What Is Damp In Chinese Medicine? How Does It Affect My Body? Chinese Medicine Dr Explains

What Is Damp In Chinese Medicine? How Does It Affect My Body?
WATCH: How the mind affects our digestion through damp - • Digestion And Your Men...
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What Is 'Damp'? This is one of the most common questions in the world of Chinese Medicine: "What is 'damp"?' and "How does it affect my body?'.
Here Karina Smith, Dr. of Chinese Medicine helps to break down the terminology, what it looks like and changes you can make in your everyday life to help the symptoms of damp.
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Karina Smith, Dr. Of Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture and Yin Yoga Educator
B.A Health Science Chinese Medicine Studies; Acupuncture and Herbalism majors.
karinasmith.com.au

[@odetteminassian2881]

I started making smoothies 3 days ago , and i never felt so terrible in my life, so i quit it and now i feel great .!...your voice is so calm and soothing,great teacher.

[@aimeeannichiarico3617]

This was so helpful! Thank you.

[@stickmanbangkok]

Really good and clear explanation!

[@baguiciprian7352]

Thank you so much for your videos, are very helpful ❤very clear and easy to understand

[@rapoliit]

Thank you very much. You nailed it 🙂🙂

[@lucycarlos4923]

Excellent explanation

[@jaysun3260]

This was enlightening

[@Rambat]

This was the info I was looking for and even more! Thank you 🙏🏻

[@DrKarinaSmith]

You're so welcome!

[@tarasBUGRYN]

Thank you!

[@maiiwaleed9512]

thank you so much this has been very organized and informative

[@DrKarinaSmith]

You are so welcome. Thank you for watching x

[@slowlivingBossMom]

ive watched so many videos to understand the meaning of dampness, this is the best explanation thus far!!! thank you!!!!

[@DrKarinaSmith]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Tobymylove0914]

i like your explanation. Thanks

[@DrKarinaSmith]

You are welcome!

[@patrickjaime3260]

Thank you for you very simple and talented way of explaining dampness in the body I really appreciate that 🙋🏻‍♂️👍

[@DrKarinaSmith]

you are so welcome x

[@08iantee]

You are very good at explaining TCM concepts. Please do more on diet and food. It’s not easy to tell the difference between warming and cooling foods.

[@DrKarinaSmith]

Thank you so much. I will definitely have more videos like that coming up in the future

[@snakemont]

Thank you so much!

[@DrKarinaSmith]

You're welcome!

[@Highwind452]

Really helpful thanks. I work night shift, live in a tropical environment but move from one air conditioned place to another, sleeping during the day without much sun. Work hours are active but I am sedentary and fatigued otherwise - despite eating salads, fruits and spicy foods. I developed a painful form of eczema called pompholyx on my hands and had no luck with steroid creams and such from my GP. My hands looked like uncooked bloody bacon, with itchy tiny blisters rupturing causing great pain. As a last resort I went tried Traditional Chinese Medicine. I was diagnosed with damp heat, given several different forms of treatment including herbal bath, herbal supplements, cream and acupuncture. Within minutes the bath was effective, and within two days fresh baby pink skin formed underneath as the irritated skin flaked away over the coming days. It was a complete renewal. Amazing.

[@DrKarinaSmith]

What an incredible story! I'm so glad the medicine helped you to feel better! Tropical home environments are tricky. All that steamy hot weather can wreak havoc on the skin. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us.

[@anonyme1539]

Do you mind sharing what kind of herbal supplements and bath? I'm facing the same issue exactly like you.

[@Timetravel1111]

Also worrying- overthinking is a factor; grief unresolved

[@DrKarinaSmith]

overthinking is huge! Such a root issue in many health imbalances x

[@magorzatachudzinska4896]

Hello Karina, Your impressive knowledge expressed by your soothing voice and nature, this is great! While the awareness of people is rising, you will be getting more subscribers, I believe. I start my day with a smoothie made of fresh kale, fresh banana, frozen berries and hot water turning my smoothie into a warm soup. I often feel cold (my feet, hands and nose are usually cold) and live in a very humid place (subtropical climat) so I started to look into this damp problem, thank you for your video. Very informative!

