Damp

Ease and eliminate Damp

Body Dampness occurs when the digestive system struggles to transform and transport fluids, and when the body is weakened due to external environmental dampness.⁠ ⁠ Foods like fatty meats, ALL dairy products unless straight from the animal, bread, beer, sugar, raw foods, sugars and sweeteners, cold good and drinks, salads, banana’s, high doses ascorbic acid aka vitamin C, nuts, smoothies, fruit juices, and saturated fats can increase dampness in the body.⁠ ⁠ To ease body dampness, we need to ensure a smooth flow of circulation by doing gentle exercises like qigong or tapping if you have reduced mobility.⁠ ⁠ The Spleen is in charge of transformation and transportation, delivering nourishment (Qi and nutrients) to every part of the body. The Spleen assists the Stomach with digestion. It’s responsible for the intake, processing and distribution of nutrients extracted from food and drink. Strengthening these organs is necessary to ease body Dampness.⁠

Damp resolving foods & habits to focus on:

Pungent and bitter vegetables: asparagus, bok choy, broccoli, caper, carrot, celery, radish, leek, onion, parsnip, scallion, chives, turnip, kohlrabi, winter squash, oyster mushroom, parsnip, plantain, pumpkin, winter squash (especially kabocha aka Japanese pumpkin), and seaweed.

Fruits: blueberries, cranberries, citrus peel.

Aromatic herbs & spices: basil, cilantro, parsley, horseradish, oregano, sage, rosemary, thyme, dill, ginger, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, pepper, and cardamom.

Protein: Turkey (white meat), small amounts of organ meat, duck, quail, and mackerel.

Bitter and pungent tea: corn silk, pu’er, hibiscus, jiao gu lan, lavender, nettle, marshmallow, red clover, raspberry leaf, burdock and dandelion root.

Warm and cooked foods. Local, seasonal foods. Yang tonifying foods.

Sweeteners, to be used rarely: stewed fruits (see above), dates, raw clear honey, lucuma, cinnamon.

Mindful eating. Other: emotional expression, sunshine, exercise, good air ventilation, and moxibustion.

Note: Talk to your acupuncturist about a damp resolving plan. There is such a thing as too many damp resolving foods for certain constitutions. For example, bitter and pungent food flavours which help to resolve damp, when eaten in excess, can deplete qi, blood, and body fluid.

The following recipes help to increase energy in the morning: aim to enjoy a herbal latte 30 minutes before breakfast. Ingredients

1 teaspoon Japanese matcha powder + 1 1/2 cups water, OR 1 1/2 cups coffee,

2 tablespoons full fat coconut milk or non-dairy milk of choice

1 1/2 tablespoons bone broth which is my collagen, Or use tremella.

To sweeten: dates, raw clear honey, lucuma, cinnamon or dark maple syrup.

Optional add-ins: herbal powders as recommended by your healer, 1/2 teaspoon ginger root powder, 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder.

Other Tea suggestions Fall: White peony tea Winter: Chai or ginger tea Spring: Nettle + green rooibos Summer: a) Dandy blend or coffee and reishi powder, b) Holy basil and peppermint peppermint Late Summer (Indian Summer): Rooibos or turmeric tea

Directions

Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add the matcha powder and whisk. *For loose leaf tea, turn off heat, add tea, cover, and steep until desired strength is reached. For example green tea takes a minimum of 4 minutes while holy basil takes 10. *Add the tea that takes longer to steep first. If you are making decaf coffee, follow aeropress or coffee maker instructions.

Pour 1/4 - 1/2 cup of the matcha, steeped tea, or coffee into a protein shaker cup with the plant milk and collagen and shake to combine.

Pour the mixture into the remaining tea or coffee and enjoy.