In the identification of TCM constitutions, when it comes to "yin deficiency with damp-heat," many friends who know a bit about TCM find it challenging, as it does not present as distinct symptoms as pure yin deficiency or damp-heat.
Mouth and throat are dry, heart is restless and insomnia occurs, thinking it's "excessive internal heat," but drinking heat-clearing tea only makes one feel weaker; some people feel heavy all over, skin is sticky, and after using dampness-removing medicine, they instead develop symptoms of heat in the palms and soles.
Ultimately, it is due to insufficient Yin fluid in our bodies, which makes us prone to deficiency fire and dryness-heat; on the other hand, there is also damp-heat accumulating within. This leads to a dilemma during regulation: attempting to nourish Yin to alleviate dryness-heat may exacerbate dampness; while trying to clear heat and dispel dampness risks further depleting Yin fluid.
In response to this situation, the core approach to regulation can be summarized in four words:Tonifying and Purging Simultaneously"Tong" means to clear damp-heat in the body, focusing on regulating the middle jiao (spleen and stomach) and the lower jiao (waterways), helping the body metabolize dampness and allowing damp-heat to have an outlet; "Bu" does not mean indiscriminate supplementation, but rather selecting clear and moistening substances to nourish yin and promote fluid production, while also avoiding making the spleen and stomach feel greasy, achieving hydration without accumulating dampness.
We can start withClear heat and resolve dampness, unblock the triple energizerUse mild herbs like patchouli and poria, avoid overly bitter and cold medicines that may harm yang qi, laying the foundation for subsequent yin nourishment; once damp-heat is reduced, gradually add herbs like adenophora root and ophiopogon.nourishing yinthe medicinal materials, while matching withStrengthen the Spleen and Remove DampnessThis type of medicine can both avoid the excessive dryness of dampness-removing drugs and allow the yin-nourishing medicine to work better, so that the constitution can gradually improve.
However, it is important to note that traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes syndrome differentiation and treatment. Since each individual has a different constitution and varying complexities of syndromes, it is crucial not to blindly apply treatments on one's own. Always use under the guidance of a professional physician based on proper syndrome differentiation.
