Do you suffer from abdominal bloating, heavy sleepiness, sticky mouth and bitter taste in summer? Identification and care of "heat-dampness trapping the spleen" in traditional Chinese medicine

existQueens, New York, air conditioning, iced drinks, takeaways and the pace of commuting have made the gastrointestinal burden on many people heavy in summer. You may have heard of "heavy dampness" - in Chinese medicine, it's more likeStagnation of dampness and turbidity, loss of spleen and stomach ascending and descendingA summary rather than a single laboratory indicator. This article explains the common thinking of "heat-dampness trapping the spleen" in summer, the key points of self-care and the red line for medical treatment.Does not replace face-to-face consultation and prescription。

1. Why do I tend to have abdominal bloating and loss of appetite in summer?

Changxia belongs to earth among the five elements, and is related tospleen (stomach)corresponding. summer outsidesummer heatandmoistureGradually, if the human body becomes more prosperous:

• Frequent consumption of iced drinks, cold drinks, overly sweet milk tea and greasy barbecue
• Sitting for long periods of time, moving less, and staying up late can cause qi movement to stagnate
• The air conditioner is low temperature, sweating is exposed to the wind, and external dampness easily travels to the surface and middle focus of the skin.

As the burden of "transformation" and "raising clearness and lowering turbidity" on the spleen and stomach increases, symptoms may occur.Abdominal bloating, poor appetite, weight loss, dizziness, sticky mouthwait. This overlaps with some of the symptoms of functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome described by Western medicine, but Chinese medicine emphasizes moreSyndrome combination and individual constitution, not everyone uses the same set of prescriptions.

2. What are the common symptoms of "heat-dampness trapping the spleen"?

If the following signals appear repeatedly, you can record your diet, sleep and stool characteristics for 1-2 weeks to facilitate the doctor's diagnosis during the visit (Don’t buy medicines by yourself）：

• Abdominal bloating, belching, nausea after meals, and decreased appetite compared with spring and autumn
• Sticky mouth, bitter mouth, or tasteless mouth, not wanting to drink water
• Feeling sleepy and feeling heavy in the limbs, especially in the afternoon
• Loose stools, sticky and unpleasant stools, or a feeling of incomplete defecation
• Tongue coating is thick and greasy (observation must be under natural light, for reference only)

If you are with meHigh fever, severe abdominal pain, bloody stools, black stools, persistent vomiting, and obvious dehydration, please give priority to the emergency department or gastroenterology specialist. It is not advisable to rely solely on "removing dampness" to delay your diagnosis.

3. What other syndrome types can TCM syndrome differentiation identify?

Clinical distinction is often needed (popular science comparison):

• Summer heat dampness sleeps in the spleen: Summer aggravates, weight loss, abdominal distension, greasy coating, and is more likely to be induced by cold, damp or greasy conditions.
• Spleen deficiency and dampness: Easily tired after exertion, with lingering loose stools, or accompanied by shortness of breath and sallow complexion.
• Liver stagnation affects the spleen: Abdominal bloating and distension during periods of great stress, or bloating of flanks and ribs, emotional ups and downs, and gastrointestinal symptoms.
• Yin deficiency and stomach heat: People with dry mouth like cold drinks, weight loss, constipation, etc. should not "warm and nourish spleen yang" all the time.

Therefore, the adjustment direction may beStrengthen the spleen and remove dampness, refresh the spleen with aroma, soothe the liver and stomachetc., must be decided by the doctor based on tongue and pulse, medical history and medication.

4. Maintaining the spleen and stomach in summer: key points that most people can do

• diet: Seventy percent full; cook staple foods and vegetables; reduce smoothies, sashimi, large salads, and heavy fats late at night.
• drinks: Mainly drink at room temperature or warm; if using barley, adzuki bean, yam, ginger, etc., pregnant women, those with yin deficiency and hot constitution, or those taking medicine, please consult a doctor first.
• Work and rest: Try to fix the time to fall asleep; taking a short break in the afternoon can help restore the energy of the mid-Jiao (no need to force a nap).
• sports: Slight sweating is enough, such as walking or Baduanjin; blowing the air conditioner immediately after sweating can easily cause external dampness.
• mood: If you think about hurting your spleen, arrange 15 minutes of "screen-free" time to relax, which is especially helpful for those with abdominal distension and insomnia.

5. When should you consider acupuncture, Chinese medicine or massage?

After excluding situations that require emergency treatment, if abdominal distension, loose stools, or weight have affected work and life for more than 2-3 weeks, you canLicensed Chinese PhysicianFace-to-face consultation. Acupuncture is often combined with regulating qi and unblocking collaterals; traditional Chinese medicine mostly focuses on overall strengthening the spleen, reducing dampness, and soothing the liver; massage and moxibustion require identification of the inflammation stage and body constitution. FlushingGuoyitangsupplyAcupunctureandInternal medicine syndrome differentiation and nursing care, must be synchronized with changes in workstation diet, otherwise it is easy to repeat. You can also refer to solar term articlesBeginning of summer nourishes the heart and strengthens the spleendaily thoughts.

6. Frequently Asked Questions

Is abdominal bloating in summer caused by "heavy moisture"?

The colloquial word "moisture" often corresponds to external dampness, internal dampness and insufficient transportation. In summer, when the external heat and humidity are excessive, combined with cold and cold weather and staying up late, abdominal distension and weight gain are easy to occur.Summer heat dampness sleeps in the spleenI understand, but it needs to be differentiated and it is not appropriate to label supplements on your own.

How to distinguish it from "eating a bad stomach"?

Acute gastroenteritis often starts quickly and is accompanied by fever, vomiting and diarrhea, and requires fluid rehydration and cause treatment. Functional or damp-stress types are often protracted and related to diet and sleep, and doctors still need to identify parasites, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.

Can I see a Chinese medicine practitioner near Flushing, New York?

Can. Please make an appointmentFace-to-face consultationDiscuss individualized plans later. Guoyitang is located at Flushing 37th Ave. It is closed on Fridays. You can go toMake an appointment onlineorContact usarrange.

Conclusion

Abdominal bloating and heavy sleepiness in summer are often a reminder from the body:Rhythm and diet need to be in sync with the seasons. It is usually safer and more effective to warm the body, use less ice, and have a regular schedule first, and then seek syndrome differentiation and conditioning when necessary, rather than blindly "removing dampness." If you are experiencing lingering gastrointestinal discomfort in the New York area, welcome toFlushing GuoyitangConsult whether it is suitable for comprehensive nursing care with traditional Chinese medicine.