Wet-Heat combined with Yin Deficiency Constitution

Manifestation Characteristics

• Physical Signs: The primary characteristics are a greasy, oily face and a bitter taste in the mouth. A minority may also experience accompanying symptoms like a dry mouth and throat, and a sensation of “deficiency heat” in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

• Body Shape: Medium or thin build.

• Common Manifestations: A greasy, oily face prone to acne; a bitter and dry mouth; a feeling of heaviness and fatigue in the body; sticky and difficult bowel movements or dry, bound stools; scanty, yellow urine. Men are prone to scrotal dampness, while women are prone to increased vaginal discharge. Some individuals may also experience heat in the palms and soles, a dry mouth and throat, a slightly dry nose, a preference for cold drinks, and dry stools.

• Psychological Characteristics: Easily irritable and impatient.

• Disease Tendencies: Susceptible to skin sores and boils, jaundice, “heat strangury” (painful, difficult urination, similar to a UTI), “consumptive disease” (a general term for chronic deficiency conditions), and insomnia.

• Adaptability: Difficulty adapting to the damp-heat climate of late summer and early autumn, as well as environments that are humid or have high temperatures. Intolerant of pathogenic summer-heat, heat, and dryness.

Conditioning Methods

• Environmental and Lifestyle Adjustments: Avoid summer-heat and dampness. The living environment should be dry and well-ventilated. It is advisable not to stay up late or overexert oneself. During late summer, take precautions against the invasion of damp-heat pathogens.

• Physical Exercise: High-intensity exercises are suitable to help dispel dampness and dissipate heat. Examples include medium to long-distance running, swimming, mountain climbing, and ball sports. During the summer, exercise should be done during cooler times of the day. It is important to control the amount of sweating and to rehydrate promptly.

• Mental Adjustment: Participate in cheerful and relaxing activities to relax the body and mind.

• Dietary Conditioning: Eat more foods like tomatoes, cucumbers, mung beans, celery, Job’s tears (coix seed), bitter melon, lily bulb, white wood ear (tremella), and spinach. Avoid pungent, warm, and greasy foods. Drink less alcohol and eat less seafood.

• Medicinal Conditioning: Herbs that are sweet, bland, bitter, and cold can be used to clear heat and drain dampness, as well as herbs that nourish Yin, clear heat, and nourish the Liver and Kidneys. Examples include Huang Qin (Scutellaria Root), Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome), Zhi Zi (Gardenia Fruit), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Root), Sha Shen (Glehnia Root), and Yu Zhu (Solomon’s Seal Rhizome).

• Representative Patent Formulas: Long Dan Xie Gan Ruan Jiaonang (Gentiana to Drain the Liver Soft Capsules) or Qing Shu Yi Qi Tang (Clear Summer-Heat and Augment the Qi Decoction).