Do You Have Too Much Body Heat? Take This Quiz To Find Out

Do you give off a lot of body heat, even when it’s cold outside? Do you often feel tired, dizzy, or have headaches? If so, this could be a sign that you have a heaty body type.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a heaty body type stems from both internal and external factors. It could make you prone to certain health ailments.

Take this short quiz to identify the potential risk factors and learn how natural remedies can help regulate your body temperature. 

How To Reduce Body Heat

The symptoms of a heaty body can develop progressively or suddenly and may include:  

• Fatigue
• Headache
• Dizziness 
• Weakness 
• Nausea or vomiting 
• Muscle cramps 
• Heavy sweating during a workout 
• Cool, moist skin when exposed to sunlight 
• Ulcer or canker sores

If you’re in a hot or humid environment and are experiencing any of these symptoms, move to a cooler space immediately. It’s also important to hydrate with water or a sports beverage.

Additionally, a few natural remedies may help reduce your internal body heat pronto.

Coconut water 

Drinking coconut water can bring down your temperature almost immediately. It also provides a multitude of vitamins and minerals to maintain good health, such as potassium, electrolytes, calcium, and magnesium.

In TCM, it is a yin cooling food and is beneficial for those who suffer from excessive Heat.

A daily serving of coconut water during hot weather provides hydration while helping regulate body temperature, boost energy levels, and prevent infections.

Sandalwood

A powder, soap, or skin cream containing sandalwood can be used topically to achieve a cooling effect on the body. 

Seeds 

Basil, fenugreek, coriander, and flaxseeds can be eaten to lower body temperature.

• Basil seeds must be soaked in water before mixing with milk and rose water.
• Fenugreek seeds can be eaten raw or steeped overnight in water.
• Coriander seeds have the added benefits of ensuring healthy digestion and calming inflammation.
• Flaxseeds may also help to control blood pressure, support healthy weight loss, and relieve constipation. 

Cooling foods 

Body-cooling foods are integral to your efforts to keep cool during hot weather. Examples of these include various fruits and vegetables, such as: 

• Cucumber 
• Spinach 
• Aloe vera

• Bitter gourd 
• Chinese cabbage 
• Fresh curd 
• White radish 
• Winter melon 

• Mushrooms
• Pineapples  
• Pomegranates 
• Mung beans 
• Coix pearl barley 

However, TCM cautions that eating too many cold or cool-natured foods can damage a woman’s uterus and ovaries. 

The prolonged eating of these can result in Cold coagulation and Blood Stasis. While you should eat cooling foods in moderation, try to avoid heaty foods that are oily, spicy, or fried.

Other Ways To Cool A Heaty Body 

In TCM, leading a fast-paced life is cited as the primary cause of excess Heat in the body. This theory is similar to the clinical point of view that too much adrenaline and cortisol can provoke inflammation onset.

Long-term stress can lead to phlegm production and Blood and Qi Stagnation. Subsequently, these pathogenic factors impair circulation and make phlegm gluey and difficult to discharge.

Likewise, the accumulation of phlegm and Heat in the body will obstruct the functions of the organs of perception: the mouth, nose, tongue, ears, and eyes.

To treat this, a licensed TCM practitioner may prescribe herbal remedies and acupuncture treatment that help to: 

• Dispel phlegm and Heat 
• Replenish blood, moisture, and jing (essence) to regulate yang (active energy) production 

Herbal infusions or ingredients  

Watermelon fruit and seeds are popular remedies to clear Heat from the body and increase body fluids.

A hot cup of chrysanthemum flower tea can also help alleviate Heat from the chest and Heart and improve eye and skin health.

Herbal remedies like Yin Qiao powder and Sang Ju powder can disperse Wind-Heat. Meanwhile, you can take an herbal heat expulsion supplement to help cool a hearty body.

Acupuncture treatment  

Acupuncture treatment can help relieve the symptoms of a heaty body.

Multiple acupoints on the body can be targeted to achieve symptomatic relief. Examples of these are: 

• Qu Chi (LI11): Helps relieve fever; clears skin rash 

• He Gu (LI4): Helps relieve headaches and red and dry eyes 
• Qu Ze (PC3): Helps treat a heatstroke 
• Shao Fu (HT8): Relieves excessive thirst, tongue ulcers, or a sore throat 

Recognizing and treating the signs of a heaty body early can prevent permanent damage to your health.

Traditional remedies may address your condition holistically but do speak to a licensed practitioner before self-medicating.

If this quiz has helped you understand the effects of excessive body heat, share it with your loved ones!  

This is an adaptation of an article called “Are you an ice beauty?” that first appeared on Health 123’s website.