The difference between promoting dampness and removing dampness

From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, "dampness" is also an unhealthy state. There are two concepts: promoting dampness and removing dampness. In fact, the two are two completely different concepts. The former generally refers to facilitating urination and expelling excess moisture by increasing urine volume. The latter includes the former, and has classifications such as eliminating dampness and drying dampness. So what are the main differences between promoting dampness and removing dampness?

Dehumidification: A general term for removing dampness, including transforming dampness, promoting the flow of dampness, and drying dampness.

Drying dampness: Use bitter medicine to eliminate dampness, which is suitable for dampness that rises upward because bitter taste can reduce dampness.

Eliminating dampness: Use aromatic drugs to eliminate dampness, which is suitable for dampness in the upper part of the body and the spleen and stomach, and the aroma enters the spleen.

Penetrating dampness: a method of using light-tasting drugs to eliminate dampness.

Diuretic: The method of using diuretic drugs to expel dampness through urine includes mild diuretic, warming yang diuretic, nourishing yin diuretic, clearing away summer heat diuretic, clearing heat diuretic, warming kidney diuretic, etc., which are suitable for dampness in the middle and lower Jiao.

1. The main function of diuretics is to make the moisture in our body go downward. The diuretic drugs have a downward property and can facilitate urination, increase urine volume, and promote the excretion of moisture in the body, so they have the effect of diuresis and moisture removal. Some diuretics are cold in nature, and have the effects of clearing heat and dampness, promoting diuresis and removing stones. Some medicines also have the effects of strengthening the spleen and stopping diarrhea. Diuretic drugs all have diuretic effects to varying degrees and can increase urine volume and the excretion of uric acid, etc. Some drugs have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, sedative, antihypertensive, and choleretic effects.

2. The method of eliminating dampness acts on the middle and upper parts of the body. Most of the medicines are aromatic, pungent and warm, which can disperse the dampness from the surface and outside. The method of drying dampness acts on the middle burner (some medicines also act on the upper and lower burners), and the medicines are mostly bitter and warm or bitter and cold. The diuretic method works on the lower part of the body, and most of the medicines are bitter and cold, which can expel dampness through urine. The method of draining dampness acts on the lower part of the body. Most of the medicines are sweet and mild, and can also expel dampness through urine, but the effect is mild. The Shengshi method acts on the joints, muscles, tendons and bones of the limbs.

Since dampness is closely related to water, phlegm, and drink, dampness is the gradual development of water, and water is the extreme of dampness. Phlegm and drink are formed by the accumulation of water and dampness. Therefore, diuretics, water expelling, phlegm removing, and drink transformation also have the effect of removing dampness.

In addition, there are methods such as dehumidification and moisture transportation. Dehumidification is synonymous with dampness removal. Moisture transportation refers to those who can strengthen the spleen and remove dampness, mostly referring to the effects of Atractylodes and Atractylodes macrocephala.