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
Key attributes
Chinese name: 热毒 Pinyin name: Rè Dú
Pattern nature: Full
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Pus Fever Boils Eczema Pustule and nine other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu)
Tongue description: Red tongue with yellow coating
Treatment
Treatment principle: The treatment principles are different according to the theory of four levels: 1. In Defensive Qi (Wei) level: Clear Heat, resolve Toxin, moisten the throat. Use formulas such as Yin Qiao San or San Ju Yin. 2. In Qi level: Clear Heat, resolve Toxin, clear Phlegm, clear and descend the Lung and Stomach Qi, clear Upper Burner and Gallbladder Qi. Use formulas such as Bai Hu Tang, Huang Lian Jie Du Tang or Long Dan Xie Gan Tang. 3. In Nutritive Qi (Ying) level: Clear Heat, resolve Toxin, cool the Blood, clear the Liver, settle the rebellious Qi. Use formula such as Qing Ying Tang. 4. In Blood level: Clear Heat, resolve Toxin, cool and invigorate Blood, stop bleeding.
Common formulas: Yin Qiao San Sang Ju Yin Bai Hu Tang and four other formulas
Pathology
There are two types of Toxic-Heat. One type is called Toxic-Heat Stagnation, which mainly happens in Channels or other surfaces like skins, throat, lymph or mouth. The symptoms include pain, redness and swollen in throat as well as skin pustule and rush. Acne during teenage time is mainly due to the Toxic-Heat Stagnation on the skin. It can also cause swelling and pain in perineum, prostate or testicle. In mouth, it leads to swollen ulcer.
The other type is that the Toxin-Heat Evil attacks the Interior Organs and it moves around instead of being stagnated in a local place on surface. For example, when it invades the Lungs, it causes coughing or breathlessness. When it enters the Heart, it leads to dizziness or abnormal behavior. It can also trigger Internal Liver Wind and thus causes convulsion.
This pattern can be chronic which are often caused by prolonged accumulation of internal Heat and Fire. It can also be acute, in which case, Wind-Heat often accompanies it. For example, during Wind-Heat attack, patients develops tonsillitis with symptoms like swollen tonsils and exudate.
Diagnosing Toxic-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)
Tongue description: Red tongue with yellow coating
Main symptoms: Pus Fever Boils Eczema Pustule Swellings Carbuncles Sore throat Mouth ulcers Swollen tonsils Perineum swollen Prostate swollen Testicle swollen Red skin eruptions
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the general swelling, redness, heat, pus and pain of some part of the body.
Treating Toxic-Heat
Treatment principle
The treatment principles are different according to the theory of four levels:
1. In Defensive Qi (Wei) level: Clear Heat, resolve Toxin, moisten the throat. Use formulas such as Yin Qiao San or San Ju Yin.
2. In Qi level: Clear Heat, resolve Toxin, clear Phlegm, clear and descend the Lung and Stomach Qi, clear Upper Burner and Gallbladder Qi. Use formulas such as Bai Hu Tang, Huang Lian Jie Du Tang or Long Dan Xie Gan Tang.
3. In Nutritive Qi (Ying) level: Clear Heat, resolve Toxin, cool the Blood, clear the Liver, settle the rebellious Qi. Use formula such as Qing Ying Tang.
4. In Blood level: Clear Heat, resolve Toxin, cool and invigorate Blood, stop bleeding.
Herbal formulas used to treat Toxic-Heat
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
Source date: 1682 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat and Fire from the Liver and Gallbladder. Clears and drains Damp-Heat from the Lower Burner.
Formula summary
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1682 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat from the Organs.
Besides Toxic-Heat, Long Dan Xie Gan Tang is also used to treat Damp-Heat in the Liver or Liver Fire Blazing.
Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang
Source date: 650 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Treats severe fevers and Heat in the Blood system. Removes Blood Stagnation.
Formula summary
Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang is a 4-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 650 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear nutritive-level Heat.
Besides Toxic-Heat, Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang is also used to treat Heat victorious agitating Blood or Loss of Blood.
Yin Qiao San
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Disperses Wind Heat. Clears Heat. Resolves Toxicity.
Formula summary
Yin Qiao San is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1798 AD, it belongs to the category of external formulas for External disorders.
Besides Toxic-Heat, Yin Qiao San is also used to treat Wind-Heat invading the Lungs or Wind-Heat.
Diet recommendations
Avoid hot and spicy foods as well as drinks. Avoid smoking and alcohols.