{
  "id": 118601,
  "title": "Beat the heat, drain the damp: why Chinese youth are turning to TCM",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/beat-the-heat-drain-the-damp-why-chinese-youth-are-turning-to-tcm",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-04T06:15:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3362882/beat-heat-drain-damp-why-chinese-youth-are-turning-tcm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "As China experiences peak summer heat, a growing number of young people are turning to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) remedies rooted in the centuries-old concept of dampness removal. This trend has evolved from a health practice into a lifestyle trend among younger generations, blending self-care with entertainment and social sharing. Practices such as cupping, herbal foot baths, back sunbathing, and sand therapy have gained popularity, with some even adopting controversial methods like \"crying therapy.\" While these practices may provide temporary relief and emotional benefits, medical experts caution that they cannot be proven to remove dampness or treat skin problems definitively.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}