Zhan Zhuang and Damp-Heat Syndrome

[Pedro]

Hello everybody!

 

I was lazy, lazy in eating the good food, lazy in moving, and way too busy with my mind. With the years I developed damp-heat and a lot of symptoms followed, like teeth grinding and toothache (dentist could not find anything, said I have healthy teeth), nervousness, panic attacks in the middle of the night.

 

The only thing that made me feel good was my short Zhan Zhuang sessions.

But with time I noticed that after the ZZ I felt overheated and my pains become worse.

 

Naturally I went to get some help, one energetic therapist helped me with the peak of the pain, and acupuncture is now the therapy that slowly continues to treat the damp-heat syndrome. Additionally I changed my diet, eating only "cool" foods and took some herbs against the damp-heat syndrome.

 

Yesterday I tried again Zhan Zhuang and this time it did not make me feel overheated. I indeed felt very relaxed. I even felt energy pulsing through the points my acupuncturist treated.

 

Could it be that when you are in the middle of a damp-heat aggravation, the Zhan Zhuang training adds more energy and makes the "heat" aspect worse? I believe that my diet was the cause of all the problems. Too much milk products, adding to much dampness.

[freeform]

Yup ZZ will amplify the conditions you create in your body and mind.
 

Particularly any ‘rising’ and heating conditions - as Qi loves to move up - and the extra pressure from ZZ will only fuel the upwards movement.

 

Be careful with staying too long on the ‘cool’ diet while doing qigong or ZZ - it will create stagnation. Avoid Cold and Hot foods altogether.

 

When you do ZZ are you mostly ‘embracing the tree’? Or do you have a posture with arms low?

 

I would suggest focusing on the arms low position - that’s where all the principles should be built… use that to release your mind and your breathing until they both soak down into your lower body. Takes a long time.

 

let the Qi concentrate in the LDT and begin to shape it - also takes long

 

Once the LDT is formed, Qi will naturally descend, as it will be attracted to the magnetic pull of your ldt.

 

Make sure to add a lot of stretching and movement to your routine to get that dampness sorted.

[Gerard]

1 hour ago, Pedro said:

acupuncture is now the therapy that slowly continues to treat the damp-heat syndrome.

 

Not a good technique to treat this difficult condition as it is persistent since it lingers deep in the organs and meridians. Imagine how much dampness people carry in the large intestine which itself is quite a large organ network. 

 

Herbal medicine is a lot better (and quicker).

 

Quote

Could it be that when you are in the middle of a damp-heat aggravation, the Zhan Zhuang training adds more energy and makes the "heat" aspect worse? I believe that my diet was the cause of all the problems.

 

ZZ is like an inflating the balloon type of practice. I'd advice you to start one that involves a lot of movement. If you have a sedentary lifestyle ZZ will aggravate your pre-existing conditions rather that removing them for good.

 

Quote

 

Too much milk products, adding to much dampness.

 

One reason. There are many others. Liver Qi stagnation is one of the main ones (excessive thinking, computer work, emotional issues, stress, not moving enough due to lifestyle).

 

Edited August 5, 2021 by Gerard

[Pedro]

Great advices, thank you very much.

I will experiment with the following steps and then give you feedback:

• ZZ with arms low (very good idea) and not longer than 5 minutes a day and increase slowly
• Stretching and movement (I take a one hour walk every evening)
• Herbal medicine for Liver Qi stagnation (for example dandelion)
• try other forms of Qi Gong (eight brocades?)

If you have more advice, I will be forever grateful!

[Gerard]

Go see a TCM doctor specialised in herbal medicine. It's a lot more than just taking only ONE herb. 

 

Lifestyle, diet and emotional factors all need to be addressed to eliminate this condition. It is a very SLOW process.

 

Also one must stop eating night time meals.

 

Further info:

 

Damp Heat syndrome

 

Do you live in Spain?

 

 

Edited August 5, 2021 by Gerard

[Pedro]

12 hours ago, Gerard said:

Go see a TCM doctor specialised in herbal medicine. It's a lot more than just taking only ONE herb.

