On a hot day, walking from the stuffy outdoors into an air-conditioned room, then grabbing an ice-cold drink, is definitely the most anticipated "life-saving" moment for many office workers. But have you noticed that your body feels heavier in the summer? Do you wake up with a puffy face, and by the afternoon even your shoes feel tight? Do you often have a poor appetite and feel easily fatigued?
In fact, this may not be a sign that you've gained weight, but rather your body protesting "spleen and stomach deficiency-cold" and excessive dampness. While we seek temporary coolness, we often also consume cold and dampness into our bodies.
If your edema is very severe (e.g., pressing on your calf leaves a lasting indentation), and is accompanied by shortness of breath, a sudden significant decrease in urine output, or extreme fatigue, it is recommended to seek professional medical attention as soon as possible to rule out potential cardiovascular or kidney-related diseases.
Why are "summer damp-heat" and "spleen and stomach deficiency-cold" particularly common in Hong Kong and Taiwan?
The summer climates of Hong Kong and Taiwan share a common characteristic: high temperatures and extreme humidity. According to data from the Hong Kong Observatory and other institutions, summer humidity often exceeds 80%. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) refers to this period of highest humidity at the end of summer and beginning of autumn as "long summer." In such an environment, external damp-evil easily invades the human body.
More critically, our lifestyle habits play a major role. City dwellers spend long hours in air-conditioned rooms, barely sweating; coupled with frequent consumption of cold food and iced drinks to beat the heat. TCM believes that "the spleen prefers dryness and dislikes dampness," and cold food and drinks directly extinguish the "yang qi" of the spleen and stomach, leading to a decline in the spleen and stomach's ability to transport and transform water and dampness. With external damp-heat mixed with internal cold, a spleen and stomach deficiency-cold constitution is formed, and water accumulates in the body and cannot be expelled, naturally leading to annoying edema.
What warning signs of spleen and stomach deficiency-cold and excessive dampness should you look out for?
Having an occasional cold drink is fine, but if your body is showing the following symptoms, you should be vigilant:
1. Heaviness and Edema
This is not just simple obesity, but a feeling that your whole body is as heavy as if wrapped in a wet towel. Especially in the lower limbs, the calves and ankles will visibly swell in the afternoon or evening, and shoes will feel tight.
- Puffy eyelids or face upon waking up in the morning.
- Limbs always feel weak and easily fatigued.
2. Gastrointestinal Distress and Changes in Bowel Movements
The most direct impact of spleen and stomach deficiency-cold is on the digestive system. Even if you don't eat much in hot weather, you often feel bloated.
- Poor appetite, feeling full after eating a little or indigestion.
- Sticky stools that often cling to the toilet and are difficult to flush (colloquially known as "loose stools").
- In the past month, have you had iced drinks or frozen desserts almost every day?
- Observe your tongue: Is your tongue coating white and thick with a sticky film?
- Do you often feel a bland taste in your mouth, and even drinking a lot of water doesn't quench your thirst?
If you answer yes to two or more of these, your spleen and stomach may already be in a state of deficiency-cold and dampness, and it is recommended to start making adjustments.
How can you practically improve summer edema and spleen and stomach deficiency-cold?
Lifestyle Adjustments: Start with Small Changes
We know it's hard to completely give up cold drinks, so don't put too much pressure on yourself. Start with "reducing consumption" and "changing your environment":
- Gradual Cold Drink Reduction: Try changing "less ice" to "no ice," then gradually transition to room temperature drinks.
- Keep Warm in Air-Conditioned Rooms: Keep a light jacket in the office, and pay special attention to keeping your abdomen and joints warm to prevent cold air from entering directly.
- Moderate Sweating: Take a brisk walk for 10-15 minutes every day to allow your body to sweat slightly. This helps expel superficial dampness and promotes blood circulation.
TCM/Dietary Therapy Perspective: Simple Warming and Dampness-Removing
Instead of relying on complex medicinal diets, try incorporating readily available ingredients into your daily diet and follow the healthy eating principles promoted by the Department of Health to maintain balance:
- Ginger: "Eat radish in winter and ginger in summer." Add a few slices of ginger when cooking soup or stir-frying to help warm and disperse cold in the spleen and stomach.
