Acupuncture Darlinghurst

Heat (Re) and Fire (Huo) are Yang pathogens that tend to flare upward, consume fluids, and agitate the mind. While used interchangeably in some contexts, Heat generally refers to a milder condition and Fire to a more intense one. External Heat invades from the environment — hot weather, febrile diseases, or inflammatory infections. Internal Heat arises from organ dysfunction, emotional excess, or the transformation of other pathogens (stagnant Qi and prolonged Dampness can both generate Heat over time).

Heat symptoms follow its Yang nature: fever, thirst, red face, red tongue with yellow coating, rapid pulse, dark scanty urine, and constipation. When Heat disturbs the Shen, restlessness, insomnia, and in severe cases delirium occur. Fire, being more intense, can "stir Wind" (causing convulsions), "injure fluids" (causing dehydration and Yin damage), "force Blood" out of the vessels (causing bleeding), and produce sores and carbuncles on the skin.

TCM distinguishes between excess Heat (requiring clearing and draining) and deficiency Heat (also called "empty Heat" or "false Fire"), which arises from Yin deficiency. Deficiency Heat produces milder signs — afternoon low-grade warmth, night sweats, malar flush, and a red tongue with little coating — and requires nourishing Yin rather than clearing Heat directly. This distinction is critical because using strong cooling herbs for deficiency Heat would further damage the body.