Summer-Heat
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
Key attributes
Chinese name: 暑 Pinyin name: Shǔ
Pattern nature: Full
Pattern hierarchy: General pattern
Common combinations: Early Stage Summerheat with Exterior Wind-Cold Summer-Heat entering the Lesser Yin and Terminal Yin warps
Causes
Common causes: External pathogenic factor
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Fever Thirst Sweating Headaches Irritability and three other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Soggy (Ru)
Tongue description: Red in the front or sides with a white sticky coating
Treatment
Treatment principle: Release the Exterior, expel Summer-Heat, clear Heat, promote Fluids.
Common formulas: Qing Luo Yin Qing Shu Yi Qi Tang
Pathology
Summer Heat is one of the four patterns of the Defensive Qi level, the first level of invasion in the Four Level theory.
It corresponds to the invasion of "External Evil" Summer-Heat. As the name indicates, it predominantly tends to occur during the summer.
As a pattern situated at the Defensive Qi level, it remains in the Exterior of the body, hence the aversion to cold. That being said, Summer Heat is very good at penetrating deeper in the body almost immediately. This is why the pattern includes signs of Interior Heat such as irritability and thirst.
The feeling of heaviness and uncomfortable sensation of the epigastrium is because Summer Heat often combines with Dampness.
Causes
External pathogenic factor: Summer Heat, as the name indicates, is the invasion of an External Pathogenic Factor Summer-Heat
Diagnosing Summer-Heat
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) or soggy (Ru)
Tongue description: Red in the front or sides with a white sticky coating
Main symptoms: Fever Thirst Sweating Headaches Irritability Aversion to cold Feeling of heaviness Uncomfortable sensation in the epigastrium
Treating Summer-Heat
Treatment principle
Release the Exterior, expel Summer-Heat, clear Heat, promote Fluids.
Herbal formulas used to treat Summer-Heat
Qing Luo Yin
Source date: 1798
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Resolves Summer-Heat. Clears the Lungs.
Formula summary
Qing Luo Yin is a 6-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1798, it belongs to the category of formulas that dispel Summer-Heat and clear Heat.
Qing Shu Yi Qi Tang
Source date: 1852 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Clears summerheat. Augments the Qi. Nourishes the Yin. Generates Body Fluids.
Formula summary
Qing Shu Yi Qi Tang is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1852 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that dispel Summer-Heat and augment Qi.
Related conditions
Please keep in mind that a Western Medicine condition can be caused by several Chinese Medicine patterns of disharmony and vice versa. As such a patient suffering from one of the conditions below will not necessarily be suffering from Summer-Heat, it is just one pattern that's commonly associated with the condition. Click on a condition to learn what other patterns it's associated with.
Cystitis Heatstroke Stomach flu Gastroenteritis Urethritis Urinary stones