Aversion to heat according to Chinese Medicine
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.
Aversion to heat 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 aversion to heat 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 aversion to heat is often associated with fever, red face and irritability in the pattern “Yang Excess or Full Yang”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of aversion to heat we’ve identified that a herbal formula called Da Cheng Qi Tang can help treat the patterns behind the symptom.
Yang Excess or Full Yang, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause aversion to heat
In Chinese Medicine aversion to heat is a symptom for the pattern "Yang Excess or Full Yang". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Rhubarb (Da Huang) is the king ingredient for Da Cheng Qi Tang, a formula used for Yang Excess or Full Yang
Yang Excess or Full Yang
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Full (Shi)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red
Yang is associated with Heat, activity and Dryness and these are the general symptoms when patients have Excess Yang. They become more specific depending on the Organ involved. This pattern is often caused by the Heat Pernicious Influence, internal damage from the Seven Emotions, the Stagnation of Qi or Blood, over-exposure to hot environments or diet.
In addition to aversion to heat, other symptoms associated with Yang Excess or Full Yang include fever, red face and irritability.
Yang Excess or Full Yang is often treated with Da Cheng Qi Tang, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Rhubarb - Da Huang - as a key herb). Da 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: "Purges Heat from the Stomach and Intestines".
A herbal formula that might help with aversion to heat
Da Cheng Qi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Purges Heat from the Stomach and Intestines. Relieves constipation.
Why might Da Cheng Qi Tang help with aversion to heat?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Yang Excess or Full Yang' of which aversion to heat is a symptom.
Rhubarb might help with aversion to heat
Why might Rhubarb (Da Huang) help with aversion to heat?
Because it is a key herb in Da Cheng Qi Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Yang Excess or Full Yang' (a pattern with aversion to heat as a symptom)
Rhubarb is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach, the Large intestine, the Liver and the Pericardium.
Its main actions are: Drains Excess Heat and eliminates Dampness, especially when in the Bright Yang stage according to the Six Stages Theory. Cools the Blood and stops bleeding. Invigorates Blood, breaks up Stasis and relieves pain. Clears Heat and toxins from Excess. Applied topically for Hot sores and Blood Stasis.
Other symptoms often associated with aversion to heat
Fever Red face Irritability Yellow vaginal discharge Pain relieved with heat Feeling of heat Hyper-active Constipation