 

The acupuncturist is also a dietary specialist and she told me to eat in a certain way, cold food during spring and summer (energetic cold, not raw, only cooked food and some raw fruits, avoiding eating too late, not skipping meals, drinking hot water and so on, no red meat, more fungi, no bread, no milk and cheese and sweets). She gave me for the first 2 weeks tablets with a Gentian "formula", a combination of 5 herbs.

 

And you are right, I also believe that my problem was night time meals (heavy, with lots of cheese). For too long time. Eating was a way to calm myself.

 

I'm from Germany by the way. Originally from Italy.

[Gerard]

21 hours ago, Pedro said:

She gave me for the first 2 weeks tablets with a Gentian "formula", a combination of 5 herbs.

 

Good luck with that! You'll never heal yourself by taking tablets. Herbal medicine is extremely sophisticated and complex. 

 

Yes she gave you a herb prescribed to drain dampness (long dan cao).

 

You need to obtain fresh herbs and decoct them according to the doctor's instructions. 

 

The most common organs that suffer from damp-heat pathology are the Spleen, the Large Intestine, the Urinary Bladder, and the Gall Bladder.

 

Imagine how much power the herbs need to generate to remove damp-heat from those organs. A lot. Pills do nothing. Go find someone else please.

 

Also treat the underlying conditions that cause damp-heat in the first place: diet, lifestyle (including sexual activity) and unresolved emotions.

 

All the best

[Gerard]

22 hours ago, Pedro said:

I also believe that my problem was night time meals (heavy, with lots of cheese). For too long time. Eating was a way to calm myself.

 

I'm from Germany by the way. Originally from Italy.

 

 

Yes that's one biggie: eating night time meals especially in countries like Italy or Spain where eating late at night is a cultural thing. Check the organ networks that are active during those hours and see the effect that eating + digesting (yang) has on them, kind of an explosion: boooom! The energies generated are DAMP + HEAT; they sit and clog the organs and meridians. 

 

 

[Pedro]

I try to find a TCM herb specialist in my vicinity. Else maybe you can suggest me someone who practice online? Or at least a good book?

In my library I have a few books about TCM western herbs (some of the herbs are the same as in traditional chinese medicine).

The strategy of my acupuncturist is to get rid of the heat first, because I suffer according to her (and the symptoms I have) from damp-heat.

My tongue already changed color from 1 month of diet, cooked vegetables, no bread - milk - alcohol - cheese. And I feel better. But there is still some tension inside me. I can feel it that something is happening.

My cramps in my face (stomach meridian, tendency to lock jaw) are a lot better after drinking dandelion tea, combined with some Silybum marianum (all herbs which grows in my vicinity, around the house).

 

And many thanks for your help!!!

[Gerard]

It is a VERY SLOW and GRADUAL process. Herbs work better because their action is synergetic (they work together as a whole and each with their specific function). Like an army; herbs are categorised in a formula as emperor, prime minister, minister & envoy. 

 

Further info:

 

http://www.acupuncture.com/education/tcmbasics/herbprescrip.htm

 

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-you-should-know-about-chinese-herbs/

 

Healing all the organs and getting rid of damp-heat first expect a 10-year period of not more according how chronic it is.

 

1. Forget about books this stuff is very complex. 

2. It is a 10-year study to become a licensed TCM herbalist.

3. I wish I could help you finding a herbalist in Germany but I can't as I live in Australia at the moment. 

4. Try here and hopefully you'll be lucky:

 

https://forums.tcm.com

 

Note:

 

Once heat is cleared focus on STRENGTHENING the SPLEEN, which is an organ that loves nourishing foods like soups and stews. 

 

https://www.thekitchn.com/25-nourishing-d-159118

 

https://nourishedkitchen.com/bone-broth-stocks/soups-and-stew-recipes/

 

Ramen is something the Spleen will LOVE. 