[@DrKarinaSmith]

I like this idea of a "warm soup", I would advise however not to put anything frozen in there to start with. Damp can "block" the inside of the body, making qi and blood circulation difficult (hence the cold hands and feet). Would it be weird to swap it out for warm porridge for breakfast for a week and see how you feel? Also, thankyou for your lovely supporting comments xx

[@raindrops1047]

I subscribed to you as I like you :) 🥰

[@DrKarinaSmith]

@@raindrops1047 thankyou so much

[@1lifewanderlust]

As a fitness professional, I was always told to consume 3L of water daily. Stay hydrated and I was downing water (most cases ice cold) along with my protein smoothies and eating cold leafy green salads. I would finish training at the gym and hang out in my damp sweaty clothes until I got home to change. I was lead to believe this is a healthy lifestyle. I mean, I drink tons of water and eat massive green salads. BUT it may not be right for everyone and it certainly wasn't for me. I pulled back on cold salads, I heat my raw cabbage, broccoli and my proteins before eating. I only drink luke warm water now and remove gym clothes right away into something warm and dry. It has made a difference for me. I no longer have runny, bowel movements. I'm currently working on night sweats and low energy/strength levels. One step at a time. Great info. Thank you!

[@DrKarinaSmith]

Wow thank you so much for sharing your journey on how food and water was impacting you at that time in your life! It really is something you have to experience for yourself to see how the body responds to different temperatures of our food hey! Yes, one step at a time for sure. I hope you find that balance and energy in this next step of your amazing journey.

[@rodney5269]

Night sweats and low energy are a sign of blood and qi deficiency. The sole purpose of exercise is to move Qi and blood, but if you are sweating a lot and expending a lot of energy, it actually diminishes the benefits you are trying to get out of it. The night sweats and low energy are a sign that you are expending more energy than you have. Incorporate more meat into your diet like lamb, beef, chicken, they tonify qi and blood levels. Plants based foods mainly clean and regulate the circulation qi and blood, they rare tonify it. You have to understand pro athletes eat a lot , a lot of protein and lot of everything even carbs. If they had night sweats and low energy like you their careers would be over. You are obviously not eating like them but you are trying to train like them, that is why you become qi and blood deficient causing your nights sweats and low energy.

[@ComeAlongKay]

@@rodney5269have also heard can be excess iron but probably multiple causes.

[@nicolaamerena3087]

Very informative video. I just began studying chinese medicine and this has given me a greater understanding of what damp is. Thank you, keep it up

[@DrKarinaSmith]

oh you are so welcome. It s a tricky concept (but sooo common). I'm glad it helped with your studies.

[@suziemccormack1432]

Excellent presentation. Very calm and clear. I am curious if there is a relationship or connection between chi stagnation and and dampness as I have problems with both?

[@DrKarinaSmith]

If qi stops flowing, all things can stop flowing including fluids. If fluids stagnate that can lead to dampness, and phlegm/nodule accumulation for sure.

[@suziemccormack1432]

Many thanks for your reply. It makes sense and is helpful.@@DrKarinaSmith

[@reinotsurugi]

Bu Zhong Yi Qi is my go to formula, but I'm a novice in the craft. Lately, I'm focusing on taking in "structured water," trying to get better water and not have to consume too much cold or sweet liquid.

[@DrKarinaSmith]

An awesome formula, but it is a lifting formula, not a draining formula. The bland herbs are great for damp.

[@barefootyogaschool]

Thank you for the information. How would dampness directly affect our qi? Would it slow it down?

[@DrKarinaSmith]

Yes it most definitely can slow things down. Over time, dampness can become phlegm, which can become cysts and tumours and masses, all of which create blockages in qi flow. You can tell that dampness slows things down, because when you are all heavy from dampness, you feel so sluggish and fuzzy.

[@rapoliit]

@@DrKarinaSmith Your level of understanding is simply amazing. You made my day 🙂.

[@khludrasha2259]

Ty 😇🌈🦋🌞🏖🌺

[@verywendyyoga]

hi this was very informative. i have a swollen tongue and that is how I found out about damp. I don’t have the other symptoms so I wonder if this is the cause. thank you

[@DrKarinaSmith]

Food, environment, and excess worry can all contribute, as well as over indulging in, well, anything lol! If you don't have lots of other symptoms that are affecting your life and well being, then a slightly swollen tongue should not be too much of a problem.

[@mikemcgrath6150]

Very new to the damp concept and TCM. Starting slow w adding ginger and cinnamon to my meals. Any value in using a sauna to add warmth and sweat out? If so, any guidance on how often?

