Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment of Dampness Blockage in TCM
Dampness blockage refers to dampness obstructing the middle burner, impairing transformation and transportation functions, primarily presenting with epigastric fullness, heavy limbs, poor appetite, etc., as an external pathogenic disease. This condition commonly occurs during summer rainy seasons, especially prevalent in southern regions, coastal areas, and humid climates, affecting people’s work and lives to varying degrees. Laboratory tests in such patients often show no abnormalities, and modern medicine categorizes them under gastrointestinal dysfunction. TCM believes dampness blockage is caused by dampness pathogen, located in the spleen and stomach, with dampness obstructing the middle burner and disrupted ascending-descending functions as the main pathogenesis. Based on clinical manifestations and pathogenesis, TCM generally divides dampness blockage into several types for syndrome differentiation and treatment.
Dampness Impeding Spleen-Stomach Type: Symptoms include heavy, tired limbs, head feeling wrapped, chest tightness, abdominal distension, poor appetite, bland taste, sticky mouth, loose stools, possibly cold sensitivity, pale tongue, white greasy coating, slippery pulse. Treatment: aromatic to transform dampness. Formula: Huoxiang Zhengqi San with modifications. Ingredients: Agastache, Perilla, Tangerine Peel, White芷, Magnolia Bark, Pinellia, White Atractylodes, Large Belly Peel, Poria, Jianqu, Licorice.
Heat-Dampness Blocking Middle Burner Type: Symptoms include heavy limbs, epigastric fullness with dull pain, bitter and sticky mouth, thirst without desire to drink, poor appetite, yellow and scanty urine, unsatisfactory bowel movements, possible fever, sweating without fever reduction, red tongue, yellow greasy coating, slippery and rapid pulse. Treatment: clear heat, transform dampness. Formula: Wang’s Lian Pu Yin with modifications. Ingredients: Coptis, Gardenia, Pinellia, Magnolia Bark, Stone Calamus, Reed Rhizome, Talc, Fresh Lotus Leaf, Job’s Tears, Tangerine Peel, Jianqu, Licorice.
Spleen Deficiency with Dampness Stagnation Type: Symptoms include fatigue in limbs, epigastric fullness, preference for pressure, loose stools, fatigue, aversion to greasy food, pale tongue, thin greasy coating, or pale swollen tongue, soft and slow pulse. Treatment: strengthen spleen, transform dampness. Formula: Xiangsha Liujunzi Tang with modifications. Ingredients: Codonopsis, White Atractylodes, Poria, Pinellia, Tangerine Peel, Aquilaria, Amomum, Kudzu Root, Agastache, Job’s Tears, Lablab Bean, Jianqu, Licorice.