What Damp Does for You

By Jonathan Clogstoun-Willmott in Acupuncture-points.org

So ... what's Damp?

Let me tell you about my Aunt!
I had a beautiful and contrary maiden aunt who, dissatisfied
with London in her old age migrated to Hove, Sussex, (UK),
by the sea.
Then she moved to Camberley in Surrey, (inland, about 50
miles North-West of Hove).
Then she returned to Hove again, and back and forth.
The trouble was that Hove was 'too bracing'. On the other
hand Camberley was 'too damp'!
She'd been raised in Madras, Southern India then Delhi,
Northern India. Britain was very different and her elderly
bones objected. What was wrong with Camberley?
Chinese medicine has a shorthand for conditions. It uses
ideas to understand health.
These ideas are often easier to understand than the more
precise and scientific definitions used in orthodox or

Western medicine because Chinese medicine uses words we

all use in everyday speech.
Although in Chinese Medicine these ideas are used in a
technical sense, it's not hard to apply them to ourselves.
It's a problem for Western medicine, which can't absorb or
use the Chinese traditions until it finds some scientific basis
for them: until then, Chinese medicine remains a
pseudoscience.
On the other hand, Chinese medicine quickly saw the ideas
and advantages of Western medicine, and welcomed it with
open arms.

What is a Damp Day like?

Today it's raining: a very fine mist. Roads are covered with
slippery surface water that sprays up easily. Traffic moves
slowly and people heat up fast on exertion because high
humidity stops easy evaporation.
Low cloud lies as fog. It makes driving hazardous. With
low visibility, people get confused and there are more
traffic accidents.
Clothes get quickly sodden: dampness makes them heavy
and uncomfortable. Dry things engorge and become sticky
and weighty.
Without good insulation, electricity lines short, requiring
more power.

Clouds block the sun. If it's cold, it stays cold. If it's hot, it
stays hot.
In the garden, in summer plants grow fast - other things
being equal - especially weeds and grass. Whereas rain
washes dust and rubbish away, damp inclines it to linger.
As dust and rubbish build up into piles, seeds and moulds
prosper. Things grow where they aren't wanted. Puddles
remain and mosquito larvae multiply.
In winter, cold-damp disinclines gardeners to do anything.
But mould still prospers.
If you make wine or beer, you need dampness for yeast to
grow. In bread-making too much dampness and the yeast
can't shift flour so bread doesn't rise properly. Too much
sugar and it rises too fast and exhausts itself.
Too much ongoing weather dampness is depressing: it saps
the spirit.
You can't shift the clouds and the mist, the rain and the fog.
You have to wait for either the wind to blow them all away
or for the sun to come out and burn it all dry. This idea
points to another - that movement and warmth help to move
damp.

We all need a little dampness!

It moisturises our skins and keeps us fresh. but too much for
for too long is a major problem. It's not a killer but
immensely inconvenient and hard to shift.
In our bodies
How does it - the Chinese medical concept of dampness affect our bodies? If you've understood its effect in life, then
it's easy to apply to your body.
Typical signs of it are:

swelling,
slowness,
lethargy,
tiredness,
confused thinking and
heaviness.

However, it can take on many forms so the following is only

a summary.
Swelling and distension ... can appear:

round stings and bites,

around the eyes,

round sore joints,
in the tongue,
after bruising,
before menses round the waist or in the breasts.
If our metabolism is slow or we eat more than we burn
up in exercise, we put weight on. This concept underlies
the Chinese medical attitude to being overweight.

Heaviness: It makes us feel heavy and stiff, often sore.

When pressed, flesh only slowly recovers its shape.
Because we are heavy, we move more slowly and we tire
faster.
Often stiffness accompanies it: after rest it is sore, we can
only start with slow movements and we take time to get
going again. In acute Damp we must either keep moving or
we stiffen up.
In our body it leads to poor digestion, nausea, sticky or slow
stools, retarded or limited urination.

