Using Chinese herbs to diagnose, treat, and prevent various illnesses is one of the most widely practiced methods in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Traditional herbs and formulas not only treat symptoms and root causes of those symptoms but are also used to improve overall health. Its efficacy is backed by data collected over thousands of years. Chinese herbal medicine helps treat various conditions commonly experienced in hot weather, such as heat stroke, dehydration, allergies, and more.
The following herbal formulas may help ease or treat common ailments experienced during extreme heat and help promote overall health.
Herbal Formulas for the Heat
Bai Hu Tang & Ren Shen Bai Hu Tang for Heatstroke & Heat Exhuastion
When the amount of heat exposure is not adequately managed, it can be easy to experience heat exhaustion, which can be a precursor to heatstroke. Heatstroke causes the body temperature to rise, leading to rapid breathing, increased pulse rate, confusion, slurred speech, agitation, and in severe cases, permanent damage to the body.
Two herbal formulas we recommend for this are Bai Hu Tang and Ren Shen Bai Hu Tang. Bai Hu Tang’s primary functions are to clear Qi-level heat, drain stomach fire, generate fluids, and alleviate thirst. Ren Shen Bai Hu Tang’s primary functions are similar to Bai Hu Tang’s while nourishing Qi.
Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang for Dehydration
The risk of dehydration increases significantly during the hot season due to higher temperatures and warmer air, which results in internal fluid loss. Consuming plenty of water and other fluids, as well as foods with high water content, is vital during these months to prevent dehydration.
Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang is an herbal formula that is known to help with preventing dehydration. This formula is a mixture of bamboo leaves and gypsum meant to clear heat in the stomach and help generate fluids.
Yin Qiao San for Summer Heat Toxin
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the pathogen Summer Heat is characterized by scorching heat that attacks the body’s internal system. Humidity and heat create a pattern of symptoms, including fever, thirst, nausea, sweating, restlessness, fuzzy-headedness, dizziness, and irritability.
Yin Qiao San is a Lonicera & Forsythia formula we recommend to prevent and treat Summer Heat toxin. This formula is known for its cooling effect, being able to clear heat, and relieving toxicity in the body.
Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San for Food Poisoning
A warm day is ideal for barbecues, picnics, and events. However, it typically involves food being left under the sun and staying warm for too long. These situations can lead to the growth of bacteria, including food-borne bacteria, which thrive in hot and moist environments causing an increased risk of food poisoning.
Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San, an Agastache formula, is known to help relieve and eliminate many symptoms that manifest from food poisoning, including vomiting, nausea, fever, chills, and diarrhea.
Chinese Herbs: Sang Xing Tang & Cang Er San for Allergies
Allergy season starts in the spring when temperatures rise and last well throughout the hot season when allergy-triggering pollens from grasses and outdoor molds are abundant. Furthermore, it’s not unusual to experience allergy symptoms during frequent temperature changes.
Fortunately, few Chinese Herbs are designed to beat allergy symptoms commonly experienced during the hot season. Sang Xing Tang, also known as mulberry leaf and apricot kernel decoction, is a formula known to clear and disperse wind-heat and dryness while moistening the lungs. Cang Er San, a Xanthium formula, is also known to disperse wind while opening the nasal passages.
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang for Swimmer’s Ear
Otitis externa, or “swimmer’s ear,” is an infection in the outer ear canal. When water is trapped in the ear canal, it creates a moist environment that fosters bacterial growth. The heat and humidity of the warm weather can further fuel bacterial proliferation. Those who swim often may be at a greater risk of developing swimmer’s ear.
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang, a Gentiana formula, has several functions, one of which is eliminating dampness and heat that can lead to developing a case of swimmer’s ear.
Chinese Herbs: Huang Lian Jie Du Tang & Huang Lian for Skin Issues
Hot weather can create a perfect environment for potential skin irritants, ranging from tick and mosquito bites to sunburn and rashes from poison oak and poison ivy. Though most cases are short-term issues that can be easily avoided, some symptoms can have serious long-term health consequences.
We recommend two Chinese Herbs for treating and preventing such skin issues experienced during this time of year. Huang Lian Jie Du Tang, a Coptis & Scute combination, is known to clear heat, remove toxicity, and relieve inflammation. This can help with relieving skin rashes, redness, irritation, inflammation of the skin, and other skin-related issues. Huang Lian is another formula that drains heat and relieves toxins that can show up with common skin concerns in the hot season. Both of these formulas are used topically.
How to Find Quality Chinese Herbs?
When it’s time to find quality Chinese herbs to treat various conditions, it’s important to find a reputable herbal practitioner that prioritizes safety, quality, and high standards. The same should apply to their herbal supplier. KPC is proud to offer over five generations of experience, expertise, and a commitment to quality for all customers. With each herbal formula, we strive to meet the highest standards in the industry and provide the best products to TCM practitioners.
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*Please note: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This article is not intended to suggest specific treatments for patients or that any supplements mentioned prevent or cure diseases or problems. Before taking any herbs, all patients should discuss their options with a licensed practitioner, including any other medications the patient is currently taking, as there may be contraindications between pharmaceuticals and herbs.
