Introduction to the disharmony
Major symptoms:
- high fever
- big thirst
- irritability
- delirium
“Fire” is an intense manifestation of heat. Usually “internal fire” is associated with febrile diseases and exhibits with deeply “hot” symptoms, such as high fever, big thirst, irritability and delirium (restless, “heated” mind). Here the febrile disease has entered the Qi level and the disharmony is now "internal" (vs. "external" when the pathogen is still at the superficial (Wei) level of the body - the skin and muscle layers - causing common cold/flu-like symptoms)(1). As the condition is internal, the body organs are now affected, especially the Liver, the Lung, and the Stomach.
The herbs used to counteract “internal fire” are the coldest herbs known in Materia Medica. From a conventional medicine point of view these herbs have the function to reduce fever and inflammation, and are active against microbes(1).
Major Chinese herbs
Minerals are non-living substances that do not possess energy therefore have very cold nature. Thus a famous mineral used to clear heat and drain fire is gypsum – Shi Gao (Calcium Sulfate). With its intensely cold nature it enters the Lung and relieves symptoms such as cough and wheezing due to heat. It also enters the Stomach and clears Stomach Fire manifesting in headache (one of the qualities of the heat is that is moves upward) and swollen and painful gums (the Stomach governs the mouth and gums). It is also used topically for burns(1).
An herb commonly used for Liver Fire is Xia Ku Cao (Prunella vulgaris). The literal translation of the name of the herb is “summer withered herb”(1). Another source translates Xia Ku Cao as “See-me-not-after-summer”. Apparently the translations derive from the fact that the herb grows only in the summer months and is not possible to find before or after that time(2). Xia Ku Cao enters the Liver and benefits the eyes (the eyes are governed by the Liver) - for Liver Fire manifesting in red, painful, swollen eyes(1) and pink eye(2). Xia Ku Cao also benefits high blood pressure(1)(2) - another symptom of Liver Fire.
A rather unusual substance that benefits “internal fire” is bat feces – Ye Ming Sha (Vespertilio murinus L.). It is translated as “night brightness sand” and improves poor night vision, night blindness, and cataracts; Jue Ming Zi (Cassia Obtusifolia L.) is another eye herb which enters the Liver and clears the eyes; the beautiful red Gardenia – Zhi Zi (Gardenia jasminoides) enters the blood and cools it, and is one of the herbs that eliminate irritability; Anamarrhena rhizome – Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena asphodeloides) has the unique property to both clear heat and generate fluids(1); Lu Gen (Phragmites communis) is a famous moistening, fluid producing herb that enters the Stomach and the Lung, benefiting symptoms manifested by these organs such as vomiting(1)(2), cough with thick, yellow phlegm(1) and dry cough(2).
Healing Foods
The foods beneficial for “internal heat"/ "Fire” are foods and spices with cold nature.
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Food therapy is the most economical and non-toxic biochemical approach to health and disease. Food is something we continuously use to sustain our lives. Learning what foods are healing (and what disruptive) for each condition has the potential to convert every meal into a form of therapy.
YS
(1) Benski, Dan & Gamble, Andrew (1993). Materia Medica, Revised Edition. Seatle: Eastland Press, Incorporated
(2) Lu, Henry (2005). Chinese Natural Cures. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc.
(3) Pitchford, Paul (2002). Healing with Whole Foods. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books
(4) Holmes, Peter (1998). The Energetics of Western Herbs. Boulder: Snow Lotus Press, Inc.
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How the Climatic Factor Heat Affects Health
Heat and Dryness in the Large Intestine
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