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Have you ever had the experience of your poop sticking to the toilet bowl after you go to the bathroom? This could be a sign that you have excessive “dampness” in your body.

What's “dampness”?

The term “dampness” originates from the ancient Chinese medical text, Huangdi Neijing. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), dampness refers to an excessive accumulation of moisture or dampness in the body, often caused by poor spleen function. Dampness is one of the Six Excesses (Wind, Cold, Heat, Dampness, Dryness, and Summer heat), which are external and internal factors that disturb the balance of the body.

Excessive dampness can lead to various symptoms in the body, and one of the most common signs is sticky poop that clings to the toilet bowl. Other symptoms can include:

Clinical Symptoms of Excessive Dampness in the Body:

• Sticky Poop: This is one of the most common signs of excessive dampness. The stool often sticks to the toilet bowl and is difficult to flush away.
• Swelling in the Limbs: This can occur particularly in the ankles, legs, or around the eyelids, and it tends to be more pronounced in the morning.

Swelling in the Limbs

• Indigestion: Symptoms include poor appetite, bloating, nausea, and sluggish digestion, often accompanied by a heavy feeling in the abdomen.
• Fatigue and Weakness: Feeling physically drained, especially in the mornings, when you feel heavy and lack energy throughout the day.
• Heavy Head: Frequent dizziness or headaches, particularly with a sensation of heaviness in the head, which often makes you feel drowsy or tired.
• Sticky Tongue Coating: The tongue coating may appear thick, yellow, or white, often with a slimy or greasy texture, and sometimes the tongue may appear swollen.
• Frequent Urination or Increased Vaginal Discharge: Excessive dampness may lead to frequent urination, and in women, this can also result in more vaginal discharge.
• Joint Pain: Dampness may accumulate in the joints, causing pain, stiffness, or swelling, especially in damp weather conditions.

Joint Pai

What causes excessive dampness?

In TCM, dampness is usually caused by weak spleen function, as the spleen is responsible for transforming food and fluids in the body. When the spleen’s function is impaired, it can fail to properly process fluids, leading to an accumulation of dampness. Poor diet, such as consuming too many greasy or cold foods, or living in a humid environment, can also contribute to the buildup of dampness.

How to get rid of excess dampness?

Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a range of natural remedies to help clear dampness and restore balance to the body. These remedies can include:

• Herbal teas: Some herbs like dandelion and lotus seed are known for their ability to clear dampness and promote healthy digestion.

Dandelion Herb

• Dietary changes: Avoiding cold and greasy foods, while including foods that help dry dampness, such as ginger, garlic, and green tea, can support the body's natural detoxification process.
• Acupuncture and acupressure(chinese massage): These therapies can help regulate the spleen and digestive system, reducing the accumulation of dampness in the body.

 

Acupuncture

• Cupping therapy: Cupping therapy involves placing heated cups on the skin to create a vacuum effect, which can help stimulate blood circulation and remove toxins. Cupping is especially beneficial for clearing dampness from the body, as it helps release trapped moisture and promotes better flow of qi (energy).

 

Cupping therapy

• Exercise: Regular physical activity can help improve circulation and promote the removal of excess fluids and dampness from the body.

Summy

Excessive dampness in the body can cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms, from sticky poop to fatigue and joint pain. If you're experiencing any of these signs, it may be a good idea to consider herbal remedies, dietary changes, or other TCM practices to help balance your body's moisture levels.