Many people are troubled year-round by poor appetite, abdominal bloating, borborygmus, loose stools, and heavy, fatigued limbs. Despite trying various dampness-dispelling methods, the results have been minimal. In reality, the root of the issue isn't the "dampness" itself, but rather the failure of yang energy to rise due to spleen deficiency and dampness obstruction!

Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that the spleen and stomach are the body's "energy processing plants," responsible for transforming nutrients and expelling waste. Once dampness obstructs the middle jiao (middle burner), it prevents the clear yang qi from ascending. Nutrients cannot be properly transported, and waste accumulates in the body, creating a vicious cycle of "the more obstructed, the weaker; the weaker, the more obstructed." To thoroughly dispel dampness, the key is not simply promoting diuresis, but rather combining yang-ascension with dampness-dispelling to awaken the dynamic function of the spleen and stomach at its source.

Today, I’d like to share a classic formula from Li Dongyuan’s *Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach*—the *Shengyang Chushi Tang* (Rising Yang and Dampness-Eliminating Decoction). It specifically addresses digestive issues and diarrhea caused by dampness encumbering the spleen. This formula not only lifts clear yang but also dispels dampness, helping restore a healthy appetite and smooth bowel movements.

The combination of herbs in this formula is highly ingenious, with its core approach being a dual focus on “raising yang” and “expelling dampness,” addressing both the root and symptoms. For raising yang, *Shengma* (Cimicifuga) and *Chaihu* (Bupleurum) work together—one lifts and the other disperses—to elevate clear yang upward and regulate qi circulation. Paired with *Qianghuo* (Notopterygium) and *Fangfeng* (Saposhnikovia) to dispel wind and cold, they clear the path of damp wind obstructions that hinder the ascent of clear yang, thereby addressing diarrhea at its root, which is caused by sinking clear yang.

For eliminating dampness, *Cangzhu* (Atractylodes) serves as the sovereign herb, with its pungent, aromatic, bitter, and drying properties. It directly enters the middle burner to dry dampness and resolve turbidity, assisting the spleen yang in ascending and flourishing. Supporting herbs such as *Zhuling* (Polyporus) and *Zexie* (Alisma) promote urination, guiding damp pathogens out through the urine to prevent their retention.

*Chenpi* (Citrus peel) and *Banxia* (Pinellia) regulate qi and resolve phlegm, dissolving phlegm-dampness stagnation in the middle burner. *Yizhiren* (Alpinia) warms the spleen and stomach, alleviating diarrhea due to deficiency-cold. *Shenqu* (Massa Medicata Fermentata) and *Maiya* (Hordei Fructus Germinatus) aid digestion and promote food stagnation to reduce the burden on spleen and stomach transportation. Finally, *Shengjiang* (ginger) and *Dazao* (jujube) harmonize the nutrient and defensive aspects, while *Gancao* (licorice) harmonizes all the herbs, making the entire formula gentler in nature.

It is advisable to consult a professional TCM practitioner for syndrome differentiation before taking the medication, adjust the dosage according to your constitution, and combine it with a light diet and moderate exercise to avoid increasing the burden on the spleen and stomach, ensuring a more stable dampness-elimination effect.