Moisture invading the body can lead to various chronic health issues, usually stemming from poor water metabolism. Office workers are particularly vulnerable because they often sit for long periods, have irregular eating habits, engage in more mental than physical labor, making it easier to accumulate moisture in the body. However, the body will send out signals to remind us of excessive dampness.
When there is an excess of dampness, the body may show the following signs:
Stool changes, becoming soft, sticky, bluish in color, and difficult to flush.
Frequent fatigue, feeling heavy in the limbs in the morning or afternoon, low mood, and reluctance to move.
Sensation of a foreign object in the throat while brushing teeth, slight pressure could induce nausea or vomiting.
Tongue changes, becoming swollen, thick, yellowish, rather than the healthy red appearance.
Unexplained weight gain, which is actually a false perception caused by lower limb edema, especially feeling heaviness in the legs and reduced joint mobility.
Involuntary drooling during sleep, which could indicate an imbalance in spleen-stomach function and excessive dampness.
For dampness, the following measures can be taken:
Increase intake of spleen-tonifying diuretic foods such as winter melon, mung beans, and amaranth; these foods not only help eliminate dampness but also alleviate specific areas of edema and replenish calcium.
Engage in more physical exercise, such as jogging, to promote the expulsion of dampness and enhance physical fitness. For office workers, it is recommended to allocate half an hour daily for light to moderate exercise.
Ensure living spaces are well-ventilated, keep garments dry, to avoid exacerbating internal dampness due to poor airflow or damp clothing.
Understanding the potential impact of dampness on health and taking timely measures to regulate it can effectively alleviate the aforementioned discomforts and maintain good health.
