In the last post, we talked about dampness and how to identify dampness in your body. As promised I'm going to give you some simple things that you can do right now to start clearing the dampness.
Think of this as reestablishing your internal garden after a big flood.
You must regulate the water balance by controlling dampness.
The first thing you need to do is MOVE.
Most of us just do not move with the frequency and intensity that our ancestors did. Our bodies are designed for steady and continuous movement (such as walking). Getting enough walking IN will help significantly with getting the dampness OUT. Aim for 10,000 steps every day. You can start slow and gradually build up to the 10K. I use an app on my phone to track my steps. (There are many, many apps - free and paid - available to help you track steps).
The second thing you can do is ABDOMINAL MASSAGE.
You read that right. I want you to rub your belly. Dampness originates in the gut. Just as you must circulate your blood through exercise, you must also directly circulate and move the stagnation in the abdomen. This is a small step that will take 10-15 minutes and offer you profound results
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Here is a link to a video by Nick Baker. He explains and walks you through basic abdominal massage in the first half of the video.
The third thing you can do is FOCUSED BREATHING EXERCISES.
A simple Exhale Breath is a great way to start. It goes like this:
Breath in through your nose... INHALE... then EXHALE out of your mouth with a long, audible breath. Imagine a forced and extended SIGH. That kind of breath helps to regulate gasotransmitters, which in turn help you clear the dampness. You know you've done enough when you start to yawn uncontrollably, you fall asleep, or you are able to do this exercise continuously for 15 minutes.
Here is the advanced version of the Exhale Breath recorded by Kristen Horner Warren. This version is called the "Huff'n'Puff." I usually recommend doing this exercise for 5 days in a row, then use as needed. It also works well for pain, stress, anxiety, and many more conditions.
If you do these three simple things, you will make huge strides toward clearing the dampness.
As the dampness clears, your symptoms will too.
The best way to begin is to pick one thing.
Set a habit goal that is so easy you can't fail.
Then every day you build on your success.
In the next email, I will send you a few more actions you can take to address the dampness as well as the ways that herbs and acupuncture can fast track the healing.