Chest 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.
Chest 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 chest 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 chest heat is often associated with insomnia, mouth ulcers and anxiety in the pattern “Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency”. As you will see below, we have in record two patterns that can cause chest heat.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of chest heat 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 chest heat.
The two "patterns of disharmony" that can cause chest heat
In Chinese Medicine chest heat is a symptom for 2 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Softshell Turtle Shells (Bie Jia) is the king ingredient for Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang, a formula used for Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency
Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
When Yin Deficiency lasts for a long it may lead to Interior Heat
In addition to chest heat, other symptoms associated with Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency include insomnia, mouth ulcers and anxiety.
Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency is often treated with Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Softshell Turtle Shells - Bie Jia - as a key herb). Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat from deficiency", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nourishes the Yin".
Read more about Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency here
The Pericardium is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Pericardium in Chinese Medicine
Pericardium Fire
Pulse type(s): Overflowing (Hong), Rapid (Shu), Full (Shi)
In addition to chest heat, other symptoms associated with Pericardium Fire include insomnia, mouth ulcers and anxiety.
Pericardium Fire is often treated with Xie Xin Tang, a herbal formula made of 3 herbs (including Rhubarb - Da Huang - as a key herb). Xie Xin Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat and resolve toxicity", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Drains Fire".
Five herbal formulas that might help with chest heat
Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang
Why might Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang help with chest heat?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency' of which chest heat is a symptom.
Huang Lian E Jiao Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Enriches the Yin. Causes Fire to descend. Eliminates irritability. Calms the spirit.
Why might Huang Lian E Jiao Tang help with chest heat?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency' of which chest heat is a symptom.
Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang
Source date: 1336 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Enriches the Yin. Drains Fire. Stabilizes the Exterior. Stops sweating.
Why might Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang help with chest heat?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency' of which chest heat is a symptom.
Xie Xin Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Drains Fire. Resolves Toxicity. Dries Dampness.
Why might Xie Xin Tang help with chest heat?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Pericardium Fire' of which chest heat is a symptom.
Zi Xue Dan
Source date: 752 AD
Number of ingredients: 17 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat. Opens the sensory orifices. Controls spasms and convulsions. Extinguishes Wind.
Why might Zi Xue Dan help with chest heat?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Pericardium Fire' of which chest heat is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for chest heat
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat chest heat
Why might Baikal Skullcap Root (Huang Qin) help with chest heat?
Because Baikal Skullcap Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat chest heat as a symptom, like Huang Lian E Jiao Tang or Xie Xin Tang for instance.
Baikal Skullcap Roots is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Heart, the Large intestine, the Lung, the Small intestine and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Expels Heat and Dampness. Clears Upper Burner Heat, especially of the Lung. Clears Heat and stops reckless movement of Blood. Clears pathogenic Heat which is upsetting the fetus. Cools the Liver, reducing Liver Yang rising syndrome.
Why might Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang) help with chest heat?
Because Unprepared Rehmannia is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat chest heat as a symptom, like Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang or Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang for instance.
Unprepared Rehmannia is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Expels Heat by Cooling Blood. Tonifies Yin by promoting Fluid production. Soothes the Heart by calming Blazing Fire. Cools and nourishes.
Why might Goldthread Rhizome (Huang Lian) help with chest heat?
Because Goldthread Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat chest heat as a symptom, like Huang Lian E Jiao Tang or Xie Xin Tang for instance.
Goldthread Rhizomes is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Heart, the Large intestine, the Liver, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Expels Damp-Heat especially in the Lower Burner. Eliminates Fire toxicity especially when there is associated Dampness. Acts as a sedative by eliminating Heart Fire. Eliminates Stomach Fire. Expel parasites
Why might Musk (She Xiang) help with chest heat?
Because it is a key herb in Zi Xue Dan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Pericardium Fire' (a pattern with chest heat as a symptom)
Musk is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Opens the Orifices and awakens the spirit. Moves Blood and reduces inflammation and pain. Moves downward, assisting the delivery of late or stillborn babies.
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with chest heat?
Because it is a key herb in Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency' (a pattern with chest heat as a symptom)
Dong Quai is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation.
Other symptoms often associated with chest heat
Insomnia Mouth ulcers Anxiety Tongue ulcers Fidgeting Insomnia with very restless sleep Coughing with blood-streaked sputum Excessive sexual desire Dizziness Fatigue