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.
Contents
- Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause feeling of heat rushing to the head
- Two herbal formulas that might help with feeling of heat rushing to the head
- The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat feeling of heat rushing to the head
Feeling of heat rushing to the head 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 rushing to the head 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 rushing to the head is often associated with headaches, dizziness and vertigo in the pattern “Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of feeling of heat rushing to the head we’ve identified two 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 feeling of heat rushing to the head.
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause feeling of heat rushing to the head
In Chinese Medicine feeling of heat rushing to the head is a symptom for the pattern "Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Wiry (Xian), Fine (Xi), Floating (Fu)
Tongue color: Red
Liver Yang Rising can create Interior Wind if the condition is not treated for a long time. It can be divided to three categories based on the cause of the pattern: Liver Yin Deficiency, Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency or Liver Blood Deficiency.
In addition to feeling of heat rushing to the head, other symptoms associated with Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising include headaches, dizziness and vertigo.
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising 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)".
Read more about Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising here
Two herbal formulas that might help with feeling of heat rushing to the head
E Jiao Ji Zi Huang Tang
Source date: the Qing dynasty
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes Yin. Nourishes Blood. Calms the Liver. Extinguishes Wind.
Why might E Jiao Ji Zi Huang Tang help with feeling of heat rushing to the head?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising' of which feeling of heat rushing to the head is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Liver Wind Agitating Internally Due To Liver Yang Rising include headaches, dizziness and vertigo.
Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang
Source date: 1918 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Sedates the Liver. Axtinguishes Wind. Nourishes the Yin. Anchors the yang.
Why might Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang help with feeling of heat rushing to the head?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising' of which feeling of heat rushing to the head is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Liver Wind Agitating Internally Due To Liver Yang Rising include headaches, dizziness and vertigo.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat feeling of heat rushing to the head
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with feeling of heat rushing to the head?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat feeling of heat rushing to the head as a symptom, like E Jiao Ji Zi Huang Tang or Zhen Gan Xi Feng 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.
Why might Cornelian Cherry (Shan Zhu Yu) help with feeling of heat rushing to the head?
Because Cornelian Cherry is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat feeling of heat rushing to the head as a symptom, like Liu Wei Di Huang Wan or Qi Ju Di Huang 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.
Why might Abalone Shell (Shi Jue Ming) help with feeling of heat rushing to the head?
Because Abalone Shell is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat feeling of heat rushing to the head as a symptom, like Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin or E Jiao Ji Zi Huang Tang for instance.
Abalone Shells is a Cold herb that tastes Salty. It targets the Kidney, the Liver and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Clears Heat and calms ascending Liver Yang. Clears Liver Heat that is obstructing the vision.
Why might Mudan Peony Bark (Mu Dan Pi) help with feeling of heat rushing to the head?
Because Mudan Peony Bark is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat feeling of heat rushing to the head as a symptom, like Liu Wei Di Huang Wan or Qi Ju Di Huang Wan for instance.
Mudan Peony Bark is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Cools the Blood, activates Blood circulation and resolves Blood stasis.
Why might Yam (Shan Yao) help with feeling of heat rushing to the head?
Because Yam is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat feeling of heat rushing to the head as a symptom, like Liu Wei Di Huang Wan or Qi Ju Di Huang Wan for instance.
Yam is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach. Tonifies the Lung Qi and nourishes the Lung Yin. Nourishes the Kidneys and consolidates Jing.
Other symptoms often associated with feeling of heat rushing to the head
Headaches Dizziness Vertigo Tinnitus Blurred vision Insomnia Dream disturbed sleep Numbness in the extremities Spasms in the extremities