What are the symptoms of phlegm-damp constitution? How to regulate phlegm-damp constitution?

Phlegm-dampness constitution is one of the many constitutions of the human body. It is mostly caused by improper diet or disease. It can usually be treated through diet therapy. So what are the specific symptoms of phlegm-dampness constitution?

Symptoms of Phlegm-Dampness Constitution

Phlegm-damp constitution refers to a condition in which the internal organs of the human body are dysfunctional, which can easily lead to disorders in the movement of qi, blood, body fluids, and moisture stagnate, and the accumulation of moisture turns into phlegm, which results in the internal accumulation of phlegm-dampness. It is often manifested as obesity, abdominal distension, chest tightness, excessive phlegm, easy drowsiness, heaviness, a preference for fatty and sweet foods and alcohol, a fat tongue, and a greasy white tongue coating. It is mostly caused by invasion of cold and dampness, improper diet, congenital endowment, old age and long-term illness, and lack of exercise. Different symptoms often appear depending on the location of phlegm and dampness.

People with phlegm-damp constitution are prone to the following diseases: diabetes, stroke, chest pain, etc., and have poor adaptability to plum rains and humid environments. The main method of treatment should be to dry dampness and resolve phlegm. Attention should be paid to improving phlegm-damp constitution and preventing the occurrence of phlegm-damp diseases.

Causes of Phlegm-Dampness Constitution

1. Cold and dampness invasion

When the climate is humid, or you wade through water or get caught in the rain, or live in a wetland for a long time, dampness can invade the human body, trapping the spleen and stomach, causing dysfunction in the transportation of water and dampness, which can then gather into phlegm, and phlegm and dampness can accumulate in the lungs.

2. Improper diet

Frequent overeating and excessive consumption of fatty, sweet, alcoholic and greasy foods will damage the spleen and stomach, and make it impossible to distribute the essence of food and water and to transport and transform water and moisture. This will cause dampness to form inside the body, which will accumulate into phlegm and cause dampness to accumulate in the body.

3. Innate talent

The body is naturally hot in the stomach, overeating of fatty and sweet foods will cause the spleen to function poorly, and moisture will accumulate to produce phlegm.

4. Old age and chronic illness

The spleen and stomach are weak, the transportation and transformation functions are impaired, or the kidney yang is weak, and they cannot transform qi and circulate water.

5. Lack of exercise

People who like to lie down for long periods of time and sit less and move less will have poor circulation of Qi and blood, sluggish spleen and stomach function, and will be unable to transport and transform water and dampness, which will accumulate and cause endogenous phlegm and dampness.

How to regulate phlegm-damp constitution

1. Environmental adjustment: It is not advisable to live in a humid environment; in rainy seasons, be careful of the invasion of dampness.

2. Diet adjustment is the most important. You should follow the principle of light, small and appropriate food to gradually reduce your weight. It is appropriate to eat foods that have the effects of strengthening the spleen, resolving phlegm and removing dampness, and eat less sweet, sticky and greasy foods. Eat less fatty and greasy foods, and avoid drinking alcohol as it is easy to overeat. Eat more vegetables and fruits, especially some foods that have the functions of strengthening the spleen and eliminating dampness, and resolving phlegm and expectorant. You should eat more of them, such as white radish, water chestnut, seaweed, jellyfish, onion, loquat, ginkgo, jujube, lentil, coix seed, red bean, broad bean, cabbage, etc. You can also eat more kelp and winter melon.