TCM Dialectical Treatment Method for Dampness Obstructing the Spleen and Stomach

Dampness blocking the spleen and stomach is a common symptom in traditional Chinese medicine. Generally speaking, after the syndrome of dampness blocking the spleen and stomach occurs, you can use the following traditional Chinese medicine methods to diagnose and treat it, which can achieve ideal results.

Dampness in the spleen and stomach

Symptoms: drowsiness and heaviness of limbs, or heaviness in the head, chest tightness and abdominal distension, poor appetite, sticky and tasteless mouth, loose stools, or

The body is cold, the tongue coating is white and greasy, and the pulse is slippery.

Treatment method: aromatic dehumidification.

Prescription: Huoxiang Zhengqi Powder.

This syndrome mainly refers to the cold-damp syndrome in which dampness turns into cold. The representative prescription is Huoxiang Zhengqi Powder, which has a good effect in removing dampness. The formula uses Patchouli, Perilla, Tangerine Peel, and Angelica Dahurica to aromatically transform dampness; Magnolia Bark, Amomum Villosum, and Atractylodes Macrocephala to bitterly warm and dry dampness; and Citrus aurantium bark and Poria to mildly penetrate and eliminate dampness. It combines aromatic, bitter, warm and mild properties in one prescription, and is combined with Platycodon grandiflorum to clear the lung qi and licorice to soothe the middle, together creating the effect of warming and neutralizing cold and dampness. If there is a sweet taste in the mouth, add Perilla frutescens to enhance the aromatic power and remove turbidity. If there is also food stagnation, belching, and acid regurgitation, add hawthorn, Shenqu, and chicken's gizzard lining to help digest food and eliminate stagnation. If there is abdominal distension and loose stools, Pingwei San can be used together to enhance the effect of strengthening the spleen and drying dampness. If there are external symptoms of cold and heat, add Schizonepeta and Saposhnikovia to dispel the external evil.

Heat and humidity resistance

Symptoms: abdominal distension and pain, poor appetite, uncomfortable bowel movements, bitter and sticky taste in the mouth, thirst without desire to drink, heavy limbs, or body heat without rising, sweating but persistent fever, yellow and greasy tongue coating, and weak and rapid pulse.

Treatment method: Clear away heat and eliminate dampness.

Prescription: Wang’s Lianpu Drink.

This prescription uses the bitter and cold properties of Coptis chinensis and Gardenia jasminoides to clear away heat and dampness; Amomum villosum and Magnolia officinalis to invigorate the spleen, transform dampness and eliminate fullness; Acorus calamus, Phragmites australis, and Fructus Sojae to harmonize the stomach, clear heat, invigorate the spleen and eliminate dampness. You can also add talcum powder, fresh lotus leaves and coix seeds to clear away dampness. For abdominal distension, add dried tangerine peel and tangerine peel to regulate Qi and relieve fullness. For those who suffer from body heaviness and pain, add Stephania tetrandra to remove dampness, dredge meridians and relieve pain. For this condition, you can take Ganlu Xiaodu Pills, 5-10g each time, twice a day, to clear away heat and dampness, and resolve turbidity with aromatics.

Spleen deficiency and dampness stagnation

Symptoms: fatigue in the limbs, abdominal distension, preference for rubbing and pressing, loose stools, fatigue, aversion to greasy food, thin and greasy tongue coating or a fat and pale tongue.

Treatment method: Strengthen the spleen and eliminate dampness.

Prescription: Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction.

This prescription uses Codonopsis pilosula, Poria cocos, Atractylodes macrocephala, and Licorice to strengthen the spleen and replenish Qi; Pinellia ternata and Tangerine peel to regulate Qi and eliminate dampness; Costus root and Amomum villosum to soothe the stomach and invigorate the spleen. You can add Pueraria root and Patchouli to clear away dampness. If the face and limbs are swollen, add astragalus, lentils and coix seeds to replenish qi, eliminate dampness and reduce swelling.

Among the patients with dampness-obstruction disease, some will experience irritability and thirst, no sweat or less sweating, persistent fever, chest tightness, poor appetite, fatigue, greasy tongue coating, and rapid pulse in the midsummer season. This is the external attack of summer dampness, also known as "summer heat". Fresh patchouli, fresh lotus leaves, angelica dahurica, mint, isatis root, Liuyi powder, etc. can be used to clear away summer dampness, and they are usually effective.