Damp heat in the middle jiao

Damp heat in the middle jiao is the middle stage of a damp heat disease, which exhibits mainly symptoms and signs of invasion of the spleen and stomach by damp. Obstruction of the middle jiao may affect both the upper and lower jiao, thus manifesting as fever which is indistinct at the first touch of the skin, but becomes pronounced after being felt for a rather long time ; or fever which recurs after reduced by sweating ; or fever which is more pronounced in the afternoon. In addition there may be heaviness of the limbs and trunk, distension and fullness in the chest and epigastrium, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, thirst with desire to drink only a little, scanty and deep - yellow urine, losse but hesitant stools ; and in severe cases, dull facial expression with few words said or mental cloudiness ; a sticky white tongue coating with a yellow tinge and a soft, rapid pulse.

This syndrome may result from transmission of damp heat in the upper jiao, or from invasion of pathogenic summer heat and damp. In either case the spleen and stomach are injured. It may also be due to improper diet which produces damp heat. Excessive damp heat with heat wrapped in damp gives rise to fever which is indistinct at the first touch of the skin. and becomes pronounced after being felt for a rather long time ; and to fever which is worse in the afternoon. Damp heat is lingering and difficult to be resolved, this is the cause of recurrent fever. Retention of damp heat causes retardation of qi circulation and hence dysfunction in ascending and descending. This results in distension and fullness in the chest and epigastrium, nausea, vomiting and anorexia. Heat consumes body fluid, but as damp dominates over heat, there is a thirst with desire to drink only a little. Retention of damp heat in the middle jiao impairs the spleen ' s function in transportation. This aspect of retardation of qi circulation is evidenced in the scanty and deep - yellow urine and the loose but hesitant stools. Obstruction of the clear cavity by damp heat gives rise to a dull facial expression with few words said, or mental cloudiness, the sticky white tongue coating with a yellow tinge and the soft, rapid pulse are both signs of damp heat. The method of treatment is to clear off heat, resolve damp and promote the smooth circulation of qi. In acupuncture treatment, the main points are selected from the Spleen Meridian of Foot - Taiyin and the Stomach Meridian of Foot - Yangming.