What Does Traditional Chinese Medicine Say About the "Intermingling of Cold and Heat" When You Feel Cold While Feverish?

Author: Wang Zhengxiang, a licensed Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Practitioner (Practice License No.: 241410926000017) This article is written by Dr. Wang Zhengxiang, based on classical TCM theories and clinical experience, and is intended for general knowledge and educational purposes only. The qualifications can be verified on the official website of the National Health Commission of China. Have you ever experienced a situation where, despite having a high body temperature and feeling hot all over, you still feel cold and shiver, even when covered with thick blankets? This contradictory sensation of feeling feverish yet cold is actually well-explained in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It often points to a key issue – the "clash" of pathogenic factors within the body, and your body is in the midst of a battle against them. In TCM, this condition is known as "intermingling of cold and heat," and it can be caused by various factors, such as external invasion of wind-cold, internal accumulation of dampness, or imbalance of Yin and Yang. The treatment approach for this condition usually involves expelling the cold, clearing heat, and balancing the body's Yin and Yang.

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In TCM, the pathogenesis of "intermingling of cold and heat" is rooted in the imbalance of the body's Yin and Yang. When the body's defensive Qi is weak, it fails to resist external pathogenic factors, leading to the invasion of wind-cold. This invasion can cause the body's Yang Qi to be constrained, resulting in feverish symptoms. At the same time, the body's Yin Qi may be insufficient, leading to a sensation of coldness. The interplay between these two factors creates the contradictory feeling of being feverish yet cold.

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Diagnosis in TCM relies on the four diagnostic methods: inspection, inquiry, listening, and smelling. In the case of "intermingling of cold and heat," the practitioner will observe signs such as fever, chills, sweating, and a pale tongue with a white coating. Based on these signs, the practitioner will determine the specific pattern of disharmony and tailor the treatment accordingly. Treatment may involve herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, and lifestyle adjustments. The goal is to restore the balance of Yin and Yang, expel the pathogenic factors, and strengthen the body's defensive Qi.