[@DrKarinaSmith]

Sweating can be a good therapy, but if there is a lot of excess damp in the body then you also need to make sure you are moving your body regularly. Too much sweating will deplete yin and fluids.

[@hello.9628]

We are always told don’t let your sweat dry off. Always change your clothes or wipe it off immediately.

[@t2hbunny]

I've never heard that before

[@jivory6131]

Omg thanks for explaining this. I been eating a lot raw cold foods and smoothies alot now my speen feel full and dampness. I thought I was being super healthy. 😢

[@DrKarinaSmith]

I will be very curious to know how you feel when you start eating more warm foods. Yes salads and cold foods, on paper, are highly nutritious, it just isn't good for the body to ingest so much cold.

[@jivory6131]

@@DrKarinaSmith I feel good after warm teas but my spleen hurts on and off. I'm try some tea I heard can help with spleen dampness

[@DrKarinaSmith]

@@jivory6131 Out of curiosity, how do you know that it is your spleen giving you pain?

[@abdulhaikapadia2761]

I have food allergies and lot of phelgm come out from lungs. Is damp reason my spleen.what foods I eat and tcm medicine I use.I like your imformation.

[@DrKarinaSmith]

Without seeing you and giving you a proper diagnosis, it is difficult to say. If there is a lot of phlegm then it would seem your body is trying to protect itself from the foods that it cannot digest.

[@abdulhaikapadia2761]

Thank you for answer. I have diagnosed bronchiectasis and I got pneumonia lot of time.one time fungal infection and other bacteria infection pneumonia. Lot food I allergies. One I visited southern California to my country pakistan,karachi over there to much humid that time and sweating. No food allergies happened over there .two months stay overthere I came back california after three months food allergies again. Food allergies mean I have dyshidrotic eczema. I don't know why here.lot of food allergies .every food almost

[@TsukimiTube]

Let's say I switch to warming foods and take some warming spices/herbs for the condition. How long does it take to completely clear out dampness, which persisted for many years?

[@DrKarinaSmith]

oooh I could not put a day/time on that. I would just say to start, and begin noting the changes to your damp signs and symptoms. Acupuncture and herbs will definitely help to speed the process along.

[@kelseybishop3593]

I realised l was spearfishing thru winter without a wetsuit and often in the water for 3 hours. I thought l was a bit of a hero and even turned down a wetsuit l was offered. Something to prove! Now I have to go and buy one lol. Yeah the stools went loose about that time and was a great feeling to understand why. Thanks. l would love to hear you speak about the psych reasons that cause damp as obviously damp goes deeper than swimming in winter.

[@DrKarinaSmith]

Yes being submerged in cold water for hours will not only mean you are exposed to damp, literally, but also would have put a big strain on the yang (fire) of your body. The loose stools might have actually been a sign of yang deficiency as opposed to damp in your situation. From a mental perspective, overthinking, ruminating thoughts and excess worry all tax the energy of the Spleen. In Chinese medicine the spleen is responsible for making sure fluids are processed correctly. If not, we can create a swampy mix of fluids internally, which is what we call damp. This video is related to your question, so you may find it useful:kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKWnYpd6a8d8atk

[@kelseybishop3593]

it really means a lot to me that you replied. Xxoo. Interestingly, l just rode 250km on a bike with 50kg panniers in 32° heat over a few days and noticed firmer stools, especially after eating licorice! Maybe the combination of hard work, heat and licorice helped me.

[@DrKarinaSmith]

@@kelseybishop3593 You are certainly on a journey of exploring how both cold and hot environments can influence the body, and also the stools! Thanks for sharing xxx

[@badpoetry33]

I hate salad and smoothies. Growing up in Asia, we would never eat so much cold food.

[@DrKarinaSmith]

I often think about how much wisdom is in ancient asian culture, especially around food and protecting the body from wind and cold. Thank you for sharing this xxx

[@Ladida386]

What do you think about lymph drainage? Does it help or not?

[@DrKarinaSmith]

yes it can help, but its not getting to the root cause as to why damp is being created in the first place.

[@Ladida386]

@@DrKarinaSmith yes I get that. My problem is overthinking, as well as damp climate where I live. A lot of fog and rain from autumn to spring. It's so obvious that when I go to dryer climate my body starts to work differently. I definitely need to move away from where I live. I'm using sauna, lymph drainage, dry brushing... And I'm working on cleaning my diet.

