Inflammed cracked calloused feet

As a TCM practitioner you are nearly universally going to want to focus on the internal issues. I would start by clarifying your diagnosis as it is difficult to both have dampness and yin deficiency - or at least one is the deeper root. Regardless you don’t want to start cutting away skin (more than likely outside of your scope and a referral to an MD would be more suitable), but foot soaks with warm water and baking soda will likely help initially and perhaps later epsom salt soaks. Follow the soaks with deep moisturizing lotion (or possibly something like coconut oil if lotions are not readily available). If the only area affected is the feet you want to look at footwear choices (not too small, poor fitting) and other issues that may be putting too much pressure on the feet. The internal diagnosis (if it is only the feet) is likely important for them as a whole but not entirely related to just the feet callouses as they are almost always from structural/footwear issues and not necessarily from deeper internal issues (although that does play a role). Also look deeply at anything that may be affecting the smaller blood vessels of the body (diabetes, smoking, etc.).

I don’t believe there is a singular cause of inflammation nor that everyone has to have some imbalance of kidney or spleen energy in any real sense. On average dietary choices seem to be the most important contributing factor to inflammation as a whole, particularly overuse of sugar, processed foods, carbs, alcohol and excessive dairy. What these will do to the body on some level is generic and on other levels will depend greatly on the person. This is often worsened by lifestyle factors (no exercise, lack of sunshine, etc.). So to some degree a person who exercises but eats poorly would like fair at least mildly better than one who eats poorly and has poor lifestyle choices.

Besides the fact that death is inevitable, no other processes of “aging” are as set in stone as we like to think. Many of these processes can be at worst be slowed and at best even reversed with proper lifestyle and dietary choices. The role of Chinese Medicine in these cases is ultimately to help offset poor choices, unforseen life events, etc. and to push the body towards responding with its healing responses (lack of inflammation, promoting circulation or blood and fluids) and not with its destructive processes (inflammation, circulatory restriction, etc.).

With regards to each individual, there are only base rules and everything has to be adjusted to their particular circumstances. Many people feel they eat well, but when you really lay out what they eat it is not really that good (perhaps better than their surrounding peers, however). Some do eat well and have other issues such as hormonal issues, thyroid problems, digestive/assimilation issues, etc. that can lead to poor metabolic functions and this is another place where Chinese Medicine has a role in helping to resolve.

Habits such as chewing your food (saliva greatly helps digestion), never overeating, proper lifestyle activities, proper social activities, etc. all help the body. Ultimately its about limiting damage. Texts such as the - where they went through areas of the world where they have the highest concentrations of people living over 100 years of age - found that in general the two most important factors were societal/familial engagement (i.e. self-worth and according activities) and not overeating.