Have you been suffering from heat signs lately? Be careful how you treat them!
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the concepts of “true heat” and “false heat” are used to describe different patterns of disharmony in the body. Although interpretations may vary among practitioners, it’s important to recognize the differences between the two in order to properly diagnosis, treat, and fix the symptoms.
True Heat: True heat refers to a genuine and active heat pattern in the body. It typically arises from an excess of yang energy or an imbalance in the body’s yin and yang forces. True heat is often associated with symptoms such as fever, excess thirst, redness, inflammation, rapid pulse, and a sense of heat or burning sensations. The tongue might be extra red and could even have a yellow coating on it. There might be a yellow nasal discharge or sputum. It can be caused by external factors, such as exposure to hot weather or pathogens, or internal factors, such as emotional disturbances or imbalances in organ systems. Summer heat is a common pattern that people experience during this time of year. Have you noticed that your urine is darker than normal? Or that you feel generally hotter than your typical self? How about restlessness? Maybe you have a minor case of summer heat! Avoiding hot and spicy food will help to relieve some of these symptoms. Think about eating cooling foods such as watermelon, cucumbers, green leafy veggies, coconut water, or peppermint.
False Heat: False heat, also known as pseudo-heat or apparent heat, refers to a pattern that mimics true heat but does not arise from a genuine excess of heat in the body. It is often a result of yin deficiency or the presence of other underlying imbalances. False heat can manifest as sensations of heat without actual heat signs, night sweats, hot flashes, flushed face, dry mouth and throat, and a thin and rapid pulse. Your tongue might have minor horizontal cracks throughout with some redness. It may be caused by factors such as yin deficiency, yin and yang imbalances, or certain chronic conditions. Because this is rooted from a deficiency as opposed to true heat which is an excess of yang energy, the best way to treat this type of heat is to nourish the body. Certain foods that are yin nourishing may help reduce these symptoms such as seaweed, kidney beans, oysters, or bone broth. However, herbal medicine and acupuncture are some of the most effective ways to treat yin deficiency.
When in doubt, if you’re suffering from any symptoms (regardless of heat) seek out an expert who can help to diagnose and treat you properly. As you can see, there are some minor tweaks which could completely alter the treatment and therefore have a huge effect on the body.