[@butubuta]

Thank you, does it mean not even to eat one orange?

[@DrKarinaSmith]

no not necessarily. If a patient told me they were freezing cold all of the time and they had chronic loose stools I would encourage the not to eat fruit for a little while until things improve. All things in moderation is a great idea for good health xxx

[@kalkeikuu]

Gallstones and kidney stones is from Dampness?

[@DrKarinaSmith]

not exclusively, but they can be yes.

[@chefsheila2428]

Is it possible to have a very heavy period (lasting more than a month) full of blood clots because of phlegm damnpness?

[@DrKarinaSmith]

possibly. But it sounds like other patterns to me. That is way too much blood to be losing every month. If you have not done so already, I advise you book in for a pelvic exam and ultrasound to see what might be causing the heavy blood loss.

[@hindakkari5400]

So we should avoid avocado? :) and does beetroot cause dampness?

[@DrKarinaSmith]

If someone is diagnosed as having excess damp, then yes, cutting out avocado for a while might be helpful while they are clearing ut the body. Beetroot is very high in sugar, so it depends on what quantity you are consuming it. I would say a few roast beetroots in a warm salad, would be preferable over beetroot juice.

[@hindakkari5400]

@@DrKarinaSmith thank you for your time!!!!! I appreciate

[@DrKarinaSmith]

@@hindakkari5400 thankyou for your questions xxx

[@raindrops1047]

I have candida in my stomach and my tongue. I face constipation and bloating. Which food should I eat.Once a Chinese Dr told me that I have dampness in my stomach. I started the treatment but it was too expensive so I quit. I have this issue for last 4 years. Please guide me. I am so tired of googling and get contradictory information.

[@DrKarinaSmith]

I'm so sorry to hear that you have been going through all of this. Whilst I would love to prescribe you a treatment plan right now, it would be irresponsible for me to do so without taking you through a full consultation. Yes sometimes the herbal medicine can be expensive, but a good practitioner that gets the diagnosis correct and gets you the right formula might be able to help turn this around for you. Can you do a search for a local practitioner who specialises in digestive issues?

[@raindrops1047]

@@DrKarinaSmith unfortunately I do not know where to go. Spend so much money on unknown practitioners without any help. Allopathic, homepatic, Chinese Medicine. Anyway will look again to some practitioner. Thanks a lot for prompt reply.

[@jonnyhonda]

Its dairy. It creates or feeds the candida yeast. Stop all dairy my friend

[@FirstLast-nr3fm]

So Candida would be a symptom of excess dampness?

[@DrKarinaSmith]

yes

[@FirstLast-nr3fm]

@@DrKarinaSmith makes sense... yeast like to grow in damp environments. I usually drink lots of water in the morning, is this a bad idea with dampness? thanks

[@DrKarinaSmith]

@@FirstLast-nr3fm no I think it is ok. We need a lot of fluid in the body to keep things clear. If its cold water that you drink, I suggest you either have it warm or hot. A little squeeze of lemon in hot water first thing in the morning is a great idea as well.

[@yaasikasa17]

Man discovered fire a long long time ago, why are we still eating raw foods or even drinking our foods is confusing.

[@DrKarinaSmith]

It is confusing, but there are also incredibly hot climates on this planet as well. So for people living in hot tropical conditions, cooling fruits and drinking coconut water is what is needed to harmonise the external environment. For those that live in cold places (aka Melbourne where I live!) coconut water and fruit in water is not a great idea! Thanks so much for your great comments xxx

[@Olivia-bs5wj]

I've gained 1 kg in two days. All I did was eating myself full for once. I hate my body and I hate to live. Is it meant to stay hungry through my whole life? I don't have that discipline

[@Olivia-bs5wj]

Can I have really dry skin and still full of fluid? I feel like I'm bloating and full of water

[@DrKarinaSmith]

I'm sorry you are having such a tough time. It sounds like your metabolism might need some extra support. I would suggest you look for someone locally who can help you.

[@Ladida386]

@@Olivia-bs5wj try lymphatic drainage, maybe your lymph nodes are blocked.

[@gonova8412]

What is the difference between damp heat and damp cold

[@DrKarinaSmith]

Damp heat = more heat signs: think thick yellow tongue coat, yellow mucous in the stools, fungal skin infections/rashes, whereas cold damp there are more cold signs. Bloated belly, mucous in stools, but cold to touch, thick white tongue coating. This is a very short and vastly under explained answer, but I hope it gives you some initial clarity.

