How to manage spleen deficiency with damp-heat?
Aug 26, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
To regulate spleen deficiency with damp-heat, methods generally include consuming spleen-strengthening and dampness-resolving ingredients, engaging in moderate exercise regularly, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, selecting appropriate Chinese patent medicines that strengthen the spleen and remove dampness, and controlling food portions. Ingredients such as Chinese yam (Shanyao) and Poria (Fuling) can be chosen, as they help strengthen the spleen and boost qi while also assisting in expelling damp-heat. These ingredients can be prepared as congee or simmered in soups. Long-term moderate consumption may improve indigestion caused by spleen deficiency with damp-heat.
Regulating spleen deficiency and damp-heat generally involves consuming spleen-strengthening and dampness-resolving foods, adhering to moderate exercise, maintaining regular作息, selecting appropriate spleen-strengthening and dampness-resolving patent medicines, and controlling food portions. The detailed approaches are as follows:
1. Consuming spleen-strengthening and dampness-resolving foods: Choose ingredients such as Chinese yam, Poria, Euryale seed, and Coix seed. These ingredients can both strengthen the spleen and resolve dampness, aiding in eliminating damp-heat. They can be cooked into porridge or consumed in soups. Long-term moderate consumption can improve indigestion caused by spleen deficiency with damp-heat.
2. Practicing moderate exercise: Engage in gentle exercises such as walking, Tai Chi, or Baduanjin, aiming for 3–4 sessions weekly, each lasting about 30 minutes. Exercise promotes blood circulation and helps eliminate internal damp-heat, while avoiding strenuous activity that may burden the spleen and stomach.
3. Maintaining regular作息: Cultivate habits of going to bed early and waking up early, avoiding staying up late, and ensuring 7–8 hours of sleep daily. Long-term irregular作息 disrupts the digestive function of the spleen and stomach, worsening damp-heat accumulation. Regular作息 allows adequate rest for the spleen and stomach.
4. Using spleen-strengthening and dampness-resolving patent medicines: Under professional guidance, choose patent medicines such as Shen Ling Bai Zhu San or Xiang Sha Liu Jun Wan. These medicines strengthen the spleen, resolve dampness, harmonize the stomach, and are suitable for symptoms such as poor appetite, loose stools, and bodily heaviness caused by spleen deficiency and damp-heat.
5. Controlling food portions: Eat until 70–80% full at each meal, avoiding overeating, and reduce consumption of spicy, greasy, and overly sweet foods. Excessive eating burdens the spleen and stomach, hindering the elimination of damp-heat.
Managing spleen deficiency and damp-heat requires long-term persistence and should not aim for quick results. If symptoms such as worsening abdominal distension, frequent diarrhea, or persistent loss of appetite occur during the regulation process, seek professional assistance promptly to adjust the management plan. Additionally, maintain a cheerful mood, as emotional fluctuations can affect spleen and stomach function.
