What's Happening When You Feel Hot and Want to Rip Off the Blanket During a Fever? How Does Traditional Chinese Medicine View This Scientifically?

Author: Fan Li, Assistant医师 in Traditional Chinese Medicine (Practice License Number: 241411381000562) This article is written by Dr. Fan Li, based on classical theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine and clinical experience, and is intended for general knowledge and educational purposes only. The professional qualifications can be publicly verified on the official website of the National Health Commission of China. Have you ever experienced a situation where, despite having a high fever and feeling hot all over, you don't feel cold at all and even have the urge to rip off the blanket to cool down? This "feeling hot without aversion to cold" is different from the common "feeling cold with fever." How does Traditional Chinese Medicine interpret this body signal? Let's explore this from a scientific perspective.

Why does fever occur in the first place? In Traditional Chinese Medicine, fever is considered a manifestation of the body's defense mechanism against external pathogens. It is believed that when the body is invaded by pathogens, the body's internal energy, or "Qi," becomes imbalanced, leading to an increase in heat. This excess heat manifests as fever, and the body's natural response is to generate more heat to combat the pathogens. However, in some cases, the body's response to fever can be different, leading to the "feeling hot without aversion to cold" phenomenon.

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How Does Traditional Chinese Medicine Interpret the "Feeling Hot Without Aversion to Cold" Phenomenon?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the "feeling hot without aversion to cold" phenomenon is often associated with certain pathogenic factors, such as "wind-heat" or "damp-heat." These pathogenic factors can disrupt the balance of the body's internal energy, leading to an excess of heat in the body. The body's response to this excess heat is to generate more heat, which is why the patient feels hot and wants to rip off the blanket.

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How to Treat "Feeling Hot Without Aversion to Cold" in Traditional Chinese Medicine

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the treatment of "feeling hot without aversion to cold" focuses on balancing the body's internal energy and clearing away the pathogenic factors. This can be achieved through various methods, such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, and diet therapy. Herbal medicine is often used to clear heat and promote the flow of Qi, while acupuncture is used to regulate the body's energy and improve circulation. Diet therapy involves avoiding spicy and hot foods and consuming more cooling foods and drinks.