03 Manifestations of Dampness

Although dampness is often accompanied by wind or coldness, it is quite different from coldness. It may exist independently or alongside coldness. When coldness and dampness combine, the condition becomes much more complicated to treat.

01 How to Identify Excessive Dampness

Excessive dampness in the body manifests in two main ways:

Dampness as Heaviness

When a person has excessive dampness:

1. 
   His whole body feels tight, with a very heavy head.
2. 
   It feels as if his body is being pressed down, unable to lift his head.
3. 
   His back feels hard and swollen, as if a board is pressing on it.
4. 
   It feels like he is wrapped in a heavy, watery raincoat.

This is referred to as “heavy dampness like a wrap,” as if the whole person is surrounded by dampness.

Dampness as Stickiness

A damp person’s body becomes sticky as soon as he sweats, whereas normal people may sweat three or four times before it becomes sticky. The stool of a damp person is also sticky, feeling like it can’t be discharged or wiped clean, often leaving residue on the toilet bowl. In more serious cases, the urine can also become sticky, indicating potential urine protein or high blood sugar issues.

Cold evil and damp evil usually appear together. Long-term coldness leads to dampness, and long-term dampness leads to coldness, making them good companions over time. Just like a refrigerator accumulates frost, a humid room without sunshine will always be cold.

Coldness and dampness tend to move downward. Depending on the sleeping position, a person may find the part facing down to be numb in the morning. If they lie flat, it’s the back; if on the side, it’s the arms. Heavy dampness and maintaining the same posture can lead to hemiplegia.

People who like to cross their legs or raise their feet high do so because the dampness sinks to the soles of their feet. Heavy dampness also leads to spleen deficiency, which can be observed on the tongue:

The tongue is fat and has teeth marks, indicating dampness and spleen deficiency.

04 Brief Summary

As practitioners of life cultivation focusing on health revitalization, we check ourselves based on these signs. If our body has sufficient vital yuanqi, a little dampness is not a big issue. However, if vital yuanqi is insufficient, accumulated dampness can cause various diseases.

Characteristics of Coldness Evil:

1. 
   Coldness causes contraction.
2. 
   Fear of cold and heat.

Characteristics of Dampness Evil:

1. 
   Heavy dampness.
2. 
   Dampness is sticky.

Excessive coldness and dampness can cause:

• Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases
• Lung diseases
• Cough
• Asthma
• Other diseases

Heavy dampness harms the spleen, and a bad spleen and stomach can lead to diseases like diabetes. Diabetic patients may suddenly become tired and lazy in the early stages, which is a manifestation of heavy dampness. If this happens, it’s important to check for diabetes and address it early.

Everyone has some level of coldness and dampness. With sufficient vital yuanqi, the body can drive out these evils. Therefore, it is crucial to strengthen the spleen and stomach and improve vital yuanqi in daily life, following the dictum: Prevention is better than cure.

05 What Is Next

In the next issue, we will learn about a disease that is becoming more common among the elderly: Alzheimer’s disease. We will explore its causes, prevention, and treatment.

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