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.
Feeling of 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 feeling of 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 feeling of heat is often associated with dizziness, malar flush and palpitations in the pattern “Heart Yin Deficiency”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of feeling of heat we’ve identified two herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the four medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat feeling of heat.
Heart Yin Deficiency, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause feeling of heat
In Chinese Medicine feeling of heat is a symptom for the pattern "Heart Yin Deficiency". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Heart Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Fine (Xi), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
This pattern developed from Heart Blood Deficiency. It shares similar symptoms as the latter one, such as insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, easily to be scared, poor memory and anxiety, but it also has additional empty Heat symptoms. It can be caused by Kidney Yin Deficiency or other factors such as bad diet, overwork or long term exposure to stress or hot environment.
In addition to feeling of heat, other symptoms associated with Heart Yin Deficiency include dizziness, malar flush and palpitations.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Heart Yin Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Absence Of Menstruation or Postpartum Depression.
Heart Yin Deficiency is often treated with Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan, a herbal formula made of 14 herbs (including Unprepared Rehmannia - Di Huang - as a key herb). Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish the heart and calm the mind", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nutritive tonic: Nourishes Yin, Blood and Vital Essence of the Heart and Kidney".
Two herbal formulas that might help with feeling of heat
Ren Shen Dang Gui Tang
Source date: 1742 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Qi and Blood. Nourishes Yin.
Why might Ren Shen Dang Gui Tang help with feeling of heat?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heart Yin Deficiency' of which feeling of heat is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Heart Yin Deficiency can contribute to many health issues, including Postpartum Depression.
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
Source date: 16th century
Number of ingredients: 14 herbs
Key actions: Nutritive tonic: Nourishes Yin, Blood and Vital Essence of the Heart and Kidney. Clears away pathogenic Heat, clears Deficient Heat. Sedative.
Why might Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan help with feeling of heat?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heart Yin Deficiency' of which feeling of heat is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Heart Yin Deficiency can contribute to many health issues, including Postpartum Depression.
The four Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat feeling of heat
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with feeling of heat?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat feeling of heat as a symptom, like Ren Shen Dang Gui Tang or Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan for instance.
Dong Quai is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Liver.
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.
Why might Dwarf Lilyturf Root (Mai Dong) help with feeling of heat?
Because Dwarf Lilyturf Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat feeling of heat as a symptom, like Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan or Ren Shen Dang Gui Tang for instance.
Dwarf Lilyturf Roots is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Stomach, the Heart and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Replenishes Yin Essence and promotes secretions. Lubricates and nourishes the Stomach. Soothes the Lung. Nourishes the Heart.
Why might Ginseng (Ren Shen) help with feeling of heat?
Because Ginseng is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat feeling of heat as a symptom, like Ren Shen Dang Gui Tang or Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan for instance.
Ginseng is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Very strongly tonifies the Qi. Tonifies the Lungs and Spleen. Assists the body in the secretion of Fluids and stops thirst. Strengthens the Heart and calms the Shen (mind/spirit).
Why might Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang) help with feeling of heat?
Because it is a key herb in Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Heart Yin Deficiency' (a pattern with feeling of heat as a symptom)
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.
Conditions associated with feeling of heat
Other symptoms often associated with feeling of heat
Dizziness Scanty periods Thin and watery periods Heavy periods Restlessness Cold limbs Sore back Irritability Malar flush Palpitations