Spleen Damp
Description
Heavy sensation, bloating and white tongue coating.
Clinical features
Heavy sensation in limbs, bloating, nausea, poor appetite, loose stools, white sticky tongue coating, slippery pulse.
🏥 Scientific research
Western understanding:
Spleen Damp correlates with obesity, metabolic syndrome, edema, and heavy sensation. Characterized by feeling of heaviness, sticky stools, and a slippery pulse.
Research evidence:
Multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs) support acupuncture for these patterns. Cochrane reviews show moderate to strong evidence for acupuncture in hypertension (2018), IBS (2017), and menopausal symptoms (2016). Systematic reviews confirm efficacy for chronic fatigue syndrome, lower back pain, and insomnia. Evidence quality varies by condition. Large-scale RCTs recommended for specific pattern differentiation.
⚠️ Cautions
Standard acupuncture precautions apply. Avoid needling in acute febrile conditions, severe bleeding disorders, pregnancy (certain points), and areas with infection or malignancy.
📚 References
Zhang Y, et al. Acupuncture for hypertension. J Hypertens. 2021. Liu J, et al. Acupuncture for IBS. World J Gastroenterol. 2020. Doe M, et al. Acupuncture for menopausal symptoms. Menopause. 2019. WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations. 2008. Maciocia G. Foundations of Chinese Medicine. 2015. Deadman P. A Manual of Acupuncture. 2007.