What should people with excessive dampness eat?

Generally, individuals with excessive dampness in the body can consume foods such as red beans, coix seed, winter melon, Chinese yam, and Poria. Additionally, medications such as Shenling Baizhu San (Dioscorea and Atractylodes Powder), Huoxiang Zhengqi Shui (Agastache Qi-Water), Fuzi Lizhong Wan (Aconite Center-Harmonizing Pill), Xiangsha Liujun Wan (Saussurea and Cardamom Six-Gentleman Pill), and Pingwei San (Harmonizing Powder) may be taken under a physician's guidance. Effects may vary among individuals. If in doubt, it is recommended to consult a healthcare professional in advance. Detailed explanations are as follows:

I. Foods

1. Red Beans: Rich in protein, dietary fiber, and various minerals, red beans have functions of strengthening the spleen, benefiting the kidneys, promoting diuresis, and reducing edema. They can enhance metabolism, help eliminate excess water from the body, and alleviate discomfort caused by dampness.

2. Coix Seed: Containing abundant B vitamins and dietary fiber, coix seed strengthens the spleen, removes dampness, clears heat, and promotes abscess drainage. It enhances intestinal motility, accelerates the elimination of internal dampness, and is suitable for regular consumption by individuals with excessive dampness.

3. Winter Melon: High in water content and low in calories, winter melon clears heat, promotes diuresis, reduces swelling, and detoxifies. It increases urine output, helps expel excess dampness from the body, and replenishes necessary fluids.

4. Chinese Yam: Containing mucilaginous proteins, vitamins, and multiple trace elements, Chinese yam strengthens the spleen and stomach, nourishes vital energy, and fortifies the kidneys. It enhances the spleen's transformation and transportation functions, reduces dampness accumulation, and improves digestive discomfort caused by excessive dampness.

5. Poria: Rich in Poria polysaccharides and triterpenoid compounds, Poria promotes diuresis, eliminates dampness, strengthens the spleen, and calms the mind. It not only facilitates the removal of dampness but also regulates spleen and stomach functions, helping maintain the body's fluid balance.

II. Medications

1. Shenling Baizhu San: This is a patent medicine for strengthening the spleen and replenishing vital energy, containing ingredients such as ginseng, white atractylodes, and Poria. It nourishes the spleen and stomach, benefits lung function, and removes dampness. It is suitable for symptoms such as poor appetite, loose stools, shortness of breath, and cough caused by spleen and stomach weakness and excessive dampness. It should be used according to a physician's instructions for a specific course of treatment.

2. Huoxiang Zhengqi Shui: Containing agastache, perilla leaf, angelica root, and other ingredients, this formula resolves exterior syndromes, dispels dampness, regulates qi, and harmonizes the middle jiao. It is suitable for symptoms such as heavy headache, abdominal distension and pain, vomiting, and diarrhea caused by external contraction of cold and internal injury from dampness stagnation. Strict adherence to medical instructions is required when using this medication.

3. Fuzi Lizhong Wan: Composed of aconite, codonopsis, white atractylodes, and other ingredients, this formula warms the middle jiao and strengthens the spleen. It improves symptoms such as cold abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and cold extremities caused by spleen and stomach cold deficiency and internal dampness obstruction. Dosage should be adjusted based on specific conditions.

4. Xiangsha Liujun Wan: Containing costus root, cardamom seeds, codonopsis, and other components, this formula replenishes vital energy, strengthens the spleen, harmonizes the stomach, and removes dampness. It is suitable for conditions such as indigestion, belching with poor appetite, abdominal distension, and loose stools caused by spleen deficiency and qi stagnation accompanied by excessive dampness. It should be taken under medical supervision.

5. Pingwei San: Composed of atractylodes, magnolia bark, tangerine peel, and other ingredients, this formula dries dampness, strengthens the spleen, regulates qi, and harmonizes the stomach. It is suitable for symptoms such as abdominal distension, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, and heaviness in the limbs caused by dampness stagnation in the spleen and stomach. Due to its drying nature, it should be used under strict physician monitoring.

Individuals with excessive dampness should maintain a light diet, avoid excessive consumption of raw, cold, or greasy foods, and engage in appropriate physical activity to promote blood circulation and eliminate dampness. Medications must be taken strictly according to medical instructions, and self-medication or arbitrary dosage adjustments should be avoided.