In traditional Chinese medicine, the human body is seen as a holistic system that emphasizes the balance of yin and yang and the smooth flow of qi and blood. When there is heat in the upper body such as redness in the face and dry mouth, and coldness in the lower body like icy legs and feet, it indicates a possible blockage or dysfunction in the middle jiao (spleen and stomach), affecting the circulation of qi and blood as well as the balance of yin and yang. The causes of this condition are varied, including poor dietary habits, emotional stress, individual constitution, and environmental factors.
For the condition of “heat above and cold below,” traditional Chinese medicine offers several methods for adjustment:
1. Chinese herbal treatment: Use personalized herbal formulas to harmonize internal heat and cold, nourish qi and blood, such as Fuzi Lizhong Pill, Guizhi Fuling Pill, but use under medical guidance. 2. Acupuncture: Select specific acupuncture points such as Zusanli, Guanyuan, Taixi to warm and nourish the lower jiao and promote kidney yang, while using Quchi, Hegu, and other points to clear upper jiao heat, promote heart and lung function.
3. Cupping and Gua Sha: Help release meridian blockages, promote blood circulation, such as cupping the bladder meridian on the back to dispel cold and dampness, and gua sha on the shoulders and neck to relieve upper body heat symptoms.
4. Moxibustion: Use mild heat to warm the middle and lower jiao, boost yang qi, such as moxibustion at Guanyuan, Qihai, Sanyinjiao points, while harmonizing heart and lung function.
5. Dietary adjustments: Advocate for warm-nourishing foods like millet, Chinese yam, reduce spicy and greasy foods, increase vegetable and fruit intake, promote digestion, prevent damp-heat accumulation.
6. Emotional well-being and healthcare: Stabilize emotions through meditation, tai chi, and other practices, regulate qi flow, maintain a positive mindset, and promote heart-kidney coordination.
In daily life, regular schedule, sufficient sleep, moderate exercise, and a good living environment are key to maintaining body balance. The adjustment process requires time and sustained effort, aiming to assist the body in naturally returning to a harmonious state.
