Women can't sleep at night because their feet are hot

Some female friends will feel their feet getting hot at night, and they always can't fall asleep. They toss and turn but can't fall asleep normally. If this is the case, it is mostly caused by yin deficiency and fever. If this disease occurs, do not blindly use Western medicine to treat it. These medicines will have side effects on the body. It is best to use Chinese herbal medicine for treatment, which will have smaller side effects.

1. Treatment based on syndrome differentiation

1. Yin deficiency fever with hot hands and feet

The main pathogenesis of this syndrome is deficiency of Yin and hyperactivity of Yang, inability of water to control fire, and internal disturbance of virtual fire. When Yin is deficient and Yang is superior, the virtual fire burns inside the body, so there will be fever in the afternoon or at night, hot hands and soles, or bone steaming and hot flashes; the virtual fire rises and disturbs the mind, causing restlessness, insomnia, frequent dreams and red cheeks; the internal heat forces body fluids to leak out, causing night sweats; when Yin is deficient and fire is excessive, the body fluids are lost and moistened, so there is dry mouth and throat, dry and hard stools, and yellow urine; the tongue is thin, dry and red or cracked, with little or no coating, and a thin and rapid pulse, all of which are signs of Yin deficiency and excessive fire. The key points for diagnosis of this syndrome are hot flashes in the afternoon, or fever at night, restlessness and insomnia, dry mouth and throat, dry and red tongue or cracks, little or no coating on the tongue, and a thin and rapid pulse. The treatment is to nourish yin and clear away heat, and the prescription is Qinggu San with modifications.

2. Internal stasis of heat (Qi stagnation and fever) with heat in the palms and soles

The main pathogenesis of this syndrome is emotional imbalance and qi stagnation turning into fire. The liver is responsible for regulating the flow of qi, storing blood, and liking to be unobstructed. Its meridians are spread over the ribs, penetrate the diaphragm, and connect to the breasts. Depression of emotions, dysfunction of the liver, stagnation of qi turning into fire or excessive anger, internal liver fire, so fever occurs; because of emotional injury, fever fluctuates with mood swings; liver qi is stagnant and qi is not properly discharged, so there is depression, fullness and pain in the chest and flanks, and pain in the breasts; sighing temporarily relieves qi, so one likes to sigh; abnormal qi discharge leads to poor blood circulation, so women have irregular menstruation and abdominal pain during menstruation; irritability is caused by stagnation of liver fire; liver fire burns the body fluid and there is heat in the stomach and intestines, so there is bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, and dry stool; red tongue or red edges of the tongue, yellow tongue coating, and stringy and rapid pulse are signs of stagnation of liver fire. This syndrome is characterized by low fever or hot flashes, and the symptoms often fluctuate with mood swings, depression, sighing, irritability, red tongue, yellow tongue coating, and a stringy and rapid pulse as the key points of diagnosis. The treatment is to soothe the liver and regulate qi, clear the liver and relieve heat. The prescription is Danzhi Xiaoyao Powder with modifications.

2. Modern doctors’ new views on palm and foot heat

Regarding the differentiation and treatment of palm and sole heat, ancient books mostly start with yin deficiency and blood stasis and heat. Modern Chinese medicine believes, based on clinical practice and experimental observation, that palm and sole heat is mainly seen in people with yin deficiency and internal heat, but many other reasons can also cause this symptom, which belongs to the category of internal injury fever. The specific differentiation and treatment are as follows:

1. Blood stasis blocks the collaterals, which turns into fire over time and can cause heat in the hands and feet

It has long been established in TCM theory that internal blood stasis will turn into fire over time. However, few people discuss whether the heat generated includes heat in the hands and feet. Cheng's case of treating blood stasis blocking the collaterals can be said to be a new inspiration for clinical physicians in their understanding of the clinical significance of heat in the palms and soles. The treatment is to remove blood stasis and dredge the menstruation, then Gexia Zhuyu Decoction can be used with modifications.