Damp heat

Allsop, N. A. Hansel, A. Visbeck, S. Niesen, T. R Lux-Steiner, M. C. Fischer, Ch.-H. 2006. The dry and damp heat stability of chalcopyrite solar cells prepared with an indium sulphide buffer deposited by the spray-ILGAR technique. Thin Solid Films 511-512 55-59. 

There is a standard, ISO 4611 [19], specifically for examining exposure to damp heat, water spray and salt mist, which specifies three types of exposure corresponding to those three conditions. The standard gives general guidance only and refers to various IEC and ISO publications for greater detail. 

The damp heat test can be made under steady state conditions when 40 °C and 93% relative humidity (RH) are specified, or under dynamic conditions when the temperature is cycled from 25 °C to 40 °C or 55 °C. Clearly, other conditions could be chosen to suit the application. 

A water spray test is similar to damp heat except that there is the constant presence of small water droplets. The test is made using essentially similar equipment to that for the salt mist test. 

ISO 4611, Plastics - Determination of the effects of exposure to damp heat, water spray and salt mist, 1987. 

It is good to have breaks in long-term treatment of chronic disorders. The best time to do this is in the summer because summer-heat or damp-heat may weaken the function of the Spleen at this time, and the herbs may overburden the Spleen and cause digestive disorders. 

When patients suffer from chronic liver or kidney disease, the selection of the herbs and their dosages should be determined carefully to avoid placing an unnecessary workload on these weakened organs. At the same time, herbs that protect these organs and promote their function should also be included. For instance, acute or chronic liver diseases are mainly differentiated into a syndrome consisting of Spleen-Qi deficiency, damp-heat and heat-toxin accumulation, and herbs that treat this syndrome can be used. Chronic kidney diseases are mainly differentiated as Kidney-Yang and Spleen-Yang deficiency, dampness accumulation and heat-toxin in the blood. Herbs that treat this syndrome should be used in appropriate doses to help restore kidney function. 

The purpose of treatment is not only to eliminate pathogenic factors, but also to strengthen the body s resistance, to maintain and improve the physical condition and constitution, to harmonize the Yin, Yang, Qi and blood, to re-establish the balance of the body, and to achieve a healthy mind and body. For example, to treat a bacterial infection, which often infers a damp-heat syndrome in TCM differentiation, the aim of treatment is not to kill the bacteria, but to eliminate damp-heat, promote the function of the Spleen and fortify the body s resistance, thereby restoring health. 

For patients who suffer from a cold syndrome, raw and cold food should be avoided. For patients who suffer from a heat syndrome or a syndrome where the Liver-Yang is ascending, spicy, heavy food, coffee and alcohol should be avoided. For patients who suffer from syndromes of damp-phlegm or damp-heat accumulation, sweet heavy food, milk products, nuts and alcohol should be avoided. Patients who suffer from skin disorders or have wounds which are characterized by itching, oozing and redness should avoid seafood, spicy food and alcohol. 

In herbal treatment, it is necessary to tonify the Kidney and Spleen-Qi in order to nourish the Yin of the Stomach and the Lung. At the same time, herbs that eliminate dampness or damp-heat should also be used. 

Huang Qin is bitter and cold, and enters the Lung and Large Intestine meridians. It particularly clears heat in the Lung and Upper-Jiao and damp-heat in the intestines. It also enters the Gall Bladder meridian and can reduce fire generated by stress. 

Huang Lian is bitter and cold, and primarily enters the Heart and Stomach meridians. It can strongly clear heat and reduce the intense fire from the Heart directly. At the same time, it can also relieve fire-toxin and dry damp-heat. It is suitable for use in cases of sores, boils and carbuncles. As Huang Lian is very bitter and cold, it is not suitable for long-term use, especially in an excess heat syndrome without dampness. As soon as the intense heat is reduced, some gentle, sweet and cold herbs should be used instead of Huang Lian. 

These three herbs are bitter and cold, and all enter the Heart meridian. They can clear the heat from the Heart and treat restlessness, warmth in the chest and bitterness in the mouth. Moreover, they can lead the heat from the Heart downward and eliminate the heat by increasing urination. Furthermore, these herbs can clear heat in the Small Intestine directly, and treat dark and scanty urine and painful and urgent urination due to damp-heat. 

This formula is able to drain fire-toxin and dry dampness. It is used to treat excess heat in the Heart, which causes high fever, irritability, restlessness, flushed face, red eyes and dark urine in a severe case, there may be delirious speech. It can also treat damp-heat in the stomach and intestines, which manifests as stomach distension, diarrhea and dysenteric disorders. 

Huang Lian and Huang Qin serve as deputies. They are bitter and cold, enter the Heart and Large Intestine respectively, can reduce the heat from the Heart and dry the damp-heat from the Large Intestine. 

If damp-heat accumulates in the Liver meridian, it may bring about symptoms such as swelling of the external genital region or itch in the vagina, eczema, and turbid and foul-smelling leukorrhea and urine. 

