Recently, the weather has been getting hotter, and many friends may experience symptoms such as feeling like their whole body is weighed down as if filled with lead, lacking energy to do anything, having no appetite even with food in front of them, a bitter and sticky sensation in the mouth, and sticky stools that cling to the toilet and are difficult to flush clean. From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, these uncomfortable symptoms are all caused by damp-heat wreaking havoc in the body.

Traditional Chinese Medicine often says, "A weak body cannot tolerate supplementation," which is so true! If damp-heat in your body isn't properly cleared, whether you drink donkey-hide gelatin daily to nourish qi and blood or consume goji berries with every meal to tonify the kidneys, it will only make your body feel worse. It’s like when a drain at home is clogged—if you keep pouring things down, it will only get more blocked. Traditional Chinese Medicine emphasizes syndrome differentiation and treatment. Damp-heat in different parts of the body requires different formulas for regulation.

1. Damp-Heat in the Liver and Gallbladder

Friends who often stay up late working overtime, drink at parties, or can't do without spicy food should take note. If you have recently been particularly irritable, quick to anger, wake up in the morning with a bitter taste in your mouth like you've ingested coptis root, experience vague pain on the right side of your ribs that worsens when pressed, have dark yellow urine in small amounts, or suffer from dampness and itching in the groin area, these may be signs of damp-heat in the liver and gallbladder. For such cases, you may consider using traditional remedies like Longdan Xiegan Tang (Gentian Liver-Draining Decoction), modified as needed, which is specifically designed to address this condition.

2. Damp-Heat in the Spleen and Stomach

Has anyone recently felt a lack of appetite, experiencing bloating after just a few bites? Feeling generally fatigued, with limbs as heavy as if tied down with sandbags? Having loose, sticky stools that are difficult to flush, along with a sour, foul odor in the mouth? From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, this may indicate damp-heat stagnation in the spleen and stomach. In such cases, you may consider using Ganlu Xiaodu Dan (Sweet Dew Toxin-Resolving Elixir) for regulation. Ingredients such as Talc and Virgate Wormwood help clear heat and resolve dampness, expelling impurities from the spleen and stomach. Meanwhile, Patchouli and Acorus awaken the spleen and stomach, revitalizing digestive function.

Three. Damp-Heat in the Bladder

If you often feel like your bladder isn't fully emptied, have the urge to urinate again right after leaving the bathroom, pass scant, dark, and burning urine, or experience a stinging pain in the urethra during urination, it might be due to damp-heat obstruction in the bladder. In such cases, you may consider using Modified Bazheng Powder to regulate the body, as it specifically treats damp-heat in the bladder. In the formula, Dianthus Superbus, Polygoni Avicularis, and Plantago Seeds act like cleaners, directly reaching the bladder to promote urination and relieve painful urination; Gardenia clears fire from the Sanjiao (Triple Burner), and Rhubarb purges heat from the bowels, thoroughly eliminating damp-heat in the bladder from top to bottom.

This article is for informational purposes only. Traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis emphasizes looking, listening, asking, and palpating. Each person's constitution and symptoms are different. If you're uncertain about which damp-heat type you belong to, do not casually purchase medications on your own. It is best to consult a professional TCM practitioner to examine your tongue, check your pulse, and properly diagnose before taking any medicine.