easily worsen internal dampness. Adjusting diet can help reduce dampness accumulation at its source.
Women should adjust dampness regulation methods according to their physiological cycles and avoid intense exercise and moxibustion during menstruation. If menstrual irregularities or increased fatigue occur after regulation, timely consultation with professionals is advised. At the same time, maintaining regular sleep patterns and avoiding late nights can help enhance dampness-removing effects.