If damp-heat accumulates in the Liver and Gall Bladder meridians and obstructs the movement of the Qi and water, patients may feel tightness in the chest, a sticky feeling in the mouth and distension in the hypochondriac region. 

If damp-heat disturbs secretion of bile, jaundice may appear. 

The signs of the tongue and pulse indicate excess heat and damp-heat in the Liver. 

Treatment principle Drain fire from the Liver and Gall Bladder and eliminate damp-heat in the Lower-Jiao... 

Besides intensively draining the fire of the Liver, Long Dan Cao can also dry damp-heat. It is particularly used in conditions where there is excess heat in the Liver that flares upwards and causes disorders in the head and sensory orifices, as well as in conditions where there is damp-heat in the Liver that moves downwards and causes disorders in the Lower-Jiao and the genital area. In a formula to treat acute excess conditions of both Liver fire and damp-heat, Long Dan Cao is often used as chief. 

Nu Zhen Zi is sweet, bitter and cold. It enters the Liver and Kidney meridians. It is also able to nourish the Yin and reduce the heat. The strong point of this herb is that it tonifies the Yin without cloying side effects and therefore is particularly suitable for use when damp-heat accumulates in the Liver and its meridian. 

Zhi Zi enters the San Jiao meridian and is often used to reduce the fire as it can leach the heat out of the body by increasing urination. Due to the same function, it is also very useful for eliminating damp-heat in the Lower-Jiao. Thus Zhi Zi is often chosen to reduce fire as well as eliminate dampness. 

The very bitter and cold Long Dan Cao is used as chief because it can either drain the fire from the Liver or eliminate the damp-heat from the Lower-Jiao. 

Syndrome of damp-heat in the Spleen and Large Intestine... 

Damp-heat in the Middle-Jiao distension in the epigastric region and abdomen, reduced appetite, sticky sensation in the mouth, heavy limbs. Damp-heat in the Lower-Jiao loose stools or diarrhea, irregular bowel movement, abdominal pain, abdominal distension, tenesmus and a bearing-down sensation in the abdomen, blood and mucus in the stools. 

Eczema or other itchy and weeping skin disorders, Bi syndrome of wind-damp-heat type, poor concentration, slow reactions, inability to study and impaired memory. 

The Spleen is regarded as a Yin organ and it is easily injured by exterior damp-heat or cold. If the Spleen fails to transport water and food that has accumulated in the Middle-Jiao, this will eventually generate heat in a Yang constitution. Persistent accumulation of damp-heat in the Middle-Jiao may develop damp-heat in the Large Intestine. Both syndromes have a lingering process of pathological development. 

If damp-heat accumulates in the Middle-Jiao, the transformation and transportation functions of the Spleen are impaired. Patients may suffer from loss of appetite and have a sticky sensation in the mouth. 

As the Spleen governs the muscles and subcutaneous region of the body, damp-heat in the Middle-Jiao may cause heaviness of the limbs and body, and itchy and weeping skin disorders. 

If damp-heat injures the blood and the flesh, blood and mucus appear in the stool. 

Herbs that are bland and cold, can leach out dampness by promoting urination and purging the intestines are selected when damp-heat accumulates in the Middle- and Lower-Jiao. Herbs that tonify the Spleen, promote digestion and regulate the Qi should be selected in chronic conditions. 

Chief Promote Qi movement in the San Jiao separate and eliminate damp-heat... 

These three herbs are used together to disperse, transform and leach out dampness respectively in the San Jiao passage where the Qi and water pass. They treat the condition where damp-heat spreads itself in the Upper-, Middle- and Lower-Jiao. 

When the Spleen fails to transform food and water, dampness or damp-heat may accumulate. This may obstruct the connection between the Heart and the Spleen and lead to mental disorders, poor memory, inability to concentrate and slow reactions. 

These four herbs can eliminate the dampness and they treat dampness or damp-heat that covers the Heart orifice. Shi Chang Pu and Yuan Zhi are warm in temperature Zhu Ru and Yu Jin are cold. They can be selected in the formula to treat dampness or damp-heat. 

These substances are cold and bland. They can eliminate damp-heat by promoting urination. They can be used in the formula to enhance the ability of separating dampness from heat in the body by increasing urination. 

These herbs have the function of clearing heat and eliminating dampness in the intestines. They are often used to treat diarrhea and abdominal pain due to damp-heat accumulation in the intestines after ingesting polluted food and drink. 

Di Yu is bitter, sour and cold. It treats damp-heat in the intestines when heat predominates, which is manifested as bleeding. This herb cools the blood and stops bleeding, and stabilizes and holds the blood. As it can reduce swelling and stop pain, it is suitable for treating external hemorrhoids. 

These two herbs are able to eliminate damp-heat, increase urination and relax the tendons and muscles. They can be used to treat Bi syndrome due to damp-heat in the Middle-Jiao when burning, heavy and painful sensations of muscles are present. 

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