Thank you for the clear list of foods to avoid and to enjoy.
According to the acupuncturist I am seeing I have a dampness/spleen problem. I have a question about some foods that are not on the list and which I do eat often. How do eggs and chicken affect your spleen?
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Emma
Spleen imbalances are very common, and many people have some level of spleen deficiency. Eggs actually can contribute to dampness, but chicken is beneficial. Just remember everything in moderation. ;)
I have created some information sheets for all aspects of the spleen which are linked at the bottom of the article if you would like more detailed information. Good luck with your spleen healing!
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Eggs are mucus-forming thus create extra dampness. Chicken is an astringent and drying food and therefore helps clear dampness, part of the reason why chicken noodle soup helps so much when you are ill:) Hope that helps!
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T
This helped a lot. Thank you so much as now I understand why I crave certain things and dislike others.
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Emma
So glad it was helpful, you are most welcome!
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Jane
In doing research on a reaction to Prednisone I realized my spleen had been affected. I went to my acupuncturist and told him. He did acupuncture for my spleen and the amount of toxins that were released truly during my illness around. I since have done acupressure for my spleen. Had a same reaction the first time but have since been a new person. I am worrier and that is ceasing. Thank you!
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Emma
That is wonderful to hear! In Chinese Medicine, the spleen is an organ with so many responsibilities, but it is certainly possible to heal it and make it stronger. We live in a bit of a spleen deficient culture, which puts added pressure on this hard-working organ. I am happy to share information on how to give this organ some much-needed love!
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Julia
There is a pop up that comes up continually on your site saying, “Content is protected.”
First, this is ridiculous. If your site is copyrighted, you just put a notice at the bottom indicating that. Second, this pop up is extremely annoying.
If you want to share information and be helpful, I’d highly suggest removing that pop up. Just a thought. I hope it’s a helpful one.
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Annerose Kmoch
Hello,
I need a copy of this article because to know what I should eat to be healthier.
Please let me know how I can get a copy.
Thank you.
Annerose Kmoch
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Valentin Grasso
do a print page !
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Emma
Hello Annerose,
Thank you for your comment.
I have created some information sheets for every aspect of the spleen (health, nutrition, emotions, dampness, etc…). They are posted at the bottom of the article. You can download and print them to make having this information easier. :)
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Valentin Grasso
The only thing I have to say is that peanuts are strengthening food for the spleen according to other sources for example http://www.planetherbs.com
good one keep it coming!
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Mary
The only thing I can think wrong about peanuts is they are one of the most toxic crops grown. Rotated with cotton and heavily sprayed…
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Martha
Chinese Medicine is different from Western Medicine understanding of Spleen. Says so right in the article. Different system altogether.
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[…] https://www.chinesemedicineliving.com/acupuncture/the-spleen-and-dampness-in-chinese-medicine/ […]
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anygray
Hi,
I was diagnosed phlegm dampness, damp heat just last week. I have started to eat a diet that will help to get rid of dampness. One tea I drink a lot is red rooibos tea. I could not find anything on this tea. Is this a tea that I should avoid for my condision?
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I too have internal dampness (I think) due to kidney jing defficiency and liver stagnation but I’m not sure which led to which and still trying to figure it out. It led me to bad fatigue and insomnia. Worst part is that my symptoms are very dependant on the weather and things get much worse during wet, rainy days. If anyone has similar symptoms please contact me though my website. I would appreciate any insights.
