BALANCE POINT ACUPUNCTURE AND INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE
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Damp and Phlegm: Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Diet Therapy

In acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine theory, the retention of dampness refers to a condition of pathogenic water, hyper-viscosity, and stagnation in the body and is the cause of many illnesses.  Damp is a yin pathogen that impairs Yang-Qi from circulating and easily causes stagnation of Qi and blood circulation. An acupuncturist will recognize symptoms which could include a feeling of heaviness, swelling or water retention, distended abdomen, phlegm discharge, nodular masses, loose bowels sinus issues, chronic or recurrent lung problems, obesity, skin conditions of all kinds, oedema, as a damp and phlegm problem and use therapies such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, and diet and lifestyle modifications to help the patient recover.  Individuals with a damp constitution often gain weight easily and have sluggish metabolisms and energy.  

In general, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine Diet therapy is aimed at consuming highly nutritious and easily digested foods at regular mealtimes. When an acupuncturist diagnoses Damp-Phlegm retention one should follow a diet that includes foods that reduce the amount of damp and phlegm produced in the body.  These foods include dairy, refined carbohydrates, processed foods, excess raw vegetables and fruit, sugar, alcohol and cold or chilled foods.  Besides avoiding damp generating foods, including more foods that facilitate its removal from the body is also important.  These foods generally include aromatic and spicy herbs such as ginger, basil, thyme, mint, etc.  Reducing damp generating foods while increasing damp dispelling foods and getting regular acupuncture and herbal therapy does wonders for helping to recover from a damp constitution.

General Recommendations

About 40% of your meals should consist largely of easily digested complex carbohydrates like grains and starchy root vegetables.  Another 40% of the diet should cooked vegetables.  Proteins scan make up the remaining 10 - 20% of the diet. 

Specific foods for Damp-Phlegm Retention

Whole grains – rice, oats, barley, rye, millet, buckwheat.  Avoid wheat and all white or processed flours.  Job’s tear barley and amaranth are especially good for damp retention.
Cooked vegetables, steamed is best.  Spicy vegetables such as onions, garlic, green onions, radishes, leaks, etc are extra good and clearing dampness.  Mushrooms are also good for damp conditions.
Beans:  All are good but especially mung beans and adzuki beans.
Lean Meats:  Avoid pork, processed meats, bacon, and any meats that are excessively rich or fatty.
Spices:  Most spices are excellent for dampness but specifically fresh ginger, mustard, cloves, cardamon, nutmeg, thyme, basil, etc.

Foods that make make damp retention worse.

aDairy:  All, including yogurt and eggs.
Sweets:  Avoid all sugar and most sweeteners with the exception of small amounts of honey, xylitol and stevia.  Avoid chocolate, including dark.
Nuts and nut butters:  Minimize or better yet avoid.
Meat products: pork, processed, rich or greasy meats.
Vegetables: excess salad or raw vegetables.
Oils:  Oils and fatty foods should be kept to a minimum.
Cold or chilled foods: including iced beverages, smoothies, and ice water.

For those interested in learning more about Chinese Diet therapy, you can pick up a great book called "Healing With Whole Foods", by Paul Pitchford usually available at Amazon.ca and Chapters.

Printable version of the Dampness and Phlegm Diet
Dampness and Phlegm Diet.pdf
File Size: 40 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Conditions Treated at Balance Point Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine in Kelowna

NEUROLOGICAL 
Headaches/Migraine
Neuralgia
Peripheral Neuropathy
Post-operation pain
Stroke Recovery
Parkinson’s disease
Facial pain (Trigeminal-Neuralgia, etc)

MUSCULO-SKELETAL
Pain and weakness in: Neck, shoulder, arms,
hands, fingers, knees, legs, and feet
Sciatica and Back Pain
Muscle cramps
Traumatic injuries
Sprains, strains
Sports injuries
Arthritis
Disc problems
DIGESTIVE
Abdominal pain
Ulcer, G.E.R.D., Acidity
Chronic diarrhea 
Indigestion
Constipation

EYE, EAR, NOSE, DENTAL
Eye Diseases
Micro Acupuncture
Macular Degeneration
Tinnitus

Toothache
Deafness
Post extraction pain
Gum problems


INFECTIONS
Lyme Disease
Hepatitis
Viruses/Bacterial
Candida
RESPIRATORY
Sinusitis/

Allergies
Common cold and Flu
Tonsillitis
Bronchitis
Chronic Cough
Asthma

GYNECOLOGICAL AND SEXUAL HEALTH
Impotence
PMS, Cramps
Fertility
Obstetrics

EMOTIONAL
Traumas
Insomnia
Depression and Anxiety
Nervousness
Neurosis
OTHER BENEFITS
Hypertension

Increases vitality and energy
Stress reduction
Deep relaxation
Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture
Weight Loss
Quitting Smoking 
alcohol, drug & other addictions
Anti-aging
Pain control
Regulates heart rate, blood pressure & chemistry

"INCURABLE" DISEASES
Chronic Diseases
Multiple Sclerosis
​
Autoimmune Disease
and many others...

At Balance Point we provide Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, Osteopathy, and Massage Therapy services in Kelowna.
  • Home
  • TEAM
    • Travis McIndoe - TCMP, Acupuncturist
    • Yin-Wei (Vivi) McIndoe - Registered Acupuncturist
    • May Shin - Registered Acupuncturist
    • Travis Irmen - Registered Massage Therapist
    • Kyle Compart - Registered Massage Therapist
    • Evelyn Wins - Registered Massage Therapist
    • Hailey McCloskey - Registered Massage Therapist
    • Mandy Wright - Manual Osteopath, Kinesiologist
    • Foivos Karatzos - Manual Osteopath
  • Services
    • Acupuncture
    • Micro Acupuncture
    • Herbal Medicine
    • Massage Therapy
    • Osteopathy
    • Kinesiology
  • Resources
    • Chinese Medicine Diets >
      • Yin Deficiency Diet
      • Spleen Qi Deficiency Diet
      • Liver Qi Stagnation Diet
      • Blood Stasis Diet
      • Damp-Phlegm Diet
      • Kidney Yin Deficiency Diet
      • Heart Blood Deficiency Diet
      • Cold Invasion Diet
      • Phlegm-Heat Retention Diet
  • Blog
  • Contact