Early Stage Summerheat with Exterior Wind-Cold

The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.

At a glance

Preliminary reading: What is a pattern? The concept of Summer-Heat The concept of Exterior The concept of Wind The concept of Cold evil

Key attributes

Chinese name: 暑温初起，复感风寒 Pinyin name: shǔ Wēn Chū Qǐ, Fù Gǎn Fēng Hán

Pattern nature: Full combined pattern

Pattern(s) it combines from: Summer-Heat Wind-Cold

Causes

Common causes: 1. Sudden Temperature Changes:, 2. Weakness in Body's Defensive Qi

Diagnosis

Common symptoms: Fever Chills Thirst Headaches Heavy body and six other symptoms

Pulse type(s): Floating (Fu)

Tongue coating: Thick white coating

Tongue color: Red

Treatment

Treatment principle: Clear Summer-Heat, releases the Exterior, transform Dampness

Common formulas: Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin

Pathology

This pattern in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a condition characterized by an imbalance of Yin and Yang energies, often seen in early summer.

It arises from the accumulation of Damp-Heat in the body, compounded by External Cold or Wind-Cold. This leads to the constriction of protective Yang energy, manifesting as symptoms like chills without sweating, headache, fever, a flushed face, and thirst.

The Damp-Heat specifically affects the Lungs and the Triple Burner, impairing fluid regulation and causing a stifling sensation in the chest and dark, rough urination.

Causes

Sudden Temperature Changes: : Transitioning quickly from hot to cold environments can contribute to this condition. For example, staying in a heavily air-conditioned room after being out in the hot sun can lead to the contraction of external cold, trapping the summerheat within.

Weakness in Body's Defensive Qi: If an individual’s protective qi (yang energy) is weak, their body may be more susceptible to external pathogenic factors like wind and cold. A weakened defensive Qi can make it difficult for the body to adapt to environmental changes, leading to the entrapment of heat by cold. Factors like improper diet, overexertion, or lack of proper rest during the summer can weaken the body's defenses, making it more vulnerable to environmental influences.

Diagnosing Early Stage Summerheat with Exterior Wind-Cold

Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.

Pulse type(s): Floating (Fu)

Tongue coating: Thick white coating

Tongue color: Red

Main symptoms: Fever Chills Thirst Headaches Heavy body Dark Urine No sweating aching body Flushed face Rough urination Stifling sensation in the chest

Diagnosis commentary: a red tongue with a white, greasy coating, indicative of Heat constrained by Cold and Dampness, and a distinctive pulse pattern, with a flooding pulse signifying internal Heat and a short pulse on the left reflecting the constrained yang energy.

Treating Early Stage Summerheat with Exterior Wind-Cold

Treatment principle

Clear Summer-Heat, releases the Exterior, transform Dampness

Herbal formulas used to treat Early Stage Summerheat with Exterior Wind-Cold

The top herbs in Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin are Vietnamese Balm (Xiang Ru), Hyacinth Bean Flowers (Bian Dou Hua) and Hyacinth Beans (Bai Bian Dou)

Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin

Source date: 1798 AD

Number of ingredients: 6 herbs

Key actions: Dispels Summerheat. Releases the Exterior. Clears Heat. Transforms Dampness .

Formula summary

Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin is a 6-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1798 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that dispel Summer-Heat and resolve Exterior.