Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency
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 Heat The concept of Yin Deficiency The concept of Yin The concept of Deficiency / Empty
Key attributes
Chinese name: 阴虚火旺 Pinyin name: Yīn Xū Huǒ Wàng
Pattern nature: Empty
Pattern hierarchy: General pattern
Common combinations: Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing
Causes
Precursor patterns: Yin Deficiency Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency Kidney and Lung Yin Deficiency
Common causes: 1. Overwork, 2. Irregular eating, 3. Excessive sexual activity, 4. Heavy blood loss
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Dry mouth Chest heat Dry stools Malar flush Night sweats and five other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue description: Red tongue with no coating
Treatment
Treatment principle: Clear Empty-Heat, nourish Yin, supply Body Fluids
Common formulas: Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang Huang Lian E Jiao Tang Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang and two other formulas
Pathology
Yin Deficiency involves the excessive consumption of Body Fluids, Essence and Blood. The main cause is overwork, which usually develops very gradually and slowly over several years. The only exception to a rapid Yin Deficiency is when Pathological Heat consumes Body Fluids and Yin very fast.
If Yin Deficiency persists for a long time, like many years, it eventually leads to the development of Interior Heat of an Empty nature. The Heat occurs due to lack of Yin rather than Yang Excess, which is the precursor of Full-Heat. Both patterns have Heat features, but in different way. The Full-Heat manifestation exists all the time and is easy to be seem. The Empty-Heat's symptoms are comparatively less strong, like body heat but mostly in palms and soles, mild feeling of heat but only in the afternoon or evening, a dry mouth and desire to drink but only in small sips, red face but only malar flush, fever but only low-grade in the afternoon.
As for mental related symptoms, Empty-Heat just causes some mild restlessness which gets worse in the afternoon or evening. However, Full-Heat gives rise to severe mental restlessness, agitation, anxiety, insomnia with agitated sleep. Full-Heat happens more for acute diseases while Empty type is more chronic. Also, Empty-Heat is more comment among women, especially the elderly or these with weak constitution.
Please be aware that Empty-Heat does not necessarily always happen with Yin Deficiency. Tongue color is also an important indicator. Yin Deficiency manifests on the tongue with a lack of coating. A tongue without coating but of a normal colour reflects Yin Deficiency (without Empty-Heat). A red tongue without coating indicates Yin Deficiency with Empty-Heat.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency can derive from Yin Deficiency Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency Kidney and Lung Yin Deficiency
Overwork: The main cause of Yin Deficiency is overwork. It usually develops very gradually and slowly over several years. Since Yin Deficiency is the main cause for Empty Heat/Fire, then the same aetiology applies for both condition.
Irregular eating : Unhealthy eating habits such as skipping meals, eating in a hurry, irregular eating schedule hurt Yin, which is the presecor for Empty-Heat.
Excessive sexual activity : Excessive sexual activity consumes Yin, which then causes Empty-Heat.
Heavy blood loss : Persistent heavy blood loss, such as in menorrhagia, can consume Yin in a comparatively rapid way. As a result, Empty-Heat happens.
Diagnosing Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency
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): Rapid (Shu), empty (Xu) or floating (Fu)
Tongue description: Red tongue with no coating
Main symptoms: Dry mouth Chest heat Dry stools Malar flush Night sweats Dry throat at night Hot palms and soles Scanty dark urination Desire to drink in small sips Feeling of heat in the afternoon
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the feeling of Heat in the afternoon or evening, malar flush, hot palms and soles as well as heavy night sweating.
Treating Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency
Treatment principle
Clear Empty-Heat, nourish Yin, supply Body Fluids
Herbal formulas used to treat Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
Source date: 16th century
Number of ingredients: 14 herbs
Key actions: Enriches the Yin. Nourishes the Blood. Clears Heat. Calms the Mind.
Formula summary
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan is a 14-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 16th century, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish the Heart and calm the Mind.
Besides Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency, Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan is also used to treat Heart Yin Deficiency or Heart and Kidney Yin Deficiency.
Suan Zao Ren Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Blood. Calms the Mind and eliminates irritability . Clears Heat.
Formula summary
Suan Zao Ren Tang is a 5-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish the Heart and calm the Mind.
Besides Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency, Suan Zao Ren Tang is also used to treat Liver Blood Deficiency or Heart Blood Deficiency.
Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang
Formula summary
Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang is a 5-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1798 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat from Deficiency.
Besides Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency, Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang is also used to treat Empty-Heat caused by Yin Deficiency.
Diet recommendations
Avoid spicy, fat and hot foods. Avoiding sea foods.