Mould or fungus

... such as thrush, grows on the skin or in crevices, in our

armpits, our mouths, ears (wax) and around and within our
genitals. Between our toes we get athlete's foot.
In our thinking it slows acuity. We can't remember things,
we can't concentrate. We get anxious and go over things
again and again. We get despondent. We may get weepy,
preferring to be alone. We talk hesitantly or reluctantly. We
can't remember things, we get confused.
Head : It gives us a sore heavy head and headache and may
combine with another Chinese concept called 'Phlegm' to
cause vertigo or dizziness.
Face : swollen and stiff. Causes cracking of joints, pain
(worse in the cold). Skin round lips may crack. Lips swell
from eg herpes.
Eyelids get sticky and agglutinated; may dry and be hard to
open. Eyes cry easily and we may get pustular inflammations
such as conjunctivitis or blepharitis (this often occurs when
there is a build up of Heat too).
Tongue : usually is slightly swollen, often with what look
like teeth-marks along the sides, and with a white wet
coating.
Chest area : often feels full, or stuffy, may be itchy (though
no sign of a rash), with difficulty breathing comfortably or
properly.
Appetite and digestion : even though the mouth may be dry
there is often an aversion to drinking. Food often lies heavy

in the stomach, especially cold food or drinks. The appetite

is usually reduced.
Abdomen : often sore, feels like liquids awash inside. Stools
are often watery or loose, but not smelly unless Heat is
present.
Female : when it invades her genital area it often causes
cloudy vaginal discharges. (More coloured, ie yellow, if it
combines with Heat.) Her breasts may swell before periods.
Urine : cloudy and may be much reduced. Can make it
difficult to pee, which feels like burning.
Skin loses its flexibility. Can seem thicker. Swellings such
as with glands (eg mumps), or in boils, abscesses,
carbuncles, cellulitis. During eczema associated with Damp,
discharges are thick and dirty.
Limbs feel sore, bruised, heavy and stiff. Muscles may
twitch. There is sometimes a feeling like something crawling
on the skin, or numbness: as if something has gone to sleep.
Joints ache and swell.

What makes it worse?

Mainly exposure to dampness, ie wet or cold conditions or

weather, but also drafts of air or becoming chilled: all these
especially if you are hot or sweaty.
So lying or sitting on wet ground can produce this.
Uncovering swollen or painful areas often makes the
discomfort worse.
After rest or at the start of motion the pain or stiffness is
worse.
Wet weather, or before a thunderstorm, makes the condition
worse.
For example, I once cycled to see a patient in London. On
the way back, I was hot and in a hurry to get back to my
clinic to see another patient. There was a sudden
thunderstorm on the way back which soaked me,
especially on my back.
On arrival, I found the patient had arrived early and was
in a hurry: she pleaded for me to see her immediately and
didn't mind that I was still wet.
The next day, when I woke up, I could hardly move. My
back was very sore and I needed a long soak in a warm
bath before I felt better. Later in the day, after I had been
sitting down for 20 minutes whilst thinking over the
treatment for someone, I realised the stiff soreness had
returned.
Only by keeping moving could I keep it at bay. A classic

case of external invasion of damp.

What makes Dampness better, i.e. improves it?

Apart from having treatment to clear it from the body, the
following can improve dampness conditions in the body.
However, they don't usually cure it: they just palliate it.

Warmth: like a warm bath, warm dry weather or a

warm climate; warm wraps.
Continued movement, including stretching the limbs
Rubbing (or massage, for example round a joint that
has swollen up; very light stroking over a bruise can
ameliorate the pain: NB massage over a bruise is not
recommended.)
In some kinds of dampness, losing some blood may
help, such as a nose-bleed (this applies more to dampheat).
Supporting or holding up the affected part. (Hold it very
gently, however: don't grip too firmly!)
Moving position regularly may help
Avoiding factors that make it worse also helps! See
above.
Sometimes a long holiday in a warm country whilst
avoiding factors that produced it can get you better.

Its Causes in the first place?

What produces it in the body?

