Cold and dampness in traditional Chinese medicine: concept, expression and conditioning

Cold-dampness is a common pathological factor in the theory of traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the combination of cold air and moisture that invades the human body, resulting in poor circulation of qi and blood and damage to yang energy. Its main symptoms include joint pain, fear of cold, heavy limbs, white and greasy tongue coating, etc. It is common in people with weak constitution or who have been in a humid environment for a long time. This article will start from the causes, symptoms, harm and treatment methods of cold-dampness, and provide an easy-to-understand explanation based on the classic theory of traditional Chinese medicine and modern practice.

Causes and manifestations of cold and dampness

The formation of cold dampness is related to internal and external factors. External causes include long-term exposure to rain, living in a humid environment, or eating cold food; internal causes are related to weak spleen and stomach and insufficient Yang Qi. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that "cold governs contraction and dampness is sticky." When cold and dampness block the meridians, symptoms will occur.Cold, painful, swollen and stiff joints(such as rheumatoid arthritis), orDiarrhea, loss of appetiteand other digestive system symptoms. Women may also suffer from dysmenorrhea and thin leucorrhea due to cold and dampness. Zhang Jingyue, a physician in the Ming Dynasty, mentioned in "Jingyue Complete Book": "The evil of cold and dampness damages Yang Qi the most", emphasizing its chronic depletion of the human body.

The harm and identification of cold and dampness

Long-term cold and dampness may cause more serious problems. For example, cold and dampness trapped in joints can easily lead to chronic rheumatism; trapped cold and dampness in the spleen and stomach can affect nutrient absorption and lead to decreased immunity. It should be noted that it is different from simple "damp heat" (yellow and greasy tongue coating, yellow urine). "Yi Zong Jin Jian" of the Qing Dynasty pointed out that "cold and damp people have a slow and slow pulse, and damp and hot people have a slow and moist pulse." It pointed out that people with cold and dampness have a slow and slow pulse, while people with damp and hot conditions have a fast pulse. In modern medicine, cold-dampness constitution may be related to chronic inflammation and metabolic slowdown, but it needs to be combined with TCM syndrome differentiation.

Common methods for regulating cold and dampness

The core of traditional Chinese medicine for regulating cold and dampness is "warming yang and transforming dampness". ①Moxibustion: Select acupuncture points such as Guanyuan and Zusanli to dispel cold air; ②Diet therapy: Such as ginger brown sugar water, poria, barley porridge; ③Chinese medicine: Classic prescriptions such as Fuzi Lizhong Pills (manufacturers: Beijing Tongrentang, Lanzhou Foci Pharmaceutical) and Qianghuoshengshi Decoction. In addition, it is important to avoid habits such as walking barefoot on the ground and being too cold in the summer. The famous doctor Li Ke once proposed that "cold and dampness are diseases, and warm medicine can treat them", emphasizing the importance of gentle conditioning.

Summary and Notes

The treatment of cold and dampness needs to vary from person to person. Those with yin deficiency or excess heat should use warming and drying drugs with caution. Daily exercise can be combined with moderate exercise (such as Baduanjin) to promote the growth of yang energy. If the symptoms are severe, it is recommended to consult a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner for syndrome differentiation and treatment. The following is a reference to some common Chinese patent medicines:

Quote sources:1. Basic theory of "Huangdi Neijing" 2. Zhang Jingyue's "The Complete Book of Jingyue" (Ming Dynasty) 3. "Yi Zong Jin Jian" (compiled by Taiyuan Hospital in Qing Dynasty) 4. Li Ke's "Experience Album of Li Ke, a Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor on Critical, Severe and Difficult Diseases"