and functions as the prescription of the same name.
The tongue presentation appropriate to this remedy is a Swollen body with sticky-yellow
coating.
Dampness
Clinical Manifestations
Tiredness and sleepiness, lethargy, feeling of heaviness of the body or head, no appetite, feeling
of oppression of the chest or epigastrium, a sticky taste, urinary difficulty, turbid urine, excessive
vaginal discharge, mucus in the stools, lack of concentration, a "muzzy" feeling of the head, dull
headache, a sticky tongue coating and a Slippery pulse.
If Dampness combines with Heat there will be: thirst, dark urine, yellow vaginal discharge,
mucus in the stools with a burning sensation of the anus on defecation, possibly blood in the
stools, possibly night sweating and a sticky-yellow tongue coating.
If Dampness affects the Gall-Bladder and Liver there will be a bitter taste, hypochondrial pain
and distension and possibly jaundice.
The tiredness deriving from Dampness has typical characteristics: it is associated with a feeling
of heaviness of the body or head, and sleepiness and lethargy especially after lunch. It is not
really relieved by rest because it does not derive from a deficiency. On the contrary, excessive
rest may even aggravate it: for example, sleeping for a long time after lunch (more than half an
hour) will tend to increase Dampness.
Treatment Principle
Resolve Dampness, tonify the Spleen.
Acupuncture
General Prescription
SP-9 Yinlingquan, SP-6 Sanyinjiao, BL-22 Sanjiaoshu with reducing method. Ren-9 Shuifen,
LU-7 Lieque and L.I.-4 Hegu with even method to resolve Dampness. BL-20 Pishu and Ren-12
Zhongwan with reinforcing method to tonify the Spleen. These are the general points to
eliminate Dampness. Other points depend on the location of the Dampness.
- In the head: ST-8 Touwei, Du-20 Baihui and Du-23 Shangxing with even method.
- In the Stomach and Spleen: ST-21 Liangmen, Ren-10 Xiawan with even method.