In Chinese medicine there are two potential sources: internal

and external.
'External' comes from the factors described above together
with, for example, sprains, blows, accidents, jarring, but also
living in moist conditions, such as in a wet basement, or
camping out in very wet weather. Wet conditions could also
come from wearing wet clothes or standing in a wet place
too long (fishing, for example) or working in wet fields.
Some professional or frequent swimmers develop it.
With externally caused Damp, the pulse is what is called
'slippery' and 'full' and the tongue's coating is thick and
sticky.
Internal Damp can be exacerbated by External Damp
factors, but arises also where Spleen qi is weak. Sometimes
Spleen qi is weak because Kidney qi is also weak.
With internally caused Damp, the pulse is 'slippery' and
'fine', or 'floating' and 'weak', and the tongue's coating is
sticky and thinner.
When Spleen qi is weak, it can't move things around your
body properly, so 'puddles' of Dampness build up.
Bad diet can cause internal Dampness. This would include
too much sweet food, or cold, iced or chilled food (or drink),
or indigestible food. Bad eating habits also contribute, like
eating too fast, or eating too much junk food, or not chewing
properly.
For more about this, click Nutrition.

Internal Dampness is also caused by continued worry, or

obsessions, or anxiety and by long periods of intense mental
work or study. All these emotional and mental factors
weaken the Spleen Qi.
In someone with a weak Spleen qi, the side lain on or
hanging down or kept immobile for a long period (such as
sitting for long periods without moving), may acquire
symptoms of damp, such as swelling. That swelling can then
cause further problems, preventing the free flow of Qi and
Blood. In some situations, this produces what is called deep
vein thrombosis (DVT).
How does it damage your body's health?
Damp is what is called a Yin-type pathogenic factor.
(Pathogenic means 'illness-causing'.)
Being Yin in nature, it lacks movement in itself and inhibits
movement in you. It combines easily with Cold and Heat.
In the UK we are very familiar with how it combines with
Cold to create Cold-Damp conditions.
It sticks around! It's hard to get rid of. Like water, it flows
downwards easily, so it affects lower parts of the body and
limbs more often than upper parts, or may start in an upper
area and seep downwards.
However, if it starts in the legs, it may creep up to the
abdomen, just like rising damp from a basement, when
moisture rises up in the walls.

Dampness, being Yin, gets in the way of Yang, and slows it

down. Normally clear Yang rises to the head enabling us to
think clearly and act decisively. If Dampness invades, this
clear Yang doesn't reach the head so we feel confused,
heavy-headed, depressed and unable to take decisions.
Acting as an obstruction of the free flowing qi, it causes
swelling, and the swellings further impede the movement of
qi. Where qi doesn't move smoothly, there is pain and
discomfort, and with Dampness this feels like stiffness,
fullness and heaviness.

How Do You Treat It in the body?

Various ways: although this is a site devoted to acupuncture,
I have had considerable success treating Dampness with
Homoeopathic remedies.
Herbs in Chinese medicine come in various categories, one
of which aims specifically to clear dampness. One or more
herbs from this category would be used in a formula with
other herbs to moderate, enhance or direct the principal
herb's actions.

Acupuncture points to treat Damp include mainly points that

stimulate Spleen qi. Some of these lie on the Spleen
meridian, for example, Spleen 3, 6 and 9.

If you have it, what can You do to reduce it?

Bear in mind that this syndrome is hard to shift. You

almost certainly will need treatment. On your own, once
established, it's very hard to clear. All sorts of larvae
(including mosquitoes) love warm moist places and it's
the same in your body.
Avoid circumstances that cause it - see above under
Causes.
Avoid foods that weaken Spleen qi. These include
sweet, or sweet-tasting food, raw, cold food, (eg salads
and cold vegetables) iced or chilled food, uncooked
food and most kinds of fruit, especially watery fruit like
melons, fruit juices and soda drinks, like smoothies. In
other words, food and drinks that you probably eat in
warm summer-time may hurt the Spleen.
The paragraph above doesn't mean the foods mentioned
are always bad for you! - although there's probably not
much good to say about fruit juices, soda drinks and

