Not only has it been hot this summer, but recently it has been very humid. Folks who hate the humidity typically find that it makes them feel lethargic or heavy, exacerbates brain fog, generates muscle stiffness, and slows digestion or creates loose stools
Chinese Medicine honors the intimate connection between the inner workings of the body and the outer environment. It is said that what exists on the outside of the body exists internally as well. The body seeks a dynamic internal equilibrium between the two worlds separated by our skin; however, some folks have great difficulty keeping the external humidity from destabilizing the internal environment.
Exposure to damp humid weather and wearing cold, wet clothes for a period of time can cause external dampness to penetrate the body. When this happens, it has its most serious impact on the spleen which, according to acupuncture theory, is said to function best in a warm, dry environment.
In Chinese medicine, the spleen is intimately involved in the initial stage of digestion. From the mouth, all food and drink moves to the stomach, where it is separated into its material and essential energetic parts. The spleen is in charge of the transformation and distribution of the essential energetic part of the food and fluids, as well as the transformation of pathological dampness. A healthy spleen will facilitate the optimal absorption and distribution of the essential energetic component of food. Consequently, the entire body will be provided with the energetic nutrients that are essential for survival. If there is proper absorption and transformation of food essence, the food will turn into refined essence rather than into “damp” slush stagnating in the digestive tract. Conversely, the presence of dampness in the system will severely hamper the transformative actions of the spleen.
From a Chinese medicine point of view, if you are one who is greatly impacted by humid weather, it would be useful to learn what actions aggravate the spleen and what you can do to support it.
ACTIONS TO AVOID AGGRAVATING THE SPLEEN WHEN IT IS HUMID OUTSIDE:
- Avoid drinking iced drinks and eating cold, raw foods, including salad.
- Avoid milk and dairy products, including ice cream, which are both cold and damp.
- Avoid sushi, raw fish wrapped in sticky rice, which are both cold and damp.
- Avoid eating watermelon, cantaloupe, honey dew and orange. These fruits promote internal damp.
ACTIONS YOU CAN DO TO SUPPORT THE SPLEEN WHEN IT IS HUMID OUTSIDE:
- Eat warm, cooked food.
- Eat ginger with your meals when it is especially humid out.
- Boil these herbs into a tea and drink several cups per day if the humidity bothers you.
- 1/4 teaspoon dry ginger
- 1 clove
- 1/4 teaspoon dill seed
- 1/4 teaspoon fenugreek seed
- 1 cup boiling water
- Mix the dry ingredients together.
- Add the boiling water.
- Steep for 5 minutes.
- Strain and serve.
- Curtail any propensity to excess worry. This stresses the spleen.
- Rely on air conditioning and dehumidifiers to reduce the humidity in your living space.
- Take care of yourself by getting acupuncture treatment to balance your energy so your body is not so impacted by humidity. You don’t have to “just live with it.”
- Get a comprehensive energetic evaluation to determine if the symptoms you have are actually coming from internal damp or Candida. The symptom presentation is often very similar but the treatment strategy is indeed different. Read about the comprehensive energetic evaluation at http://stillpointmindandbody.com/energy-medicine/.
Here’s to a pleasant, healthy summer in spite of the humidity.
Daniel Ebaugh, M.Ac. L.Ac.
301-920-0801
