Heatstroke 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.
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Heatstroke 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 heatstroke 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 heatstroke is often associated with fever, painful urinary dribbling and blood in urine in the pattern “Damp-Heat in the Bladder”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of heatstroke we’ve identified that a herbal formula called Ba Zheng San can help treat the patterns behind the symptom.
Damp-Heat in the Bladder, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause heatstroke
In Chinese Medicine heatstroke is a symptom for the pattern "Damp-Heat in the Bladder". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
The Bladder is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Bladder in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Heat in the Bladder
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
In addition to heatstroke, other symptoms associated with Damp-Heat in the Bladder include fever, painful urinary dribbling and blood in urine.
Damp-Heat in the Bladder is often treated with Ba Zheng San, a herbal formula made of 9 herbs (including Chinese Pink Herbs - Qu Mai - as a key herb). Ba Zheng San belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat and expel dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Heat and Fire".
A herbal formula that might help with heatstroke
Ba Zheng San
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat and Fire. Promotes urination. Unblocks painful urinary dribbling.
Why might Ba Zheng San help with heatstroke?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Bladder' of which heatstroke is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for heatstroke
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat heatstroke
Why might Talc (Hua Shi) help with heatstroke?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat heatstroke and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat heatstroke as a symptom (such as Ba Zheng San for instance).
Talc is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Bladder and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination. Expels Damp-Heat from the Urinary Bladder. Dispels Summer Heat. Dries Dampness when applied topically.
Why might Chinese Pink Herb (Qu Mai) help with heatstroke?
Because it is a key herb in Ba Zheng San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Bladder' (a pattern with heatstroke as a symptom)
Chinese Pink Herbs is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Bladder, the Heart and the Small intestine.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and expels Damp-Heat. Dissolves Blood Stasis and assists blocked menstruation.
Why might Knotgrass (Bian Xu) help with heatstroke?
Because it is a key herb in Ba Zheng San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Bladder' (a pattern with heatstroke as a symptom)
Knotgrass is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Bladder.
Its main actions are: Expels Damp-Heat and encourages urination. Drains Dampness and stops itching. Kills parasites.
Why might Akebia Stem (Mu Tong) help with heatstroke?
Because it is a key herb in Ba Zheng San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Bladder' (a pattern with heatstroke as a symptom)
Akebia Stems is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Heart, the Lung and the Small intestine.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and clears Heat. Clears Heat and inflammation of the Heart. Promotes lactation. Moves and smoothes the flow of Blood. Used for painful obstruction associated with either Dampness, Blood Stagnation, Wind or Heat.
Why might Plantain Seed (Che Qian Zi) help with heatstroke?
Because it is a key herb in Ba Zheng San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Bladder' (a pattern with heatstroke as a symptom)
Plantain Seeds is a Cool herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney, the Liver, the Lung and the Small intestine.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and clears Heat. Stops diarrhea by expelling water through urination. Brightens the eyes, used in combination either for Deficiency or Heat. Reduces inflammation of infections. Arrests cough and expectorates Phlegm.
Other symptoms often associated with heatstroke
Diarrhea Fever Loss of appetite Excessive thirst Vomiting Sores Edema Irritability Dysentery Jaundice