smoothies. You have to remember that when you're ill,

the rules change: they're different to when you're well.
Include Ginger in your diet: eg in stir-fried dishes and
in teas.
Eat foods that the Spleen energy likes, which include
meat, many spices and pepper. But cooked green
vegetables too.
Make sure the food and drinks you take are warm.
Chew your food well. Eat regularly and not excessively.
Eating too little injures the Spleen, as does over-eating.
The Spleen turns food you eat into blood and flesh so
make sure you eat enough protein. If you eat very little
protein, your Spleen can't do its job.
Avoid foods that increase the likelihood of damp or
phlegm in your body, like dairy foods, sweet, raw and
cold foods. It's amazing how few people notice a
connection between the chocolate ice-cream they've
eaten and the phlegm they soon get in their throat and
nose.
And chew well. (Did I say that already? OK, I'll repeat
it: CHEW WELL.)
Meditate or learn to relax, perhaps with Yoga or simple
physical stretching exercises. Don't overwork mentally.
Keep warm.

Other types
Cold-damp
This arises from living not merely in damp conditions, but
cold and damp conditions in general, or from getting cold

and damp after exercise when one was warm and sweaty.
What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of Dampness, as above. Plus:

a sense of coldness in the upper abdomen which is
better for warmth, very loose stools without much
odour,
thirstlessness or thirst but no desire to drink.
Tongue: sticky white coating that is also thick.
Pulse: slow and slippery

Damp-heat

Symptoms as above under Damp, but another cause of

Damp-Heat is
eating dirty or contaminated food.
In addition or in variation of the above symptoms of
Dampness, if there is thirst
the patient prefers to drink in small quantities, or sips.
Not merely nausea, but possibly vomiting too: what
comes up has a very offensive odour.
Stools are still runny, but are urgent and with a strong
smell.
The anal area burns, and urine is dark-yellow.
Vaginal discharges may be yellow and smelly.
There may a slight low-grade fever all day, and
headache.
The tongue coating is not merely sticky but also
somewhat yellow.
The pulse is rapid as well as slippery.

About the writer:

Jonathan Clogstoun-Willmott is the author of Qi Stagnation - Signs of

Stress, Yin Deficiency - Burnout and Exhaustion and Western Astrology and
Chinese Medicine.
Acupuncturists like Jonathan Clogstoun-Willmott come
in all sizes, small, fat, thin and tall ...
Jonathan Clogstoun-Willmott is based at the Spirit Health Club, Holiday
Inn, 132 Corstorphine Rd, Edinburgh EH12 6UA
Jonathan Clogstoun-Willmott Bsc, LicAc, BAc, DipAc(China), DipCHM,
MBAcC, MABP, LCH, MCH, PCH, Cert.ECBS, RSAPH
Jonathan grew up on a farm in Sussex - Jersey cows, Landrace and Wessex
pigs, chickens, geese and a horse. So his earliest memory of farming is
(apparently aged 3) of steering the tractor while his father and other workers
loaded hay onto the trailer behind it. His feet didn't reach the clutch but he
could reach the hand-throttle, with very satisfactory results but unexpected
repercussions: his next job was spreading cow-pats with a fork.
After that he began to grow up and eventually received his BSc in Electrical
Engineering from Edinburgh University before qualifying as a Chartered
Accountant.