 

https://www.justonecookbook.com/homemade-chashu-miso-ramen/

 

 

 

Edited August 9, 2021 by Gerard

[Gerard]

Hey,

 

Let me strongly recommend you taking up Bagua Quan. Teachers in Germany:

 

https://www.internalintent-germany.de

 

https://www.facebook.com/bagua.deutschland/

 

The second link is more martial arts focused but you still will learn to walk the circle which is the essence of the art.

 

Bagua DELETES EVERYTHING. 

[Pedro]

Hello everyone!

 

I want to give you some feedback of my progress, especially because someone else may find it helpful.

Last I posted was August 2021 and my condition was not good at all. Whenever I tried to practice Zhan Zhuang, even with low arm posture (suggested by freeform) and even if I practiced only 3 minutes a day, it made all my symptoms worse (except my ability to focus, but then I focused way too much on my pains, hehehe).

 

So I made a pause of some months, till January this year (5 months). In the meantime I stick with high discipline to my diet which lowered most of the heat symptoms. And I made almost every day a walk of 1 hour or at least some normal gymnastic exercises at home (pushups, squads, rowing with the machine, etc). I lost 20 kilo since last year (mostly due the diet), which made many of my friends envious. While I lost weight, they gained weight. So the subjective difference was even bigger. My sleep is a lot better, my digestion improved, my bowel movements stabilized, my headache is gone, my graving for sweets and alcohol is nonexistent, my skin looks a lot better, and I feel the energy in my body vibrating.

 

Because of the improvements I began to practice sloooowly zhan zhuang again, 3 minutes a day, with low arm posture, focusing only on my feet. Then day after day the practice time increased naturally without forcing and even without that I noticed it first. When I reached 10 minutes in February I noticed a greater flow of energy in my liver meridian, then spleen, lungs, and so on. And in March finally I began noticing a little bit of heat in my lower dantian (or the region of the dantian), while I reached 30 minutes of practice. My breath goes deep, I'm able to relax almost all my muscles and it seems that I can now practice without provoking toothache or other typical damp heat symptoms.

 

Regarding TCM herbs, I bought some tea that I researched in a few German language books about western TCM herbs therapy (using western herbs according to the TCM theory). I could drink of this tea only 3 days in a row, until it made my symptoms worse, then stopped and they got better than before. Main ingredient was dandelion (taraxacum) and tangerine. In my diet I added fresh dandelion too, horseradish, zucchini, and whatever helps for remove dampness and heat.

 

I'm really happy with my progress so far. Yet I'm pretty cautious regarding my energy system, because I know that it will reach eventually a point where a layer of "trauma" (emotional, physical scoria inside tissues and organs, or whatever) needs to be dissolved. So I will not force my progress and stick to the daily training of 30 min and see how it evolves.

 

Oh and before I forget, I used a homeopathic remedy too, China C200. It is indicated for the malaria miasm, which is damp heat in its essence. It is indicated in my case because I'm so hypersensitive regarding impressions and energy.

 

Many thanks to you @Gerard, you gave me a lot of helpful information and that helped me to stay patient during the time.

 

Additional notes:

- I added Eight pieces of brocades to my daily routine since last 2 weeks, because of energetic heat from ZZ (no pain, but discomfort) which helped a lot too

- still getting acupuncture weekly which helps to relax

Edited April 2, 2022 by Pedro

[Goldleaf]

Hi Pedro,

 

I am no expert but from what I read before about damp-heat, greasy diet and processed foods can also be big contributor to the condition (and milk as previously mentioned).  One way to help with this, and also to help determine possible food allergies / sensitivities, is to try the whole30 diet.  Basically you eat nothing but meat, fruit, vegetables, and nuts, for 30 days, and then you can gradually introduce other foods to help isolate foods or food groups that cause you problems.  There are meal plans and recipes over at the whole30 forum, you can make some delicious meals and food combinations with it.

 

Another thing the whole30 diet does is you only use ghee for cooking.  Cooking oils can be problematic for a lot of peoople.

[Goldleaf]

On 8/6/2021 at 5:11 AM, Gerard said:

Lifestyle, diet and emotional factors all need to be addressed to eliminate this condition. It is a very SLOW process.

