High fever 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.
High fever 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 high fever 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 high fever is often associated with feeling of heat, irritability and delirium in the pattern “Bright Yang Stomach Heat”. As you will see below, we have in record four patterns that can cause high fever.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of high fever 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 high fever.
The four "patterns of disharmony" that can cause high fever
In Chinese Medicine high fever is a symptom for 4 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Bright Yang Stomach Heat
Pulse type(s): Overflowing (Hong), Rapid (Shu)
In addition to high fever, other symptoms associated with Bright Yang Stomach Heat include feeling of heat, irritability and delirium.
Bright Yang Stomach Heat is often treated with Bai Hu Tang, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Gypsum - Shi Gao - as a key herb). Bai Hu Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear qi-level heat", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Qi-level Heat".
Water Buffalo Horns (Shui Niu Jiao) is the king ingredient for Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, a formula used for Heat victorious agitating Blood
Heat victorious agitating Blood
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Wiry (Xian)
In addition to high fever, other symptoms associated with Heat victorious agitating Blood include manic behavior, vomiting of blood and epistaxis.
Heat victorious agitating Blood is often treated with Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Water Buffalo Horns - Shui Niu Jiao - as a key herb). Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear nutritive-level heat", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Treats severe fevers and Heat in the Blood system".
Saiga Antelope's Horns (Ling Yang Jiao) is the king ingredient for Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang, a formula used for Heat victorious stirring Wind
Heat victorious stirring Wind
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Wiry (Xian)
In addition to high fever, other symptoms associated with Heat victorious stirring Wind include fainting, convulsions and opisthotonos.
Heat victorious stirring Wind is often treated with Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Saiga Antelope's Horns - Ling Yang Jiao - as a key herb). Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that pacify and extinguish internal wind", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Cools the Liver".
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Lung Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
In addition to high fever, other symptoms associated with Lung Heat include feeling of heat and shortness of breath.
Lung Heat is often treated with Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Ephedra - Ma Huang - as a key herb). Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat from the organs", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Invigorates Lung Qi".
Five herbal formulas that might help with high fever
Bai Hu Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Clears Qi-level Heat. Drains Stomach Fire. Generates fluids. Alleviates thirst.
Why might Bai Hu Tang help with high fever?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Bright Yang Stomach Heat' of which high fever is a symptom.
Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang
Source date: 650 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Treats severe fevers and Heat in the Blood system. Removes Blood Stagnation.
Why might Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang help with high fever?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heat victorious agitating Blood' of which high fever is a symptom.
Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang
Source date: Qing dynasty
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Cools the Liver. Extinguishes Wind. Increases Fluids. Relaxes the sinews.
Why might Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang help with high fever?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heat victorious stirring Wind' of which high fever is a symptom.
Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Invigorates Lung Qi. Clears Heat. Calms wheezing by directing rebellious Qi downward.
Why might Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang help with high fever?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Lung Heat' of which high fever is a symptom.
Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan
Source date: 1584 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat. Transforms Phlegm. Directs Rebellious Qi downwards. Stops coughing.
Why might Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan help with high fever?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Lung Heat' of which high fever is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for high fever
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat high fever
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with high fever?
Because it is a key herb in Bai Hu Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Bright Yang Stomach Heat' (a pattern with high fever as a symptom)
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 Gypsum (Shi Gao) help with high fever?
Because it is a key herb in Bai Hu Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Bright Yang Stomach Heat' (a pattern with high fever as a symptom)
Gypsum is a Cold herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Lung and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Clears Heat and drains Fire. Clears Lung Heat. Relieves thirst and restlessness. Clears Stomach Heat.
Why might Water Buffalo Horn (Shui Niu Jiao) help with high fever?
Because it is a key herb in Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Heat victorious agitating Blood' (a pattern with high fever as a symptom)
Water Buffalo Horns is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter and Salty. It targets the Stomach, the Heart and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Cools the Blood, drains Fire and stops reckless movement of Blood. Clears Heat and Fire and stops tremors and convulsions. Cools Fire and expels toxins.
Why might Rice Sprout (Jing Mi) help with high fever?
Because it is a key herb in Bai Hu Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Bright Yang Stomach Heat' (a pattern with high fever as a symptom)
Rice Sprouts is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Replenishes Qi and tonifies the Spleen and Stomach. Eliminates thirst. Stops diarrhea.
Why might Rhubarb (Da Huang) help with high fever?
Because it is a key herb in Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern '' (a pattern with high fever 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 high fever
Feeling of heat Irritability Delirium Red face Manic behavior Vomiting of blood Epistaxis Bloody stools Blood in urine Fainting