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.
Afternoon fever can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like afternoon fever here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here afternoon fever is often associated with insomnia, malar flush and night sweats in the pattern “Yin Deficiency”. As you will see below, we have in record four patterns that can cause afternoon fever.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of afternoon fever we’ve identified five herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat afternoon fever.
In Chinese Medicine afternoon fever is a symptom for 4 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) is the king ingredient for Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, a formula used for Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Red
In the case of Yin Deficiency, the body is short in the cooling, moistening and nurturing aspects. This leads to Heat and Dryness accompanied by weakness and lack of strength and resistance. Yin becomes Deficient by over-working, lack of sleep, over-exercising, overindulgence in sex, long-term chronic diseases, internal injury due to the seven emotions, and the over-eating of dry and hot-natured foods.
In addition to afternoon fever, other symptoms associated with Yin Deficiency include insomnia, malar flush and night sweats.
Yin Deficiency is often treated with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 6 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Liu Wei Di Huang Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish yin and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nutritive tonic for the Liver and Kidney Yin Essence (nourishes the parasympathetic nervous system)".
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Tongue shape: Cracked
Kidney Yin Deficiency causes false Heat symptoms, such as night sweats, thirst and five palm heat. These signs are from a depletion of Body Fluids and Essence. It can be caused by prolonged overwork, excessive sexual activity, chronic long term illnesses, consumption of Body Fluids by Heat, prolonged blood loss, overdosage of Kidney Yang tonics herbs, smoking and Kidney depleting foods such as coffee, alcohol, sugar, and fruit juices.
In addition to afternoon fever, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yin Deficiency include insomnia, malar flush and night sweats.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Kidney Yin Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Menopausal Syndrome, Prolonged Periods or Irregular Menstruation.
Kidney Yin Deficiency is often treated with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 6 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Liu Wei Di Huang Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish yin and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nutritive tonic for the Liver and Kidney Yin Essence (nourishes the parasympathetic nervous system)".
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Wiry (Xian), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red points on the sides
This is a type of empty Fire pattern arising out of Liver Blood Deficiency or Kidney Yin Deficiency. It shares similar symptoms as Liver Blood Deficiency, but with extra signs of Dryness and Yin-Deficient Heat. It can be caused by excessive activity, overwork, 'burning the candle at both ends' without sufficient rest, and poor and irregular diet.
In addition to afternoon fever, other symptoms associated with Liver Yin Deficiency include insomnia, malar flush and night sweats.
Liver Yin Deficiency is often treated with Qi Ju Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Qi Ju Di Huang Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish yin and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nourishes Kidney and Liver Yin".
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua), Full (Shi)
In addition to afternoon fever, other symptoms associated with Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines include dry stools, constipation and irritability.
Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines is often treated with Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang, a herbal formula made of 3 herbs (including Rhubarb - Da Huang - as a key herb). Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that purge heat accumulation", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Removes Heat and Dryness in the Lower Burner".
Read more about Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines here
The top herbs in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan are Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang), Cornelian Cherries (Shan Zhu Yu) and Yam (Shan Yao)
Source date: 1119 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Nutritive tonic for the Liver and Kidney Yin Essence (nourishes the parasympathetic nervous system).
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Yin Deficiency' of which low-grade fever in the afternoon is a symptom.
The top herbs in Zhi Bo Di Huang Wan are Anemarrhena Rhizomes (Zhi Mu), Phellodendron Bark (Huang Bo) and Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang)
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yin Deficiency' of which low-grade fever in the afternoon is a symptom.
The top herbs in Qi Ju Di Huang Wan are Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang), Cornelian Cherries (Shan Zhu Yu) and Yam (Shan Yao)
Source date: 1350 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes Kidney and Liver Yin. Improves vision.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Liver Yin Deficiency' of which afternoon fever is a symptom.
The top herbs in Bu Gan Tang are Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang), White Peony Roots (Bai Shao) and Dong Quai (Dang Gui)
Source date: 1742 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies and regulates the Blood. Nourishes the Liver Yin.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Liver Yin Deficiency' of which afternoon fever is a symptom.
The top herbs in Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang are Rhubarb (Da Huang), Mirabilites (Mang Xiao) and Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Removes Heat and Dryness in the Lower Burner. Removes constipation.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines' of which high fever that is worse in the afternoon is a symptom.
Because Prepared Rehmannia is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat afternoon fever as a symptom, like Qi Ju Di Huang Wan or Bu Gan Tang for instance.
Prepared Rehmannia is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Tonifies the Yin of the Kidneys.
Because Dwarf Lilyturf Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat afternoon fever as a symptom, like Mai Men Dong Tang or Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang for instance.
Dwarf Lilyturf Roots is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Replenishes Yin Essence and promotes secretions. Lubricates and nourishes the Stomach. Soothes the Lung. Nourishes the Heart.
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat afternoon fever as a symptom, like Mai Men Dong Tang or Bu Fei E Jiao Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Because Donkey-Hide Gelatin is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat afternoon fever as a symptom, like Bu Fei E Jiao Tang or Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang for instance.
Donkey-Hide Gelatin is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney, the Liver and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Tonifies and nourishes Blood. Stops bleeding. Moistens and lubricates Yin.
Because Cornelian Cherry is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat afternoon fever as a symptom, like Liu Wei Di Huang Wan or Zuo Gui Wan for instance.
Cornelian Cherries is a Warm herb that tastes Sour. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Preserves and tonifies the Kidney, Liver and Essence. Stops sweating and benefits the Yang and Qi. Assists menstruation and stops bleeding.
Insomnia Malar flush Night sweats Dizziness Dry stools Nocturnal emissions Five palm heat Headaches Depression Hot palms and soles