 

It can be a very fast process if someone practices high-level qi gong ))

[Pedro]

Hi @Goldleaf,

 

I have no allergy. In fact I am solely responsible of "destroying" my health with the improper diet. I ate cheese every day, almost every evening, plus too much coffee, too much chocolate, too much cold food and too spicy, for many many years.

 

Also for the emotional stress there was no counterbalance (a way to release the heat, the stress, the frustration). With time this created a lot of blockages. I feel now so much better after changing my diet. Indeed the idea that some allergy was responsible for my condition came up last year and I left out some food categories for testing it, but without a good result.

 

Occasionally I felt a strange feeling, like "seeing an image of a garden, absolutely beautiful". I was not able to describe it. This was in the year 2018 the first time it became more intense and more frequent. It felt like a mild form of synesthesia or ideasthesia. The image came up into my mind and naturally I tried to focus on it, but exactly in the moment I became aware of it the image disappeared. Last week I noticed that when I focused on my gallbladder channel (beginning with GB 44 the meridian "opens" and an electric feeling can be perceived), the image came up and stayed for more then 3 seconds, enough to enjoy the beauty in my mind. This could be a bigger blockage inside my gallbladder and liver meridians. I hope that it will one day clear completely.

 

[Gerard]

Not diet really as in focusing on a culprit. Cheese in fact is:

 

Temperature: neutral
Channels: LU, SP, LV
Flavors: sweet, sour
Tonifies: qi, blood, yin

 

I eat cheese almost on a daily basis and don't suffer from damp-heat. In winter less often as warm foods dominate my diet and there is no need to nourish the Yin during those times as it is cold. 

 

 BUT:

 

1. How you eat

2. When you eat

3. How much you eat

 

Real culprits:

 

1. State of MIND

2. Emotions related to point 1. Anger, resentment, frustration, guilt, blame 

3. Excessive thinking and study. Wood is thinking and excess Wood causes heat which in turn weakens the balancing nature of the Earth force (Spleen). Earth dislikes COLD & DAMP.

4. Alcohol consumption. As per 3.

5. Sexual activity including "solo" practices. As per 3.

6. Excessive activity & exercise which damages the Yin, depleting fluids and as a result damp and heat arise in the internal organs namely: Liver, GB, Lower Jiao, Stomach, Spleen, L & S Intestines.

 

Focus on your own Mind rather than blaming cheese, coffee, chocolate and the like. 

 

Learn how to eat according to your star sign, animal sign & Ba Zi and eat according to seasonal changes.

 

Keep enjoying your cheese.

 

[Goldleaf]

@gerard I enjoy your posts but I gotta mention a subtle point.

 

Quote

Focus on your own Mind rather than blaming cheese, coffee, chocolate and the like. 

 

State of mind is important for so much, but I dont think you can outright claim that cheese is not to blame.  You yourself may be able to eat cheese daily, but there are many people of course who are lactose and dairy-intolerant. 

 

Would someone who was always carefree, in a zen-like state of mind, and regulated their daily and seasonal activities; never have any issues with eating any food products that would otherwise be fine for their body according to TCM dietary principles? - possibly.  But 99.9% of us will never reach that state or even close to it, so for me, I would start at the ground up; eliminating food intolerances until a decent state of health is achieved. 

 

edit - sorry if this sounds flagrant

Edited April 12, 2022 by Goldleaf

[Gerard]

BUT you need to understand what causes FOOD ALLERGIES in the first place.

 

A: Weak EARTH FORCE (principle). Physiologically translated as a not functioning properly/weak DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.

 

What caused this in the first place?

 

A: Schooling system. Too much study and concentration (OVERACTIVE WOOD FORCE) which weakens the EARTH. This is part of the 5 ELEMENT THEORY OF TCM-TAOISM. 

 

YEAR AFTER YEAR, ON AND ON, SEASON AFTER SEASON, from

CHILDHOOD TO ADULTHOOD. 

 

CLIMATE CHANGE? 

 

A: A WEAK EARTH CAUSED BY HUMANITY'S EXCESSIVE THINKING!!

