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Pulse: The pulse associated with dampness is soggy and slow, or may be accompanied by choppy and small qualities. If dampness enters the interior, the pulse is slow and deep; if dampness remains in the exterior, the pulse is floating and slow. If the pulse is slow and wiry, it indicates a struggle between wind-dampness (Fengshi, Wind-Dampness). Dampness syndromes are categorized into internal dampness invasion (Nei Zhong Shi) and external dampness invasion (Wai Zhong Shi).

When the human body is deficient in healthy qi (Zhengqi), failure to exercise caution leads to natural invasion by dampness. External dampness invasion occurs through exposure to mountain miasma (Shanlan Zhangqi), rain and steamy humidity, long-distance travel through water, prolonged lying on damp ground, or wearing sweat-soaked clothes and wet shoes, causing dampness to invade from the outside. Symptoms include heavy head and dizzy vision, pain in the body and joints, soreness and weakness of hands and feet, fatigue and numbness of the four limbs, swelling and pain of legs and knees, heaviness of the body and edema of the dorsum of the foot, tendon and vessel spasms, intestinal hernia, unilateral testicular swelling and dragging pain, yellow eyes, and dark yellow urine. These are all manifestations of external dampness invasion. Internal dampness invasion arises from consuming raw cold water and food, or excessive intake of rich flavors and strong wine leading to stagnation. Due to spleen deficiency failing to transform and transport, dampness stays in the Triple Burner (Sanjiao), pours into muscles, and seeps into the skin, causing dampness to arise from within. When dampness injures the Spleen, it causes distension, edema, diarrhea, jaundice, and a choppy pulse. When dampness injures the Lung, it causes coughing, wheezing and urgency, fever, and aversion to cold. When dampness injures the Kidney, it causes heaviness of the waist and legs, and soreness and pain of joints. When dampness injures the Liver, it causes shortening and softening of large tendons, blurred vision, and hypochondriac pain. When dampness enters the Fu organs, it causes numbness and insensitivity. When dampness enters the Zang organs, it causes inability to flex and extend.

Abdominal distension and fullness due to dampness invasion indicate the pathogen is in the interior. (The following formula is appropriate.)

Shen Shi Tang (Damp-Draining Decoction): Treats all dampness syndromes.
Ingredients: Cangzhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, prepared with rice wash water), Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, removed rhizome tip), Fuling (Poria, each 1.5 qian), Chenpi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, 1 qian), Zexie (Rhizoma Alismatis, 1 qian), Zhuling (Polyporus, 1 qian), Xiangfu (Rhizoma Cyperi), Fuxiong (Radix Chuanxiong), Sharen (Fructus Amomi), Nongpo (Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis, peeled, each 0.7 qian), Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae, 0.3 qian).
Preparation: Coarsely crush the ingredients for one dose. Add one slice of fresh ginger and a bundle of Jiedcao (Herba Sparganii), decoct with water, and take warm. For edema and fullness due to spleen deficiency with qi urgency and wheezing/cough, remove Baizhu and Gancao, add Fupi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride), Zhike (Fructus Aurantii), Muxiang (Radix Aucklandiae), Suzi (Fructus Perillae), Sangpi (Cortex Mori Radicis), and Luoboziren (Semen Raphani). For pale face and edema, remove Fuxiong, Zexie, Nongpo, and Xiangfu, add Shanyao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae), Chao Shaoyao (Fried Radix Paeoniae Alba), and double the dosage of Cangzhu. If dry-heat overcomes dampness, recovery will be sudden. If diarrhea persists, add Roucou (Nucis Arecae Semina), Hezi (Fructus Chebulae), Wumei (Fructus Mume), and Ganjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens). For vomiting and hiccups, remove Nongpo, Xiangfu, and Fuxiong, add Chao Shanyao, Wumei, and Chao Mi (Fried Rice); if severe and persistent, add Wei Ganjiang (Baked Ginger). For body heaviness and pain, numbness, soreness, weakness, swelling, and pain of hands and feet, or emaciation and weakness, tendon spasms due to dampness, remove Xiangfu, Fuxiong, Nongpo, Zhuling, and Zexie, add Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), Shengdi (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata), Shaoyao (Radix Paeoniae), Muxiang, Ruxiang (Resina Draconis), Bo Gui (Ramulus Cinnamomi), Niuxi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae), Jiu Qin (Scutellariae Radix processed with wine), Qianghuo (Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii), and Fangfeng (Radix Saposhnikoviae), as wind can overcome dampness.

Generalized body pain due to dampness invasion indicates the pathogen is in the exterior.

Chushi Qianghuo Tang (Wind-Damp-Expelling Qianghuo Decoction): Treats wind-dampness intermingling, causing generalized body pain.
Ingredients: Cangzhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, soaked in rice wash water), Bencao (Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, here referring to Gaoben/Ligusticum sinense), each 2 qian; Qianghuo (Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii, 0.7 qian); Fangfeng (Radix Saposhnikoviae, removed rhizome tip); Shengma (Rhizoma Cimicifugae); Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri, each 0.5 qian).
Preparation: Coarsely crush for one dose, decoct with water, and take warm.

Hemiplegia and cold bi-syndrome due to dampness invasion indicate Kidney qi deficiency.

Duhuo Jisheng Tang (Angelica Pubescens and Taxillus Decoction): Treats Kidney qi deficiency caused by sleeping on cold damp ground, leading to stiffness and spasm of the waist and back, tendon cramping and bone pain. It also treats excessive cooling in the wind, where wind-pathogen flows into the legs and knees, causing hemiplegia and cold bi-syndrome, characterized by flaccid weakness and pain, pulling sensation with leg heaviness, difficulty walking, and gout-like joint pain (Baihu Lijie Feng).
Ingredients: Duhuo (Radix et Rhizoma Angelicae Pubescentis), Sangjisheng (Herba Taxilli), Niuxi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae, washed with wine, removed rhizome tip), Duzhong (Cortex Eucommiae, stir-fried with ginger and wine), Qinjiao (Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae), Xixin (Herba Asari), Guixin (Cortex Cinnamomi), Chuanxiong (Radix Chuanxiong), Shaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Alba, stir-fried with wine), Fuling (Poria, removed peel), Renshen (Radix Ginseng), Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), Shudi (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata), Fangfeng (Radix Saposhnikoviae, removed rhizome tip; these are equal parts), Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae, half part).
Preparation: Coarsely crush, add three slices of fresh ginger, decoct with water, and take warm on an empty stomach. Externally, bathe with a decoction of Jinfenghua, Baiziren (Semen Platycladi), Poxiao (Natrii Sulfas), and Mugua (Fructus Chaenomelis), three times daily.

I once treated a patient with deficiency-cold in the lower origin, suffering from cold-damp Hong Kong jiao (podagra/gout of the lower limbs), with swelling, pain, burning, and emaciation, bedridden and unable to walk. Using this formula, one liang of each herb was boiled in ten hu (a unit of volume) of good wine until the time required to burn one incense stick elapsed, then removed to eliminate fire toxicity. The patient drank this three times daily. After finishing the wine, his gait returned to normal. After taking another dose, he recovered completely.