Invasion of the spleen by cold damp

Clinical manifestations : Fullness and distension in the epigastrium and abdomen, loss of appetite, sticky saliva, heaviness of the head and body, loose stools or diarrhea, a white, sticky tongue coating and a soft pulse.

Etiology and pathology : This syndrome may be due to wading in water, being caught in the rain, sitting and sleeping in a damp place or excessive eating of raw and cold food. The syndrome may also result from excessive endogenous damp. In all these cases, the yang of the middle jiao may be strained and the function of the spleen in transportation and transformation impaired. Invasion of the spleen by cold damp impairs the spleen ' s function in transportation and transformation, resulting in fullness and distension in the epigastrium and abdomen, loss of appetite, loose stools or diarrhea. As damp is characterized by heaviness and viscosity, blockage of the cold damp produces sticky saliva, and heaviness of the head and body. A white, sticky tongue coating and a soft pulse are both signs of excessive damp in the interior.