 

It takes years to return the SPLEEN & OVERACTIVE STOMACH to a NORMAL STATE due to eating too fast, too much, too late, junk food, not enjoying and valuing what you have eaten. Eating from one bowl, the Bhikkhu diet (alm's bowl), showing gratitude and meditate while you eat will HEAL THE EARTH (any digestive problems will vanish over time).

 

 

[Pedro]

On 12.4.2022 at 1:12 AM, Gerard said:

Focus on your own Mind rather than blaming cheese, coffee, chocolate and the like. 

 

Learn how to eat according to your star sign, animal sign & Ba Zi and eat according to seasonal changes.

 

Keep enjoying your cheese.

 

Hello Gerard!

 

I agree that when someone achieved a good health and a higher level of qigong practice, eating cheese will not be a problem.

My problem is, that I'm still unstable. A small diet error results in various symptoms still related to damp-heat. Maybe it will require a few years to get to the point when I can eat cheese everyday. Until then I will only rarely enjoy such a meal (or even just a snack).

 

Also you mentioned the root cause: the schooling system. Yes, this is a good point. Indeed I studied a lot, way too much, too much focus and concentration, mostly in evening and night when my spleen should have rest. I did this for decades.

 

Climate change ... during childhood we went from Italy to Germany, so the climate change is a factor.

Thanks for your tips.

[Gerard]

You just clearly stated yourself the roof of the problem which is a constant on Earth right now:

 

1. Excessive concentration 

2. Technology

3. Ungroundedness

4. Worrying and brooding

 

Germany is just a location you chose to control that accumulated HEAT you have but still won't solve the problem.

 

If you are serious about completely solving damp-heat let me strongly advise you to move to the southern hemisphere anywhere East as it is ruled by the Wood element. That way you'll clear the organs (Liver and gallbladder) efficiently and deeply releasing a lifetime of bad habits. Emotions will be cleared too as a result since the Liver REGULATES all our emotions. It is a very sensitive organ in that regard. The Liver also regulates the smooth movement of Qi in the entire energetic system. 

 

I have met monks in Thailand and Australia who suffered from damp-heat their entire lives but upon relocating to these countries they managed to resolve the condition, obviously following a very strict life of practice. 

 

I'm talking about European Western monks not Thai or Australian. I was also born and grew up in Europe and moved to Australia in the late 90s.

 

ZZ won't do much to fix it, it will only release the exterior part. For that you need to take up deeper practices like the Internal Art of Ba Gua Zhang with a lot of foundation practice (ma bu/horse stance and Asian Squat on a daily basis). Vipassana meditation is good too but it suits better monastery lifestyle as it requires many hours of daily practice.

 

Make sure you move a lot because this condition results from STAGNATION resulting from inactivity (hours of study sitting on a chair and a desk and not moving enough).

 

Damp-Heat is a very difficult condition to cure according to TCM. 

 

In the meantime stop any activity, if you do, after the Wood phase becomes active (after 11pm right until you get up in the morning) and NO EATING AFTER SUNSET, preferably a lot earlier if you can.

 

Good luck

Edited April 19, 2022 by Gerard

[Gerard]

Pedro,

 

This is pretty much the Western version of Vipassana and how certain mental conditions (knots in our consciousness) give rise to damp-heat (prevalent in certain people according to their star sign and animal sign; A Leo Fire Snake will suffer from it rather than a Cancer Metal Pig):

 

Gurdjieff & the Further Reaches of Self-Observation

 

Too much thinking ----> damp-heat

 

If interested, you can always contact a teacher from this group:

 

http://www.internalintent.com/global

 

The leader happens to be the uncle of my teacher, Geoff Sweeting. He taught me Bagua in Australia, so I can vouch for the quality, depth and healing power of their method. 

 

 

Edited April 19, 2022 by Gerard

[Iskote]

On 4/8/2022 at 2:04 AM, Goldleaf said:

 

It can be a very fast process if someone practices high-level qi gong ))

 

Hello Goldleaf. What do you consider to be high level qigong?