Effective Summer Remedies for Dampness and Heat
Introduction: Even in the summer heat, it's advisable to consume fewer cold drinks and foods. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), excessive intake of cold and raw foods can impair the spleen and stomach's function of transportation and transformation. This prevents the body from expelling excess moisture, leading to an internal condition known as "dampness." Additionally, you can try the following therapies to prevent and alleviate dampness.
Moxibustion and Cupping to Remove Dampness
Cupping is an immediate remedy for removing dampness. It functions to expel cold and dampness, unblock meridians, remove stagnation, promote qi and blood circulation, reduce swelling and alleviate pain, and draw out toxins and heat. Besides getting it done at a hospital, you can also buy a set of cupping tools to perform it at home.
Furthermore, moxibustion can be applied. It is recommended for individuals with symptoms such as lower back and muscle soreness, mental fatigue, and poor appetite. Applying moxa sticks to the navel and Zusanli (an acupoint located about three inches below the kneecap) can help remove dampness and strengthen the spleen and stomach.
Mugwort Bath to Prevent Eczema
Take 30-50 grams of fresh mugwort, steep it in boiling water in a bathtub for 10 minutes, then remove the mugwort and add more water to adjust to a suitable temperature for bathing. It is effective for treating folliculitis and eczema.
Foot Therapy to Remove Dampness
TCM has a saying: "In summer, washing your feet can expel dampness and heat." Here is a herbal foot soak recipe: 20g of dried ginger, 30g of Sichuan pepper, 30g of mugwort, 15g of Lygodium japonicum, 15g of Holboellia latifolia, 10g of cassia twig, 10g of mulberry twig, and 20g of aconite root. Instructions: Wrap the herbs in a gauze bag, boil them in water, then remove the bag. Pour the herbal liquid into a deeper basin, let it cool to 40°C-50°C, and then soak your feet. Soak 1-2 times daily for 20-40 minutes each time.
Dietary Remedies for Dampness
It is recommended to eat more sweet potatoes, oats, mung beans, and Job's tears. These four are known as the "Four Great Vegetarian Foods" for removing dampness and toxins. Furthermore, herbs like hyacinth bean, Poria cocos, and Atractylodes macrocephala also have dampness-removing properties and can be used as ingredients in soups to achieve this effect.