In Foshan City, Guangdong Province, a shop named "Mo's Chicken Pot" has been popular with customers recently. When introducing the soup base of his Tonic Diet, the shopkeeper emphasized the effect of removing dampness. What exactly is dampness commonly referred to in traditional Chinese medicine? What physical problems can high humidity bring? How to treat dampness accordingly? Waking up in the morning feeling groggy, like a wet towel wrapped around one's head; Looking in the mirror, there is a white and greasy coating on the tongue; Although I haven't eaten much, my stomach is swollen like a balloon... "Yang Zhimin, Vice President of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, gave an example to explain what dampness is. The dampness evil referred to in traditional Chinese medicine is one of the six pathogenic factors (wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, and fire), which can be summarized as "heavy, turbid, sticky, stagnant, descending, and lingering". Simply put, dampness is like the grease in the kitchen that cannot be wiped clean no matter how hard it is - heavy and sticky. "Yang Zhimin said that precisely because of its stickiness and lingering nature, diseases caused by dampness are often long-lasting and difficult to root. According to Yuan Jiamin, an attending physician at Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, in terms of seasons, late summer and early autumn, as well as the rainy season, are the main venues for dampness; Geographically speaking, regions such as South China and Southwest China have warm and humid climates, making them high-risk areas for dampness syndrome. Guangdong people love to cook dampness dispelling soup, and Sichuan people love spicy and sweating, both of which are the wisdom of fighting against dampness. Nowadays, people often stay in air-conditioned rooms and sit still for a long time. Even in the north, dampness can still come knocking on their door, "said Yuan Jiamin. What are the hazards of heavy moisture? Yang Zhimin explained that traditional Chinese medicine roughly divides the human body into upper energizer (skin, head, face, lungs), middle energizer (spleen and stomach), and lower energizer (kidneys, bladder, intestines). The location where dampness resides is different, and the symptoms also have their own emphasis - in upper energizer, heavy dampness can lead to symptoms such as heavy head, greasy face, chest tightness and shortness of breath, phlegm in the throat but unable to cough up, etc; In the middle burner, symptoms include poor appetite, bloating, nausea, loose and sticky stools, thick and white tongue coating, and fatigue in the body; In the lower burner, symptoms such as cloudy and dripping urine, heavy edema in the lower limbs, and soreness and weakness in the waist and knees may occur. According to Yuan Jiamin's introduction, clinical observation shows that males have more dampness and heat, while females have more phlegm and dampness. Men tend to socialize more, and smoking and drinking are rich, sweet, and flavorful, helping to moisten and heat up; Female constitution tends to be feminine and soft, and if the spleen is not functioning properly, the fluid will condense into phlegm and dampness. So, in terms of symptoms, men are prone to bitter mouth, oily noodles, and irritable temper, while women are more prone to obesity and fatigue. Around the "dehumidification", many businesses launched various Tonic Diet. Yang Zhimin reminded that the Tonic Diet on the market often ignores individual differences, and the dehumidification should not blindly follow others. "The essence of Tonic Diet is an auxiliary conditioning means of 'combining medicine with food', which cannot replace drug therapy. Choosing Tonic Diet to remove dampness should first clarify the bias of one's own constitution in terms of cold, heat, deficiency and excess under the guidance of a doctor, and then accurately match it according to the cold, heat, temperature and other attributes of the food materials." Yang Zhimin suggested that one should make better use of the situation and defeat each other according to the location of the dampness pathogen. Two doctors recommend the following dietary remedies for treating dampness based on syndrome differentiation: if it is excessive dampness caused by excessive heat, one should sweat profusely and "open the window above". Moderate exercise and sweating are natural ways to dispel dampness. Slow jogging, brisk walking, and playing eight dan brocade can make the body slightly sweat out, and dampness can be released with sweat. Recommend almond and mulberry leaf tea. Take 8 grams of southern almonds and 6 grams of mulberry leaves, and brew them in boiling water as a tea substitute. Almonds promote lung qi circulation, while mulberry leaves gently clear and disperse. The combination of the two helps to release moisture from the skin surface. Clear and smooth taste, suitable for daily tea replacement. If it is middle burner dampness, it is necessary to strengthen the spleen and eliminate dampness, and "manage the central hub well". The key is to control your mouth, eat less raw, cold, greasy and sweet foods, have a light and warm diet, and maintain a 70% satiety level in daily life. Recommend orange peel poria yam Congee. Take a small slice of tangerine peel (about 3 grams), 15 grams of poria cocos, 100 grams of fresh yams (cut into small pieces), and 50 grams of japonica rice, and cook them together into Congee. The combination of dried tangerine peel, Poria cocos, and yam can help nourish the spleen and qi, making it a "golden combination" for removing dampness from the middle burner. It has a mild taste and is suitable for all ages. If it is under the influence of moisture, it is necessary to dilute and remove moisture, and find an outlet for the moisture. The best way out for Xia Jiao Shi Xie is through urination. In daily life, one should avoid sitting for long periods of time, get up and move around every hour, and use ingredients that are light and moist. Recommend Red Bean Coix Seed Soup. Take 30g of adzuki beans and 20g of raw coix seed (raw coix seed is relatively cold, and for those with spleen and stomach deficiency cold, stir fried coix seed can be used instead), boil over high heat with water, then reduce heat and simmer for 40 minutes. Add a little tangerine peel for seasoning. This formula is light and moist, and can clear and relieve lower body heat. It is suitable for daily consumption by people with difficulty urinating and heavy lower limbs. Yang Zhimin reminds that targeted treatment should be combined with a healthy lifestyle - keeping your mouth shut, taking breaks, avoiding excessive cold, sweating more, and dampness naturally having nowhere to hide. But if the symptoms of dampness persist or are more severe, dietary therapy and exercise are far from enough. It is recommended to seek medical attention in a timely manner, and consult a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner for diagnosis and treatment, and tailor a conditioning plan accordingly. (Looking into the New Era)