Heat in Lessor Yang
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/Fire evil The concept of Lesser Yang stage
Key attributes
Chinese name: 热入少阳 Pinyin name: Rè Rù Shǎo Yáng
Pattern nature: Full
Causes
Common causes: 1. Diet, 2. Environmental Influences:
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Fever Diarrhea Tenesmus sticky taste Abdominal pain and four other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Floating (Fu), Rapid (Shu)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red
Treatment
Treatment principle: Clear Heat, harmonizes the Stomach and Spleen (Middle Burner)
Common formulas: Huang Qin Tang
Pathology
This pattern often presents as a diarrhea or dysenteric disorder. This condition arises when Heat accumulates in the Lesser Yang, creating a disturbance that forces its way into the Stomach and Intestines.
Initially, an external pathogen obstructs the protective Qi in the Greater Yang, leading to fever. As this pathogen sinks deeper, it enters the Lesser Yang, where it causes a bitter taste in the mouth due to the constraint of ministerial Fire.
The Lesser Yang, functioning between the Greater Yang and Yang Brightness, typically discharges Yang Qi's Heat outward. However, when this discharge is impeded, the trapped Heat disturbs the Stomach and Intestines, leading to symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea.
This "hot" diarrhea is characterized by sticky, foul-smelling stools, and may include anal irritation, burning, and abdominal pain. In severe cases, there may be tenesmus. The presence of Heat in the body is indicated by a yellow coating on the tongue and a rapid, flooding pulse. This pattern demonstrates the complexities of Heat dynamics within the lesser yang and its impact on digestive health.
Causes
Diet: Consumption of spicy, greasy, or hot foods that generate internal heat.
Environmental Influences: : Exposure to external pathogenic factors, particularly those related to changes in weather, such as sudden shifts to warmer temperatures or exposure to hot and humid conditions.
Diagnosing Heat in Lessor Yang
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) or rapid (Shu)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red
Main symptoms: Fever Diarrhea Tenesmus sticky taste Abdominal pain Anal irritation Burning abdominal pain Bitter taste in the mouth Loose stools with foul smell
Diagnosis commentary: ever, bitter taste in the mouth, hot diarrhea with sticky, foul-smelling stools, vomiting, anal irritation, abdominal pain, tenesmus, a yellow tongue
Treating Heat in Lessor Yang
Treatment principle
Clear Heat, harmonizes the Stomach and Spleen (Middle Burner)
Herbal formulas used to treat Heat in Lessor Yang
Huang Qin Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat. Alleviates dysenteric disorders. Stops pain . Harmonizes the Middle Burner.
Formula summary
Huang Qin Tang is a 4-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat from the Organs.