Dampness can affect a person in two ways – external and internal. External dampness is often caused by a humid climate or sleeping on wet ground, while internal dampness typically results from overconsumption of cold drinks, raw fruits, and vegetables, which can damage the body's yang energy.

Sources of Dampness

1. Lack of Sleep: Insufficient sleep is a symptom of spleen deficiency according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Getting enough rest can help keep our bodies lighter and more agile. It's recommended to go to bed before 11 PM every night, and incorporating some daily exercise can improve your quality of sleep.

2. Heavy Diet: The health of your digestive system affects how well your body absorbs nutrients and eliminates excess fluids. The best approach is to eat a moderate and balanced diet. Foods that are greasy, too salty, or excessively sweet can be difficult to digest and may cause bloating and inflammation in the stomach and intestines.

3. Consuming Cold Foods: According to TCM, raw foods, ice cream, and other cold fruits, vegetables, and seafood can slow down digestion and absorption in the gut, making it easier for external pathogens to invade the body. It's best not to overindulge in these foods and to add ingredients like scallions and ginger when cooking to counteract their cooling properties.

4. Drinking Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption is a key factor in exacerbating “dampness and toxicity.” In TCM, alcohol aids dampness, so it's best to limit its intake and avoid using it as a coping mechanism for stress.

5. Lack of Exercise: People who don't exercise regularly often experience symptoms of excessive dampness such as feeling heavy and lethargic. The less active you are, the more likely you are to accumulate dampness in your body, which can eventually lead to illness. Regular physical activity, such as running, brisk walking, or swimming, can help coordinate the functions of your organs and accelerate the elimination of dampness.

6. Sitting Too Much: Prolonged sitting can reduce blood flow to the brain, leading to decreased oxygen and nutrient supply, and worsening symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, and memory loss. It can also cause muscle pain, neck stiffness, headaches, and dizziness throughout the body.

7. Dressing Lightly: Prioritizing fashion over warmth can easily allow dampness to enter the body, especially during autumn and winter. It's important to stay warm all over, including avoiding cold showers and drying your hair thoroughly after washing.

8. Poor Ventilation: Certain lifestyle habits can increase dampness in both the environment and the body, such as sitting on the floor for play or spending long periods in a closed room. It's good practice to open windows for ventilation, especially if the room is particularly humid.

The above eight bad habits can all contribute to dampness accumulation in the body.

Three Teas to Eliminate Dampness

1. Ripe Pu-erh Tea: The simplest way to eliminate dampness is to Brew a pot of ripe Pu-erh tea and drink it slowly until your hands and feet feel warm, and you start to sweat slightly on your forehead and back. The rich aroma of the tea will surround you, creating a natural sauna-like experience, leaving no room for dampness in your body.

2. Barley Tea: You read that right – barley tea is excellent for eliminating dampness. Buy barley at the supermarket, soak and rinse it, then dry it in the sun (or shade) and place it in a pan over low heat, stirring constantly until the barley changes color and releases a fragrant aroma. Turn off the heat and let it cool. Boil water, add the roasted barley, and simmer for 15 minutes before serving.

3. Ginger Black Tea: There's no doubt about it – ginger black tea is one of the best options! On a damp and cold day, drinking a Cup of ginger black tea feels as refreshing as soaking in a hot bath. To make it, simply add a few slices of ginger to boiling black tea and enjoy. Drinking tea is a simple and effective way to remove dampness from the body, so give it a try if you have high levels of dampness!

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