What is the difference between body dampness and body coldness? Can people with cold constitution use moxa leaf water to soak their feet?

I often hear people say that their body constitution is damp, cold, or that there is dampness in the body. So what is the difference between dampness and cold? Is it good for people with cold body to soak their feet in moxa leaf water?

What is the difference between dampness and coldness?

There are both differences and similarities between dampness in the body and coldness in the body.

Body dampness refers to the spleen failing to transport and transform moisture, which is stored in the body. Dampness can be divided into external dampness and internal dampness. External dampness is mostly caused by the external environment, such as rain, fog, stagnant water, and working in a humid environment. It also includes taking a shower or washing your hair without drying it off quickly, which causes dampness to invade the surface.

Internal dampness is mostly caused by improper diet, which damages the spleen and stomach, resulting in weak spleen yang and dysfunction of transportation and transformation. Dampness is generated from within and accumulates to cause problems, such as eating ice cream, drinking cold beer, ice water and the like.

People with dampness in the body usually have symptoms such as loose stools, general fatigue, heavy waist and legs, greasy hair, and facial acne.

Body cold is mostly caused by kidney yang deficiency, which is also divided into external cold and internal cold. External cold is mostly caused by low temperatures in winter, of course it can also be caused by sudden drop in temperature in other seasons.

Cold evil can easily damage Yang Qi. When the body is attacked by cold evil, the external Yang Qi is blocked, and people will feel cold and have fever. After entering the body, cold evil will stay in the skin, meridians, and internal organs, causing poor circulation of Qi and blood, which will cause pain. If it stays in the stomach and intestines, it will cause vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

Internal coldness, due to the excessive yin energy in the body, yin will produce cold, which will make you like heat and fear cold, have cold hands and feet, loss of appetite, clear and long urination, abdominal pain and intestinal rumbling, etc.

However, the two often combine into one to form a disease. Dampness and coldness manifest as arthritis, back pain, periarthritis of the shoulder, bad breath, eczema, psoriasis, etc. The face becomes pale, dark, and black. The darker the color, the heavier the dampness and coldness in the body.

Can people with cold constitution use moxa leaf water to soak their feet?

It can be used.

Mugwort has the effect of dispelling cold and increasing yang energy. It has a good therapeutic effect on people with cold and dampness. Using mugwort can effectively improve body coldness and enhance immunity.

Put the wormwood directly into the pot, add water, bring to a boil over high heat, and cook for ten minutes. Let it cool to about 50 degrees, then start soaking your feet for about 15 minutes.

How to remove moisture from the body

First, pay attention to your diet. Eat less greasy and difficult-to-digest foods, eat less cold foods, such as watermelon and banana, and avoid spicy foods.

The key is to remove dampness and strengthen the spleen and stomach. You can usually eat some dampness-removing foods, such as bread, longtou, oatmeal, red bean porridge, sweet potato, taro, milk, crucian carp, eggs, soy milk, etc.; eat more vegetarian dishes, such as vegetable salad, corn, winter melon, yam, etc. You can also eat some fruits, such as apples, papayas, peaches, oranges, etc. When you have time, you can make some dampness-removing tea, such as orange peel, Poria cocos, dandelion, perilla, etc. Develop good habits, eat on time, and don't eat one meal at a time.

Second, soak your feet more often, such as soaking your feet in mugwort leaves, white vinegar, ginger, etc. You can also press some acupoints, such as Yongquan, Zusanli, Zhongwan, etc., to remove dampness.