Dampness and Heat TCM Body Constitution

In a healthy person, there is little or no phlegm because the body can efficiently convert most foods and fluids into useful substances for the body to use.

 

The spleen plays an important part here because in TCM, we believe that the spleen is the main organ that absorbs nutrients from the food we eat and delivers them to other parts of our body.

 

When the spleen cannot absorb and transport nutrients efficiently, dampness will eventually form in the body over time.

 

This dampness when combined with heatiness in the body (for people whose bodies are heaty in nature) will create various health issues.

 

The following symptoms are some of the obvious signs of a person with dampness and heat body constitution:

 

1. Oily, acne-prone skin – People with dampness and heat body constitution will find that their face gets oily easily. This body type also means that there is inflammation in the body, thus it’s common for individuals with dampness and heat body constitution to have acne-prone skin even into adulthood.

 

2. Bad breath or bitter feeling in the mouth – People of dampness and heat body type will find that their mouth feels bitter at times. Some may also experience bad breath.

 

3. Sticky stools – As the spleen is weakened and affected by dampness, it is very common for people with this body constitution to experience sticky stools (that can’t flush cleanly/easily).

 

Eating the right foods and avoiding the wrong foods (which will be covered in a later section) is the first step towards bringing your body back to a more balanced state.

 

Foods that are highly suitable for people with dampness and heat body constitution are those with dampness-removal and cooling properties.

 

Adding these foods to your diet or increasing the intake of these foods will help to improve your body constitution and return your body to a more balanced state.

 

Following are the top 5 recommended foods that will benefit you if you have a dampness and heat body constitution (as a general rule of thumb, please consume all foods in moderation):

 

1. Chinese Barley (薏苡仁)

2. Mung Beans (绿豆)

3. Winter Melon (冬瓜)

4. Cucumber (黄瓜)

5. Lotus Root (莲藕)

 

You can find out your body constitution by using this online tool.