- Dampness-Removing Soups: Consume appropriate amounts of ingredients that promote water excretion and remove dampness, such as Job's tears, winter melon, and adzuki beans. However, for those with very deficient-cold spleen and stomach, raw Job's tears are cooling; it is recommended to stir-fry them before boiling them for a drink.
Scientific Nutrition and Supplement Choices
For busy office workers who often work overtime, cooking dampness-removing soups every day might not be realistic. In such cases, supplements containing spleen-invigorating and dampness-removing ingredients can be helpful. Choose products with traditional spleen-invigorating and diuretic ingredients like Poria and Atractylodes macrocephala, or natural extracts like Chlorella polysaccharides, which can effectively promote water metabolism and reduce the burden on the digestive system.
For example, if you also experience qi deficiency and fatigue in addition to edema, you might consider YU ON TONG Dampness Clear Plus, which combines stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria, and ginseng. It invigorates the spleen while also supplementing qi. If digestive discomfort is more pronounced, Fopiz Dampness Removing Chlorella Polysaccharide Pills can help remove dampness and regulate digestive function through natural ingredients. Remember, any supplement is an aid, and reducing cold food and drinks will yield better results.
| Common Situation or Bad Habit | Better Practice or Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Gulping down ice water or iced milk tea daily to cool down. | Switch to room temperature or warm water. If you really want something flavored, brew a cup of warm tangerine peel tea or light ginger tea. |
| Sitting in an air-conditioned room all day and not sweating at all. | Take a 10–15 minute walk in the morning or evening when temperatures are lower, allowing your body to sweat slightly. |
| Having no appetite due to the heat, eating only cold salads for meals. | Cold foods easily harm the spleen and stomach. It is recommended to eat cooked vegetables and ensure adequate protein intake. |
💊 Recommended Products and Combinations (Designed for Summer Indulgence)
- Core Product One: YU ON TONG Dampness Clear Plus —— Combines various herbs such as stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria, and ginseng. Suitable for office workers who not only have edema but also often feel qi-deficient, fatigued, and sluggish. It invigorates the spleen and supplements qi from the root.
- Core Product Two: Fopiz Dampness Removing Chlorella Polysaccharide Pills —— With high-concentration chlorella polysaccharides as its core, complemented by corn silk and coix seed. Suitable for those who frequently eat out, often experience digestive discomfort, and wish to gently reduce swelling in the lower limbs and face.
You can choose whether you need such products for daily supplementation based on your current physical condition and lifestyle. Remember: any supplement is only an aid and cannot replace a balanced diet and regular routines.
Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
While mung beans can clear heat and detoxify, their nature is cold and cooling. People with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold who are prone to abdominal pain should not drink too much, as it may worsen gastrointestinal discomfort. If you do drink it, it's recommended to add a small amount of tangerine peel to neutralize its cold nature.
This is a common misconception! Most edema is not caused by drinking too much water, but by a impaired body's "drainage" mechanism (such as dysfunction of the spleen and stomach's transportation and transformation). Drinking moderate amounts of warm water, on the other hand, helps promote metabolism.
After exercise, body temperature rises and pores open. At this time, chugging ice water can cause blood vessels to constrict rapidly, not only failing to truly dissipate heat, but also allowing cold air to directly affect the spleen and stomach. It is recommended to drink room temperature water after exercise, slowly and in smaller amounts.
Foot baths are an excellent choice. Soaking your feet in warm water for 15-20 minutes before bed can not only promote blood circulation in the lower limbs and help expel dampness from the body, but also improve sleep quality.
If symptoms such as edema, fatigue, and gastrointestinal discomfort persist for several weeks without improvement after lifestyle adjustments and daily supplementation, or if they affect your daily life, it is recommended to seek the help of a registered TCM practitioner for personalized body constitution diagnosis and treatment.
The muggy heat of summer can be unbearable, but don't let temporary indulgence in coolness lead to long-term heaviness and fatigue. Starting today, set a small goal for yourself: gradually reduce the frequency of cold drinks, and visit yespot.store to learn more about suitable health supplements for daily support. Give your spleen and stomach some warmth, and your body will naturally repay you with lightness and vitality.
