Chasing Away Dampness from Within, Starting with a Cup of Tea: A Delivery Guy's Journey to Dehumidify

Chasing Away Dampness from Within, Starting with a Cup of Tea: A Delivery Guy's Journey to DehumidifyLiu Dawei, an optimistic and cheerful delivery guy, recently found himself constantly feeling sluggish, especially when waking up in the morning. His body felt heavy and sticky, as if enveloped by dampness

Chasing Away Dampness from Within, Starting with a Cup of Tea: A Delivery Guy's Journey to Dehumidify

Liu Dawei, an optimistic and cheerful delivery guy, recently found himself constantly feeling sluggish, especially when waking up in the morning. His body felt heavy and sticky, as if enveloped by dampness. This reminded him of what Dr. Jiang, a renowned traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, had said on a TV show: "Dehumidification should start early, otherwise, when autumn and winter arrive, the accumulation of dampness in the body can not only cause discomfort but also affect your health."

Liu Dawei's job required him to be out in all kinds of weather, so he usually ignored minor health issues. But this recent dampness was unbearable. Dr. Jiang had mentioned a story on TV about a middle-aged man who had long neglected the issue of dampness in his body, resulting in a weakened immune system in winter, causing a simple cold to linger for months. This made Liu Dawei realize, "I can't take this dampness lightly."

Just as he was thinking this, Liu Dawei's phone rang. It was his pharmacist friend, Wang Xiaomei. Knowing about his recent discomfort, she recommended a few dehumidifying teas: "Dawei, I heard you haven't been feeling well lately, could it be too much dampness? I have some dehumidifying teas to recommend, why don't you try them?" Liu Dawei was immediately interested, "Oh, that's great! I'm just trying to find a solution."

Wang Xiaomei's first recommendation was Coix Seed and Red Bean Tea. She explained, "Both coix seed and red bean are good for removing dampness. Coix seed is cool in nature and has a diuretic and dehumidifying effect, while red bean replenishes blood and promotes urination. Combining them can effectively help the body eliminate excess dampness." As Liu Dawei listened, he imagined the coix seed and red bean tea transforming into tiny brushes within his body, sweeping away the omnipresent dampness. However, Liu Dawei wasn't very fond of the taste of red bean. Seemingly anticipating his concern, Wang Xiaomei added, "You can add some slices of ginger, which not only removes the fishy smell but also enhances the dehumidifying effect of the tea. Ginger is warm in nature and can dispel cold and invigorate yang, perfectly balancing the sweetness of red bean."

Wang Xiaomei's second recommendation was Poria Tea. She explained, "Poria is a traditional Chinese medicine with excellent diuretic and dehumidifying properties, and it can also calm the mind, suitable for someone who is often fatigued like you." Liu Dawei recalled seeing Poria at the pharmacy, small white squares resembling white chocolate. He knew it was a mild herb. However, he was still hesitant because Poria tea wasn't very common. Wang Xiaomei immediately responded, "You can brew it with red dates, which makes the taste much better. Red dates replenish Qi and blood, and combined with Poria's dehumidifying effect, they complement each other perfectly."

Just as Liu Dawei was considering Poria tea, Dr. Jiang on TV started introducing another tea Lotus Leaf Tea. He said, "Lotus Leaf Tea is also a very good choice for dehumidifying, especially suitable for those who want to manage their weight. Lotus leaf is neutral in nature and has the effect of clearing heat and cooling the body, promoting urination and bowel movements, very effective for people with excessive dampness." The introduction of Lotus Leaf Tea caught Liu Dawei's attention. He had been considering losing weight. Wang Xiaomei also agreed, "Lotus Leaf Tea is indeed good, and it can also help cleanse the intestines of greasy substances, especially suitable for someone like you who often eats fast food."

Taking Wang Xiaomei's advice, Liu Dawei decided to take action immediately. He put the wrapped dumplings in the refrigerator and went out to buy the ingredients. At the supermarket, he bought coix seed, red bean, ginger, Poria, red dates, and lotus leaf according to the list. Back home, he couldn't wait to brew the coix seed and red bean tea, intending to start with this one.

A few days later, Liu Dawei felt a change in his body. He no longer felt heavy when waking up, and his body wasn't as sticky as before. Wang Xiaomei was happy to hear this and shared some dehumidifying experiences from others: "Some people, after drinking these teas, went for a check-up and found that not only had their mental state improved, but their skin had become smoother as well."

To verify the effects of these teas, Liu Dawei specifically went to see a traditional Chinese medicine doctor. Dr. Jiang happened to be seeing patients at the hospital. After a detailed inquiry about Liu Dawei's diet and lifestyle, Dr. Jiang said, "Dampness is more common in the south, especially after the plum rain season. The teas you've chosen are all good options, the key is to be consistent, don't be sporadic." Dr. Jiang also told a story about an old patient. This patient had worked in a humid environment for a long time, resulting in serious accumulation of dampness, causing fatigue. Finally, after consistently drinking dehumidifying tea and incorporating appropriate exercise, his health gradually improved. Dr. Jiang's anecdote made Liu Dawei even more determined.

To comprehensively eliminate dampness, Liu Dawei also incorporated some exercises suitable for delivery guys, such as running and yoga every day. He discovered that these exercises not only boosted his metabolism but also made him feel happier. To prevent dampness from bothering him again, he even changed his eating habits, trying to eat less cold food and more warm food.

Months passed, and Liu Dawei's mental state had noticeably improved. Even his delivery performance had increased significantly. Looking at his busy but fulfilling life, he was filled with gratitude for Wang Xiaomei and Dr. Jiang. Through his efforts in this period, Liu Dawei understood the importance of health and gradually developed a love for tea as a way of maintaining health.

So why is dampness so persistent, and how can it be completely removed?

According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, dampness is a condition caused by the combined effects of the external environment and internal dietary habits on the human body. It's not just a feeling of heaviness and weakness in the body, but is also closely related to the human immune system and metabolism.

Through the above story, Liu Dawei has demonstrated the benefits of dehumidifying tea for the body. However, drinking tea alone is not a panacea. Dehumidification is a long-term task that requires combining dietary changes, exercise, and lifestyle modifications. For example, exercise can accelerate the metabolism of water in the body. Spicy foods in the diet, such as ginger, garlic, and scallions, help remove dampness from the body. Keeping the living environment ventilated and dry can also reduce the invasion of dampness.

Can modern medicine further validate the scientific validity of these methods? Studies have shown that moderate exercise and a healthy diet can effectively improve metabolism, and certain medicinal plants, such as coix seed and Poria, indeed have diuretic effects, helping to accelerate the elimination of dampness from the body.

In conclusion, dehumidification requires a multi-pronged approach, not only through tea therapy but also by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Scientific explanations and clinical cases indicate that dehumidification is not just about physical comfort but also about overall health. Maintaining a fresh lifestyle and a positive attitude, dampness will no longer be a burden.

What are your thoughts on this? Share your opinions in the comments section!

References:

• [1] Wu, Fengming. "The Intervention of Shi's Dehumidifying Tea Combined with Auricular Acupuncture on Patients with Damp-Phlegm Constitution and Impaired Glucose Tolerance." Northern Pharmacy, 2023-07-07.