What is the reason for high body surface temperature

Our body temperature generally hovers around 37 degrees. High or low body temperature is the most common abnormal body temperature, which is mostly caused by various diseases. However, in daily life, some people find that their body temperature is normal, but the surface temperature is abnormal, just like a fever. Although the impact is not significant, the burning feeling can be very uncomfortable. So, what is the reason for high body surface temperature? Let’s take a look below.

From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, this is a manifestation of severe internal heat, which is also called internal fire, a syndrome name in traditional Chinese medicine. It is also called "endogenous heat". Refers to the heat caused by the excessive yin and yang of the internal organs. It is advisable to distinguish the real from the fake. Common symptoms include chest heat, hot flashes in the afternoon, fever in the five hearts, bitter taste in the mouth, and red urine. There are two types of fever: yang deficiency and yin deficiency. For example, Volume 1 of Ming Yi Za Zhu states: "Fever caused by internal injury is caused by the self-injury of yang qi, which cannot rise, and descends to yin to cause internal heat. This is yang deficiency, so the pulse is large and weak, and it belongs to the lung and spleen. Fever caused by yin deficiency is caused by the self-injury of yin blood, which cannot control fire, and the yang qi rises to cause internal heat. This is yang excess, so the pulse is rapid and weak, and it belongs to the heart and kidney.

Clinical manifestations

Internal heat can be divided into real heat and false heat.

1. Excessive heat

Symptoms of excess heat include flushed face and ears, palpitations, irritability, thirst, preference for cold drinks, dry and hard stools, yellow and red urine, excessive appetite, easy hunger, bad temper, and weight loss.

2. Deficiency heat

Symptoms of deficiency heat include low fever, hot palms and soles, irritability and insomnia, dry mouth and eyes, dry and sore throat, flushed cheeks, etc.

Treat according to syndrome differentiation

Internal heat is the fire of the five internal organs. The heat is generated from within, and the disease is in the yin part. Therefore, those with internal heat should be cooled and not dispersed. If they disperse, the internal fire will become more intense, and the fire will erupt when it is empty. However, the symptoms of internal heat can be divided into deficiency and excess. Excessive ones should be treated with positive treatment, while deficiency ones should be treated with negative treatment.

1. Excessive heat in the five internal organs

For those with real heat inside the body, ancient method divides them into five internal organs and it is advisable to treat them from the positive side or to soothe the spleen.

(1) Heart heat symptoms: oral and tongue erosions, sores, red tip of tongue, hyperactivity, restlessness, impatience, etc. Treatment principle: Clear the heart and reduce fire. Main prescription: Xiexin Decoction, Daochi Powder, and Anshen Pills.

(2) Symptoms of liver heat: irritability, headache, dizziness, red eyes, tinnitus, deafness, bitter mouth and dry throat. Pain in the flanks and red and astringent urine. Treatment principle: Clear the liver and reduce fire. Main prescription: Xieqing Pills, Chaihu Yinzi, and Longdan Xiegan Decoction.

(3) Symptoms of spleen heat: eye sores and bad breath, thirst and hunger, thirst and preference for cold drinks, dry mouth and lips, oral ulcers, constipation, red tongue and rapid pulse, and tongue rubbing due to spleen heat. Treatment principle: drain the hidden fire in the spleen and stomach. Main prescription: Xiehuangsan (also known as Xiepisan).

(4) Lung heat syndrome: coughing, dry and sore throat, vomiting of yellow sputum, constipation and dark urine, and heat in the chest and diaphragm. Treatment principle: Clear the upper part and drain the lower part, purge heat and promote bowel movements. Main prescription: Xiebai San and Digupi San for mild cases, and Liangge San for severe cases.

(5) Symptoms of kidney heat: hot flashes, night sweats, dry mouth and sore throat, tinnitus, spermatorrhea, short and dark urine, abdominal distension, and urinary retention. Treatment principle: Nourish the kidney, clear away heat and reduce fire. Main prescription: Zishen Pills and Ziyin Bawei Pills.

2. Deficiency heat in the five internal organs

Deficiency heat should be adjusted and supplemented. Anyone with deficiency of vital energy and fever must have deficiency of true yin, which is a false heat syndrome and should be treated from the opposite direction.

(1) For patients with false heat in the heart, spleen and lung, use Wujunzi Decoction or Renshen Lizhong Decoction.

(2) For those with false heat in the five internal organs and blood, use Wufu Drink.

(3) For patients with deficiency of liver and kidney yin and false heat, Liuwei Dihuang Decoction can be used for mild cases, or Liyin Decoction can be used for severe cases. For false heat in the liver and kidney blood, use Daying Decoction and Wuwu Decoction. In case of liver and kidney yin deficiency, with upper heat and lower cold, the yang has nowhere to attach to and is suppressed as heat, Liuwei Huiyang Yin or Bawei Dihuang Decoction can be used. For those with blood deficiency in the liver meridian causing wind and heat, add Gastrodia elata and Uncaria rhynchophylla to the Siwu herb.

(4) For patients with blood deficiency and severe fever after sweating, add glutinous rice to Liushen Powder. For those who suffer from qi deficiency, chills and fever after sweating, use Buzhong Yiqi Decoction. For those with yin deficiency after sweating and heat due to lack of yang, add ginseng and astragalus to Siwu Decoction. For those with yang deficiency after sweating and heat due to yin having nowhere to attach, add Chuanxiong and Angelica to the Four Gentlemen.