Introduction: Recently, many people have found themselves annoyed by a series of symptoms such as a sore throat, dry mouth, dry skin, and constipation. These phenomena are typical symptoms of "autumn dryness." In addition to external factors causing dryness and internal heat, high work stress and staying up late can also lead to it. To alleviate the symptoms, it is necessary to distinguish between "excess heat" and "deficiency heat" and manage them through diet and skincare.
Why does internal heat occur?
It can be explained by internal and external factors. External causes include dry weather, dehydration, and the body's inability to dissipate heat in a timely manner. Internal causes include high stress, staying up late, and excessive intake of spicy and greasy foods, leading to abnormal organ metabolism. The main cause of "internal heat" in the skin is mostly a combination of "excess heat" and "deficiency heat."
"Excess Heat" vs. "Deficiency Heat"
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, "internal heat" is divided into "excess heat" and "deficiency heat." "Excess heat" refers to over-excitement of the body's activities, producing too much metabolic waste that leads to poor excretion, resulting in symptoms like headaches, red eyes, bad breath, constipation, oily skin, and acne. To regulate "excess heat," you can use methods to "clear heat," such as consuming appropriately cooling foods like bitter melon and mung beans, along with TCM therapies like cupping, intensive gua sha, and acupuncture to help improve the condition.
On the other hand, "deficiency heat" is caused by excessive mental strain, a slow metabolism, and a decline in the body's immune and self-repair abilities, leading to recurrent ulcers, dry skin, palpitations and night sweats, and fatigue. "Deficiency heat" can be managed by "nourishing yin," such as eating foods like pears, water chestnuts, tremella, and lilies.
Papaya and Tremella Braised Pork Ribs
Clearing Heat Based on Symptoms
1. Skin issues: Redness and burning sensation, easy to develop canker sores at the corners of the mouth.
Body: Irritability, insomnia, and vivid dreams.
In TCM, the heart governs the spirit. Under the heart's regulation, the five zang-organs and six fu-organs are coordinated and balanced, forming the "divine qi," which is the foundation of all beauty and maintenance. A tense life rhythm can easily lead to "excess heart heat." You can clear this by eating bitter melon, tomatoes, and other foods.
2. Skin issues: Oily skin, prone to acne.
Body: Halitosis, swollen and sore gums, loss of appetite, constipation.
Excess heat in the spleen and stomach is often due to uncontrolled diet, frequently consuming high-sugar, high-oil, and spicy foods, which causes indigestion. Therefore, it's best to start by adjusting your diet. For mild heat accumulation in the spleen and stomach, you should eat foods that aid digestion and nourish the stomach, such as loquats, mung beans, and Chinese yam.
Mung Bean, Lily, and Lotus Seed Soup
3. Skin issues: Dry, dull, flaky, and prone to allergies.
Body: Dry mouth and throat, sore throat.
Autumn dryness can easily lead to lung heat. "Go to bed early, not late" is the key to avoiding internal heat. For diet, olives, monk fruit, sterculia seeds, honeysuckle, and ophiopogon can clear lung heat and can be used to make tea. You can also eat seasonal vegetables like winter melon, lotus root, and loofah, which can effectively prevent internal heat without worrying about side effects.
Loofah and Clam Soup