Acne · Damp-Heat Accumulation Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Face/Skin

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Accumulation is a common pattern in acne, characterized by seborrhea with inflammation, cystic acne, oily skin, nodules, painful lesions, and pustules. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the skin, causing sebaceous gland inflammation, cystic lesion formation, and severe acne.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Bloating/Abdominal Distension · Damp-Heat Accumulation Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Accumulation is a pattern in bloating/abdominal distension, characterized by gut dysbiosis, abdominal distension, sticky mouth, foul-smelling stools, and yellow urine. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the intestines, causing gut dysbiosis, increased gas production, and intestinal inflammation.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Chronic Gastritis · Damp-Heat Middle Obstruction Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Middle Obstruction is a common pattern in chronic gastritis, characterized by H. pylori-related inflammation, epigastric pain, sticky mouth, nausea, and poor appetite. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the middle Jiao, causing gastric mucosal inflammation, oxidative stress, and pain.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Eczema · Damp-Heat Infiltration Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Skin

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Infiltration is the most common pattern in acute eczema, characterized by skin barrier disruption with immune inflammation, weeping lesions, redness, intense itching, and exudation. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the skin, causing acute inflammation, exudation, and severe itching.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Gout · Damp-Heat Accumulation Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Joints

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Accumulation is the most common pattern in acute gout, characterized by urate crystal deposition, acute joint inflammation, redness, swelling, burning pain, and fever. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the joints, causing acute inflammatory response and severe pain.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Irritable Bowel Syndrome · Damp-Heat Internal Accumulation Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Internal Accumulation is a pattern in IBS, characterized by intestinal low-grade inflammation, diarrhea with urgency, abdominal pain, and sticky sensation. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the intestines, causing low-grade inflammation, mast cell activation, and increased enteric nerve excitability.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Lower Back Pain · Damp-Heat Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Lower Back

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat is a special pattern in lower back pain, characterized by heavy sensation with distending pain, aggravation with heat, dry mouth, and bitter taste. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the lumbar region, causing Qi-Blood stagnation and distending pain.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Lumbar Disc Herniation · Damp-Heat Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Lower Back

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat is a less common but important pattern in lumbar disc herniation, characterized by burning pain, swelling, redness, and aggravation with heat. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the lumbar region, causing inflammatory radiculopathy and nerve root edema.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Psoriasis · Damp-Heat Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Skin

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat is a pattern in psoriasis, characterized by pustular or exudative psoriasis, neutrophil infiltration, elevated IL-8, pustule formation, exudation, and erythema. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the skin, causing pustule formation, exudation, and neutrophilic inflammation.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Type 2 Diabetes · Damp-Heat Trapping the Spleen Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Whole Body

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Trapping the Spleen is a common pattern in type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, fatigue, heavy sensation, sticky mouth, and poor appetite. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the Spleen, causing impaired transformation and transport, insulin resistance, and metabolic dysfunction.