What is Dampness and
how can Acupuncture help?
Dampness is
an insidious beast. It works its way in, silent and sneaky. Before you know it,
you’re filled with it, and you can barely get out of your own way.
Damp is a
term acupuncturists use when the fluids of the body aren’t being processed
correctly, leading to a buildup that can settle in and make itself at home in
almost any area of the body. This, in turn, can lead to a wide array of mental
and physical issues.
If dampness
invades the entire physical body, it can cause weight gain, sluggishness and a
lack of motivation. Think of how you feel on a foggy, rainy day. Now imagine
that fogginess and sogginess being inside of you. You would feel heavy, bloated
and slow. You would be more comfortable just sitting around, rather than
engaging in movement. Your thoughts might be a bit confused, rather than clear
and concise. This is what happens when there is an infestation of dampness.
If the
dampness attacks specific areas, it leads to heaviness and dullness in whatever
part of the body it festers in. If it settles into the head, it can cause a
dull headache that feels as if a band is squeezing the head. This type of
headache generally tends to either be stimulated or worsened by damp weather.
Dampness in the head can also cause sinus pain or a stuffy nose. From an
emotional standpoint, dampness can muddle the thinking, making it hard to think
clearly. In the extreme, it can lead to mental impairment. If dampness attacks
the digestive system, it can cause vomiting of fluids, diarrhea or abdominal
pain. With internal issues, damp usually transforms into damp-heat. Damp-heat
of the intestines causes bloody, painful diarrhea. Damp-heat in the lower
burner of the body can bring on sores, painful and burning urination or a host
of other issues. If it is hot and oozy, think damp-heat.
Pain caused
by dampness is heavy, usually severe, and stays fixed in one place. Arthritis
can fall into this category: the pain is concentrated in one place, the
afflicted area is stiff and hard to move, and damp weather usually makes it
feel worse.
The true evil
of dampness is that it is a self-propelling cycle. It weighs you down and
resists change. That person who feels sluggish and weighed down could dissipate
some of their dampness by moving, but the sluggishness makes the person want to
sit still. That lack of movement creates more dampness…and so it continues.
Fortunately, acupuncture and herbs are wonderful options for getting rid of
this dampness.
Bishara Wilson
New York Sports Acupuncture
888.375.5444
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