He trained in London with Mary Austin (then a very prominent acupuncturist

and homeopath), at the College of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture (LicAc),
the British College of Acupuncture (BAc), and the College of Chinese
Medicine Nanjing in China (DipAc).
Then he studied homoeopathy at the College of Homeopathy (LCH, MCH)
and the Dynamis School for Advanced Homoeopathic Studies (PCH). He also
trained at the Northern College of Acupuncture, (DipCHM) and at European
College of Bowen Studies (CertECBS).
He has also trained in and practised various other therapies including Bowen
Technique, Remedial Massage, Reflexology, and Shiatsu... and continues to
attend courses on a range of therapies and techniques.
Jonathan now works partly at a splendid location for the Edinburgh Natural
Health Centre next to Edinburgh's zoo, so easy to find, on lots of bus routes
and with excellent free parking. See map above.
For an appointment with Jonathan, click here.
Professional Memberships
Formerly a Member (RSHom) of The Society of Homeopaths,
the Traditional Acupuncture Society (MTAS) and the British
Acupuncture Association, he is now a member (MBAcC) of The
British Acupuncture Council and (RSAPH) of The Scottish
Association of Professional Homoeopaths of which he is
currently Chair. He was until recently also a member of the
Bowen Therapists' European Register (MBTER).
Lecturing experience
Jonathan lectured for 26 years at the Scottish College of
Homoeopathy and, more recently, at the Scottish College of
Classical Homeopathy and the Scottish School of
Homeopathy.
Other Lecturing

Jonathan has also given lectures and talks on Chinese

Medicine, Homeopathy, Diet and Disease at the Edinburgh
Science Festival and throughout Scotland.
Regional Co-ordinator
As a member of the British Acupuncture Council Jonathan ClogstounWillmott was the first Regional Co-ordinator for Edinburgh and South-East
Scotland, 2000-2006.
Starting in April 2014 he is again Coordinator for the Region.
Founder Member of SAPH
Jonathan was a founder member of the Scottish Association
for Professional Homeopaths (RSAPH) which, like the Society
of Homeopaths, (of which he was formerly a member) has
strict criteria and an onerous process for registration,
requiring evidence of experience, continuing professional
development, and a realistic ability to practise. Jonathan is
currently Chair of the Association.
Many people consult Jonathan for homoeopathic treatment.
He finds that a knowledge of Chinese medicine enormously
enhances his understanding of homeopathic medicine, and
vice versa.
Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine
Jonathan studied Chinese herbal medicine at courses run by Ted Kaptchuk and
Giovanni Maciocia in London in the mid 1980s.
He also did the course in Chinese Herbal medicine run by the Northern
College of Acupuncture in York, England, graduating in 2003. His knowledge
of Chinese medicine enables him to explain health and illness to patients and
to write this website.
Click to see when he is available, and to book an
appointment. (Click the Acupuncture First appointment option.)

Nutrition
Good nutrition is vital for health. Jonathan lectured on this for 25 years,
explaining food not only from its scientific basis but from the energetic
perspective derived from Chinese medicine.
Using the QXC1 - see below - has often helped to identify nutritional (and
many other) problems.
QCX1 Food and Reaction Testing
Since 2000 Jonathan has helped many people understand their health from a
completely different perspective using a non-invasive test that reveals an
enormous amount of health information. Read more about this under QXC1.
Click to see
appointment.

when

he

is

available,

and

to

book

an

Foodaware
Until 2007 Jonathan Clogstoun-Willmott represented Age
Concern Scotland on Foodaware, the Consumers' Food Group,
which was set up to coordinate the broad UK consumer
movement's work on food safety, nutrition and standards.
Its mission was to give UK consumers a strong voice on food
policy by bringing together the organisations that represent
them.
It also consulted and supported the UK consumer
representatives on food related committees, and furthered the
public understanding of science.
Pilot Studies with the Faculty of Medicine, Edinburgh
University
From 2004 - 2007 he assisted Edinburgh University Faculty of
Medicine in pilot modules for third and fourth year medical
students who were interested in observing complementary
medicine in action.

Mind and Body Healing Network - member

Jonathan is a member of the Mind and Body Healing Network which has
members all over the world. Click on the image on the right for more.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
He is insured to practise various therapies including acupuncture, Chinese
herbalism and homoeopathy through his membership of the British
Acupuncture Council.
Background
Jonathan has worked in Edinburgh since 1983 before which he had a large
practice in London. He is married with two adult children.