[@gonova8412]

Thank you

[@thirstykayak246]

Love the accent, South African right?

[@DrKarinaSmith]

good guess. Australian x

[@thirstykayak246]

@@DrKarinaSmith Ah ha, those two are tricky to separate for me!! Thanks for the informative video

[@zephyteh2628]

What about constipation ? Is that spleen damp too

[@DrKarinaSmith]

There are a myriad of reasons why a person might be constipated. Damp is not usually the reason. The more common culprits for constipation are heat drying out the fluids in the bowel, qi stagnation where everything is blocked up, coldness can also be a culprit. To find out why would require a proper consultation with someone who can go over this properly with you.

[@zephyteh2628]

@DrKarinaSmith ok what about when sneezing mucus getting stuck in throat?

[@DrKarinaSmith]

@@zephyteh2628 Again, that could be a few things. Every western "disease" has 4-7 different chinese medicine patterns that explain why something is happening.

[@zephyteh2628]

@DrKarinaSmith okay and the way the tcm would tell the difference is by tongue and pulse? What's an indication that the tcm I'm going to see will diagnose me properly? Thanks

[@DrKarinaSmith]

@@zephyteh2628 Great question. Your tc practitioner will ask particular questions to find out if there is an issue with heat, cold, damp, fire, wind, blood, qi, yin, yang etc. Then looking at the tongue and feeling the pulse will confirm that. Then their selection of herbs and acupuncture will reflect there specific diagnosis xx

[@ShoshanaBrand]

Cold and icy drinks are not good for you, according to Western medicine, not just according to Chinese medicine.

[@DrKarinaSmith]

good to hear!

[@Alexxx95_H]

Your raw food statement makes logic on lower level, but on higher level of thinking and ancient wisdom, when you compare the microcosmos with macrocosmos, you need to allign both. And you can't allign by contraring. All the animals eat raw food. Only humans are eating cooked food and also humans are most fragile, most sick beings on the planet. The damp is created by high contrast of heat and cold. If you eat too much coocked food and you have emotions which increase heat - anger, stress... You will surely have damp. But, if you meditate and eat raw food which is neutral, you will soon get cured.

[@Biggiiful]

This, is not a true statement, but you're own personal theory. Which doesn't even make sense. Humans are not sick because of cooked food. The majority of humans that are sick, are sick because they eat processed food and way too many carbs and modern grains. TCM theory is correct. You need to keep him and yang in balance. For most people, they love in climates that tend towards cold. So eating raw and cold food, is detrimental over time. Not the same for people living in hot climates here they get too much yang energy and need to cool it down a bit. Humans who are healthy, are the most intelligent animals on earth. Our ability to cook food, makes it easier to digest. It's literally pre digestion. The body needs to stay at a certain temperature to operate at full capacity. It takes energy to heat the body. Any cold food, needs to be warmed up by either cooking, or the body itself in order to digest it. Eating cold food, TAKES energy from the body in order to digest it. In hot climates, this is a good thing because the key is already overheating. But in cold climates or moderate climates, this is taking qi/energy away from the body to digest. The point of eating is to give the body energy. If you are constantly eating cold food, you are constantly asking the body to warm itself up in order to even start digesting it. Which takes energy. So you are taxing/stressing the body and digestive system every time you eat. Over time, this leads to energy depletion. Not gain. This is why raw foodists so often extremely thin and underweight years into their diet. Or, the healthier ones are living in tropical places eating lots of fruit. You don't see raw foodists that look healthy living through Alaskan winters. You need YANG foods to thrive in the cold. Warm, cooked food that takes less energy to digest.

[@Alexxx95_H]

@@Biggiiful By your definition, people who don't exercise have the most energy, but its not truth, far from it. You have to invoke the Qi and harvest it from surroundings, from earth, sun, heaven, from air and lastly from food. If you are productive and you use, energy, you will get more energy, because you are a channel. If you don't use it, it will stagnate and you will be out of energy. If you rely only on food, you will get toxic energy which will stagnate and create illness. You are also wrong regarding raw plant food. Raw plant food consumes less internal energy for processing, it is lighter and gives body a chance to heal itself. Fruits and vegetables are the sources of purest Qi energy. And also food that eliminated dampness. Coocked food causes dampness.