Dampness in Chinese Medicine terms is a part of the yin energy of the body and has the effect of slowing and blocking the flow of energy in the body. Dampness may arise from the environment (external) or from poor dietary habits and/or emotional stress (internal). It generally takes a while to build up in the body and once there can be difficult to resolve entirely. The signs of dampness range from general heaviness of the body, fatigue, nausea and/or edema to various psycho-emotional symptoms such as depression, insomnia and anxiety. The spleen and the kidney systems are generally involved and this most often arises from an internal deficiency. The herbs in this category should be used cautiously in people with yin deficiency and/or dryness.
There are 22 formulas in this functional category.