Ming Jie Wi’s Fengyang Taoist Chinese Medicine Spleen-Invigorating and Dampness-Resolving Prescription and Analysis of Five Diagnostic Points
Five Key Diagnostic Points
Tongue Examination
Cold-Dampness: Swollen tongue with teeth marks, white greasy coating.
Dampness-Heat: Yellow greasy tongue coating.
Facial Appearance: Sallow, oily complexion indicating dampness accumulation.
Body Type: Obese physique, abdominal obesity ("phlegm-dampness obesity") due to spleen deficiency and dampness retention.
Disease Correlation: Dampness is associated with various chronic immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and diverticulosis, where dampness exacerbates inflammatory responses.
Pulse Diagnosis: Dampness patterns often show soggy or slippery pulses (rapid and slippery for dampness-heat, deep and slow for cold-dampness).
Prescription Composition
Base Formula: Si Jun Zi Tang (20g Codonopsis Radix, 10g Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, 10g Poria, 6g Glycyrrhizae Radix) to tonify qi and strengthen the spleen, supplemented with 20g Radix Fici Hirtae (Southern Astragalus, tonifying without causing dryness) and 10g Coicis Semen to resolve dampness.
Modifications:
Cold-Dampness: Add 6g Agastachis Herba to aromatically transform dampness and 6g Zingiberis Rhizoma to warm the middle and dispel cold.
Dampness-Heat: Add 10g Canarium Album Root (local Chaozhou herb) to clear heat and resolve dampness.
The Importance of Spleen-Invigorating and Dampness-Resolving in "Preventive Treatment"
Chronic Disease Prevention:
The spleen, as the "root of acquired constitution," is central to metabolic disorders (e.g., obesity, diabetes) and autoimmune diseases. Resolving dampness can interrupt disease progression.
Immune Regulation:
Modern research confirms that dampness patterns correlate with gut microbiota imbalance and immune hyperactivation. Herbs like Coicis Semen and Poria modulate the microbiota-immune axis to reduce inflammation.
Addressing Modern Health Needs:
Sedentary lifestyles and rich diets predispose many to "spleen deficiency with dampness retention," manifesting as fatigue and indigestion, which this approach alleviates.
Promotion Strategies: Serving Healthy China and the "Belt and Road" Initiative
1. Domestic Promotion: Integrating into Healthy China Initiatives
Primary Healthcare: Incorporate the prescription into community "preventive treatment" services for obesity and chronic fatigue.
Health Education: Use social media (short videos, official accounts) to teach self-examination (e.g., tongue diagnosis) and dietary guidelines (e.g., avoiding cold/sweet/fatty foods).
Policy Alignment: Collaborate with the National Nutrition Plan to develop medicinal food products (e.g., Coicis Semen and yam congee kits).
2. International Promotion: Leveraging BRI Cooperation
Cultural Export: Introduce the protocol in Southeast Asia (humid climates), adapting with local herbs (e.g., substituting Zingiberis Rhizoma with regional varieties).
Standardization:
Partner with overseas TCM centers to develop AI tongue diagnosis for streamlined assessment.
Establish international standards for herbs like Coicis Semen and Radix Fici Hirtae to facilitate trade.
Industry-Academia-Research Collaboration:
Conduct multinational studies on "dampness-heat and chronic inflammation" to validate TCM theory scientifically.
3. Industry Expansion
Health Products: Develop dampness-resolving teas (e.g., Agastachis Herba-Coicis Semen tea) and topical patches (umbilical therapy).
Ecotourism: Launch "dampness-removing wellness" programs at TCM cultural sites (e.g., Bozhou, Anhui) to attract global visitors.
Conclusion
Spleen-invigorating and dampness-resolving are core TCM strategies for preventive care, addressing both subhealth and chronic diseases. Through "primary healthcare + cultural export + research innovation," this approach can advance Healthy China and global TCM promotion under the BRI, achieving the vision of "preventing disease at its inception, safeguarding global health."
