The difference between cold and dampness in the middle Jiao and dampness-heat lies mainly in the symptoms. Cold and dampness in the middle Jiao is the manifestation of cold evidence, while dampness-heat in the middle Jiao is the manifestation of heat evidence.
1. Cold-dampness in the middle Jiao: generally refers to dampness and turbidity trapped in the intestines and stomach, damage to the spleen and yang, or the patient’s spleen and kidney yang deficiency, resulting in water and drink stopping (water and liquid abnormalities in the body), can appear cold, cold limbs, abdominal distension, loose stools, or diarrhea before dawn and other symptoms. When cold-dampness causes disease, yang qi outside the guard will not work and blood flow will not be smooth, resulting in symptoms such as skin pain and joint contracture.
Cold and dampness in the middle Jiao is treated with Lizhong Pill and Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San.
2. Damp-heat in the middle Jiao: Dampness and heat combine to invade the middle Jiao, with symptoms such as red tongue with yellow and greasy coating, moistened pulse, pain in the stomach and epigastric region, cacophony (a feeling similar to hunger, emptiness with burning heat in the stomach) and burning heat, a dry mouth that does not want to drink, hunger that does not want to eat, yellow urine, and poor bowel movement, and other symptoms related to the prevalence of damp-heat in the middle Jiao. Damp heat in the middle Jiao is mostly treated with medicines such as San Ren Tang and Ge Gen Ba Qian Lian Wan.
Depending on the patient’s individual constitution and condition, the specific prescription medication needs to be flexibly added or subtracted by the TCM doctor according to the patient’s condition, and should not be used blindly by oneself.