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Ruby
I had all that and more, quite severely for a long time. Vegan core diet that changed to meat and low grain. Stil, sluggish and chroncally tired, fatigue fast and early in day and lose steam around 2pm any plans after noon were under a gun. Lol. Then I really started learning about phlegm, and combatting it successfully in my own clients, and that started me seeing some patterns. My take is that all animal products ad grains cause phlegm/dampness, so I no longer eat them and that helped. Beans are now my core and I digest them well, making sure to cook with a good acid like tomatoes, or even a spritz of vinegar; makes them yummy too. Also, lost of salt water daily (tsp in 16oz) because salt breaks down phlegm so it can pass. Also ate and still eat lots of mucus eating foods like pineapple (take bromelain), and other citrus (which I know is hydrating but also still breaks down phlem and builds tissue). Also taking some heat in the form of cayanne (in water or tea or coffee even) to move the water and break stagnant qi (breathing). Stayed clear of sours as a rule during breaking down phlem (tcm says that sours may lock in sickness). And lost of peppering my food, using carminative spices and heat producing herbs; lots of ginger in all – tea and beans alike, cayanne or roasted chilli pepper, poblano (in my beans is awesome), all kinds of hot spices, gently used. Phlem poured out of me. Pnumonia purged fast, and I can now BREATH and have ENERGY. . .. I also crave phlegmy foods now that I am well, lol. But I am doing white fungus (instead of old staples I used to go-to), had a bananna this morning which is rare. Ocra. Good fats from nuts. . . . I hope this helps you at least half as much as it did me. ;). . For my future, no grains and no animals. Protien from fiber only. Maybe some fish from time to time, during winter months. Cheers
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Shahin
Thanks, your comments helped me a lot
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Martha
Thank you, Ruby. Having a terrible time here with lung congestion and sinus..going on more than a month with asthmatic symptoms. But I’m not sick.. just really congested in my lungs bronchials. It’s been hell. My acupuncturist says it’s spleen. My is deep and chronic.i could never stick to the diet but now I’m sO ill I MUST. I WANT TO PURGE ALL THIS MUCUS PHLEGM.
Your comment was helpful.
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Juan
Hi mi name is Juan and i to have insomnia due to dampness, was your insomnia resolved and how, any tips will be greatly appreciated thanks in advance.
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Juan Rosa
Hi i to have insomnia from dampness was yours resolve and how any tips will be greatly appreciated
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Maryann
I have dampness in the form of phlegm, but no other symptoms, and I am always cold in temps below 80 F, my extremities get very cold.. especially hands and fingers,
I have no other symptoms listed above,….. any suggestions?? am I suffering from dampness
I am willing try changing my diet to get rid of phlegm.. I am mostly vegan, but do eat bread pasta, rice, etc.
namaste
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Hare Lunaire
Maryann, your diet might be too “cold” for your system. You can address that by cooking your veggies and adding warming (but not phlegm-promoting) foods to your diet. Also, you will want to make a habit of gentle exercise to promote the circulation of blood, which should address both the coldness in extremities and general stagnation (dampness). Anyone can start with stretching and/or qigong. Depending on your abilities, you could then work up to tai chi or yoga. Good luck!
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Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you penning this article and also the rest of the site is extremely good.
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Emma
Thank you! <3
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Shawn
you need to eat based on your constitution, not what other articles tell you. one-track minded diets (paleo, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, fruitarian or eating the same exact food everyday) will only lead to imbalances as the world doesn’t know yet…and probably never will. what that means is you need to figure out what imbalances you have and work on correcting them. the body is always straying out of balance due to diet, stress, lifestyle, environment, weather (the seasons change which means you cant eat the same food year round either), etc.
if you have dampness, eat foods that dry you up (look it up or use common sense; its obvious dried ginger is drying, etc) and get off your ass and go EXERCISE, sweat it out, build your yang energy outside, be active… sitting around while browsing the internet or online shopping on the computer while eating “healthy” food such as yogurt, bananas, mango, peanut butter sandwiches, pork, chicken thighs, fatty beef along with boiled potatoes quickly leads to severe dampness which can cause many problems including insomnia and fatigue. you basically DRENCHED your YANG energy. on the other hand, having a manual labor day job in the southwest during the summer months while eating corn, tortillas, chili, tapatio sauces and all those popular spices like garlic, turmeric and ginger won’t lead to dampness but will quickly heat you up on fire and cause insomnia, high blood pressure, arthritis, anger, short temper, and lots of other problems. BALANCE is key.
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[…] The Spleen and Dampness in Chinese Medicine, December 13, 2014 […]
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Damp
Hi,
Can anyone suggest what pressure points to do for dampness?
Thanks.
Damp
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Hare Lunaire
For internal dampness, you can self-administer acupressure at the points listed at the following website, which includes instructions on doing it properly and using essential oils for increased effectiveness. Good luck!
https://agelessherbs.com/spleen-qi-deficiency/
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Chinese Medicine To Support Sensible Weight Loss • CHINESE MEDICINE LIVING
[…] your relationship with eating. Excessive weight gain is thought to relate to the accumulation of ‘dampness’ – a condition that occurs when food intake, absorption, digestion and transportation are not […]
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