Symptoms of Excessive Dampness in the Body
Disease description:
Recently, I have been feeling that there is excessive dampness in my body. I would like to ask, what are the symptoms of excessive dampness in the body?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Tiesheng
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, dampness is one of the six external pathogenic factors ("Six Yin"), referring to a condition of abnormal water metabolism in the body that leads to internally generated dampness. Patients with excessive dampness in the body typically exhibit a series of symptoms that may involve multiple systems and organs, as follows:
1. Mental state: Excessive dampness can affect mental well-being, manifesting as fatigue, heaviness in the head and lightness in the feet, diminished memory, and difficulty concentrating. Dampness impairs the spleen, and spleen deficiency leads to impaired rising of clear yang and descending of turbid yin, thus affecting the mental state.
2. Skin manifestations: Oily skin, prone to acne and eczema, with a dull and lusterless complexion.
3. Gastrointestinal symptoms: Poor appetite, reduced food intake, sticky mouth, thirst without desire to drink, and possible bloating and indigestion.
4. Excretory symptoms: Loose, unformed stools that tend to stick to the toilet bowl and are difficult to flush away; urine may be dark-colored, scanty, or difficult to pass.
5. Tongue appearance: A thick, greasy coating on the tongue, which may appear white or yellowish in color, reflecting accumulation of dampness in the body.
6. Joint and muscle symptoms: Dampness may cause joint pain, muscle aches, and a feeling of heaviness, especially more pronounced during weather changes. This is because dampness easily invades the channels and collaterals, obstructing the circulation of qi and blood.
