Exterior-Heat
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.
At a glance
Preliminary reading: What is a pattern? The concept of Exterior The concept of Heat
Key attributes
Chinese name: 表热 Pinyin name: Biǎo Rè
Pattern nature: Full
Pattern hierarchy: General pattern
Causes
Common causes: External Heat
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Fever Thirst Sweating Body aches Stiff neck and one other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue description: Redness on tip or sides of the tongue with thin white coating
Treatment
Treatment principle: Release Heat from the Exterior
Common formulas: Yin Qiao San Shi Gao Tang
Pathology
This pattern is classified as ‘Exterior’ not because it derived from an external pathogenic factor but because its manifestations are located in the ‘Exterior’ of the body such as the skin, muscles and Channels.
The Defensive Qi reacts to the external Heat Evil and the battle between the two gives rise to 'fever'. The fever here does not necessarily indicate an actual fever, but rather the patients' objective feeling of the heat. The Aversion to cold is the consequence of this fever.
This pattern is quite similar to Exterior-Cold, but with Heat related manifestations. The main difference is the feeling of thirst and slightly sweating. Dryness often accompanies Heat, hence the symptoms of feeling thirst. There is no Cold Evil constraining the skin pores, therefore the patients sweat slightly.
The Heat also goes up to the Head and causes headache and red tongue. However, the redness is on the tip or on the sides, which indicates the Exterior feature of the pattern.
Causes
External Heat: Exposure to a hot place can cause this pattern.
Diagnosing Exterior-Heat
Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu) or floating (Fu)
Tongue description: Redness on tip or sides of the tongue with thin white coating
Main symptoms: Fever Thirst Sweating Body aches Stiff neck Aversion to cold
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the aversion to cold, fever, and slight sweating and thirst.
Treating Exterior-Heat
Treatment principle
Release Heat from the Exterior
Herbal formulas used to treat Exterior-Heat
Yin Qiao San
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Disperses Wind Heat. Clears Heat. Resolves Toxicity.
Formula summary
Yin Qiao San is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1798 AD, it belongs to the category of external formulas for External disorders.
Besides Exterior-Heat, Yin Qiao San is also used to treat Wind-Heat invading the Lungs or Wind-Heat.
Shi Gao Tang
Source date: 752 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat and resolves Toxicity. Releases the Exterior.
Formula summary
Shi Gao Tang is a 7-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 752 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that Release the Exterior and Clear the Interior.
Besides Exterior-Heat, Shi Gao Tang is also used to treat Wind Cold with Internal Heat.