three pieces of avocado sitting on top of a table
three pieces of avocado sitting on top of a table

What is Excess Heat?

There are two types of "heat" in traditional Chinese medicine:

1. Empty heat, which arises from a state of deficiency in the body. When a person becomes yin deficient, they often experience heat-like symptoms, as well as dryness. This is treated by nourishing the "yin" elements in one's body, to replenish nutrients, like electrolytes, which help to cool and hydrate the body.

2. Full heat, also known as excess heat, is different from empty heat, and is more closely related to the Western concept of inflammation. This type of heat, which creates more hot, fire-y, burning, and red symptoms in the body, is better treated with a purgative approach.


It's not uncommon for symptoms related to excess heat to flare up in the summertime when the weather is warmer. Other things that can exacerbate symptoms are spicy foods, a "hot" temper, and temperate foods, drinks and spaces (no A/C is a person with full heat's worst nightmare).

Excess heat is a common imbalance in Western culture, where we are not as well-versed in the simple ways in which to balance our heat on a daily basis, as many other cultures do. Besides cold plunges or icy beverages (both of which can be too harsh on our systems when used in excess), food and herbs can offer a more gentle, internal approach for cooling down the body. When we lean into nature, we find that many foods which grow seasonally naturally help to support the imbalances that can arise, due to seasonal climate and/or lifestyle changes. In the summertime, for example, when we are more prone to heat, foods that are higher in water content, like watermelon and summer squash, flourish. These types of foods naturally help to hydrate and "flush out" the body, creating a more gentle and effective detoxification effect.

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
watermelon slice on white ceramic plate
watermelon slice on white ceramic plate

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.

→ 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.
​
sliced of vegetables in clear glass bowl
sliced of vegetables in clear glass bowl
sliced orange and green fruit
sliced orange and green fruit
a pile of purple beets
a pile of purple beets
three lemons and three leaves on a marble surface
three lemons and three leaves on a marble surface
selective focus photography of red fruits
selective focus photography of red fruits
closeup photo of squash
closeup photo of squash
two green pear fruits on white textile
two green pear fruits on white textile
Cinnamon spice and star anise on a marble table
Cinnamon spice and star anise on a marble table
sliced watermelon on white plate
sliced watermelon on white plate

nourish

ener-qi

yin-vigorate

yang boost

detox

qi-force

cool aid

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