Dry Type TCM Patterns: Diet and Lifestyle Tips
What Is the Dry Type?
You may have Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) patterns that fit the Dry type if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
Dryness of the skin, eyes, hair, nails, mouth, nose, throat. Fidgeting, restless nervous energy, thin body, red cheeks, overworking, burnout, dark circles under eyes, thirsty, sipping cold drinks, hot flushes, night sweats, body runs warm, restless sleep, heart palpitations, racing pulse, constipated with dry hard stool, PMS pimples, erectile dysfunction, vaginal dryness with redness, rashes, or dry itch, short or long menstrual cycles. Peeled red tongue or cracks in tongue surface.
These are just a sample of symptoms, and certainly not all of them. A complete medical history, physical exam, and clinical signs from a Chinese medicine workup will help identify your pattern diagnosis fits a Dry type.
TCM patterns that fit the Dry type may include Kidney Yin Deficiency, Deficient Heat, and Lung Yin Deficiency with Kidney patterns.
Consult with a qualified doctor of Oriental medicine to confirm your pattern diagnosis.
The following information is generalized and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional who knows your health history before following any advice.
Lifestyle Tips for the Dry Type
Get enough good quality sleep. Avoid smoking and recreational drugs. Even just a little will severely challenge your pattern. Do not use weight loss stimulants; they burn out your metabolism. Spend time outdoors in fresh air and natural environments; avoid stale indoor building air. Limit the time you spend near electronics, including computers because you are more susceptible to EMFs. Avoid toxic fumes from air fresheners, paints, dry cleaners, construction, etc. Stay cool. Avoid saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs, hot baths. Moisturize your skin. Reduce your stress level. Find stress reduction strategies that work for you. Lead a sensibly paced life with leisurely downtime. Reduce partying and social demands. Cultivate pastimes that are the antidote to a hectic life: reading, knitting, scrapbooking. rest especially during the follicular cycle between your period and ovulation. Establish a consistent routine for mealtime and bedtime routines. Avoid overstimulation such as loud parties, scary movies, and adrenaline rushes. Be patient, especially over age 35. It takes time to balance this pattern. Ask your acupuncturist for acupressure massage points to stimulate at home.
Foods to Eat for the Dry Type
Prioritize nutrient dense foods and healthy fats.
- Eat 5 small meals and one larger meal at regular times of the day.
- Eat small portions of protein throughout the day, especially prior to ovulation if you are a woman.
- Add flaxseed (freshly ground) and soy for a phytoestrogen boost if you are low in estrogen, or high in xenoestrogens you need to block out.
- Eat lightly cooked foods, steamed or stir fried rather than roasted or deep fried foods.
- Enjoy some salads and cold foods
- Seafoods or oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, anchovies
- Seaweeds in your stews and soups, or spirulina and chlorella in your smoothies
- Foods rich in folate, B vitamins, and Vitamin E such as eggs and wheat germ
- Hydrate with mineral water throughout the day. While hydration is important for everyone, it is especially important for your type.
- Enjoy cold and frozen foods in moderation, including iced mineral water or chilled spa water infusions.
Specific Chinese food therapy to moisten, lubricate, and nourish Dry types includes seeds, nuts, beans, mung beans, sardines, bone marrow, wheat, oats, rice, millet, celery, spinach, swiss chard, cucumbers, lettuce, radishes, asparagus, eggplant, cabbage, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, alfalfa sprouts, squash, sweet potatoes, green beans, beets, mushrooms, apples, pears, bananas, blueberries, blackberries.
Foods to Avoid for the Dry Type
- Alcohol, because it creates heat and dehydrates. It is especially important for women to avoid alcohol during their periods because it can increase the flow to worsen the Dry condition. Women should avoid alcohol until ovulation is confirmed.
- Rich fatty foods that have a cream base
- Stimulants, coffee, and even herbal stimulants
- Sugar
- Late night eating
- Low calorie diets, or controlling what you eat
- Spicy and hot foods such as chilis, curries, wasabi. This is especially important if you have heavy periods, restlessness, fitful sleep, or hot flushes.
Exercise and Movement
Choose energizing, revitalizing exercise that is replenishing and meditative. Yoga, tai chi, qi gong, swimming, or walking in nature are ideal. Avoid exhausting exercise like stairmaster, running, or aerobics. Avoid sweating, saunas, and Bikram yoga. Balance weightlifting with stretching and flexibility. Avoid sports drinks, energy drinks, and caffeine. Instead hydrate with spa water infused with fruits and herbs.
Learn More
The Dry type TCM patterns often co-exist with other patterns. Be sure to check out my articles on lifestyle tips for other general pattern types including Tired, Stuck, Pale, and Waterlogged. It is possible to be Dry in the upper part of the body, and Waterlogged in the lower part of the body.
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