What is Excess Heat?
There are two types of "heat" in traditional Chinese medicine:
→ Empty heat arises from a deficiency in the body. When a person is yin deficient, they often experience heat-like symptoms along with dryness or dehydration. This is best treated by nourishing the body's "yin" elements to replenish nutrients like electrolytes to cool and hydrate the body.
→ Full heat, also known as excess heat, differs from empty heat, and is more similar to the Western concept of inflammation. It manifests as more intense hot, burning, and red symptoms in the body, and is best addressed with a purgative approach to clear the excess heat.
Symptoms of excess heat often flare up in the summertime when temperatures rise. Spicy foods, a hot temper, and warm environments (like being without A/C) can make these symptoms worse.
Excess heat is a common imbalance in Western culture, where simple cooling practices are often overlooked. While cold plunges or icy drinks can provide quick relief, they can also be too harsh when overused. Instead, food and herbs offer a gentler, more sustainable way to cool the body from within.
Nature provides seasonal foods that help balance the body’s needs. In summer, when heat imbalances are more common, hydrating foods like watermelon and summer squash thrive. These naturally cooling foods help flush out excess heat and support the body’s detoxification process.
What Are Signs & Symptoms of Excess Heat?
acne/skin rashes
anger and agitation
anxiety
aversion to heat
bad breath
bleeding (intestinal bleeding, bloody nose, etc.)
burning pain
constipation / dry stool
cough
dark, scanty urine
dizziness
dry throat
excessive hunger
extreme restlessness
extreme thirst
feeling hot / flushed
fever
inflammation
insomnia
mania / delirium
palpitations
preference for cold temperatures
rapid pulse
rapid speech
red cheeks
red eyes
red face
sores / ulcers
spasms in limbs
sweating
swelling
What Causes Excess Heat?
emotional stress, especially anger and anxiety
longstanding qi stagnation
excessive consumption of alcohol, meat and/or spicy foods
excessively hot and/or windy weather
viruses or bacteria
suppressed emotions and/or trauma
Types of Excess Heat:
The Heart, Liver, Lungs and Stomach can all develop patterns of excess heat. Keep in mind that Eastern medicine looks at the body in a much different way than Western medicine, and the organs affected can be determined through tools such as reading the pulse and looking at the surface of the tongue. It's helpful to visit a licensed, NCCAOM-certified acupuncturist, who can help you to pinpoint your specific areas of imbalance and provide a more customized diagnosis.
How to Treat Excess Heat?
LIFESTYLE ADJUSTMENTS:
→ Hydration: Make sure to hydrate sufficiently, especially during summer or while in warmer climates. Besides water, herbal teas, soups, and hydrating fruits and veggies (like those recommended for a yin deficiency) are beneficial. The minerals in electrolyte drinks or powders, like these from LMNT, support the kidneys and thus, fluid balance in the body.
→ Wearing Appropriate Clothing: Wear lightweight, breathable clothing in hotter temperatures, and try to cover exposed skin when in windy weather - especially the back of the neck and throat, which are more vulnerable areas when exposed to the elements.
→ Therapy & Stress Management: In cases of managing high stress or navigating longstanding or repressed emotions and/or trauma, seeking out a therapist can be invaluable. It's also helpful to practice tools like mindfulness and meditation.
DIET + NUTRITION
→ Dietary Adjustments: Limiting your coffee, alcohol, sugar and meat consumption, as well as cutting back on spicy foods can help to cool the body down. Opting for more fruits and vegetables with high water content, like melons, lemons or cucumbers, can help to flush out toxins and heat. Incorporate into your diet more of the foods listed below.
What Foods are Best for Treating Excess Heat?
Vegetables:
alfalfa sprouts, asparagus, bamboo shoots, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, dandelion leaf, eggplant, kelp and seaweed, lettuce, microalgae (spirulina/chlorella), mung bean sprouts, potatoes, spinach, summer squash, sunflower sprouts, taro, water chestnuts, watercress, zucchini
Fruit:
apples, avocados, bananas, cantaloupe, cucumber, grapefruit, lemons, plantain, watermelon
Grains:
amaranth, buckwheat, millet
Beans & Legumes:
mung beans, tofu
Herbs & Spices:
licorice, mulberry leaf, peppermint, sage, tamarind
Beverages & More:
chrysanthemum tea, dandelion root tea, honeysuckle tea, peppermint tea, soy milk
Animal Protein*:
clam, crab, egg whites, octopus
*Meat is not used in any of our recipes, however, these animal products can be added to any recipe.
