Generalfā rè

Fever

Also called:high temperaturepyrexia

From the TCM perspective: Fever (fārè): external excess heat or internal heat

Overview

Fever is an elevation of body temperature above normal, often with warmth, flushing and thirst. TCM distinguishes externally-contracted fever (wind-cold, wind-heat or summerheat in acute infection) from internal-injury fever such as yin-deficiency afternoon tidal fever or qi-deficiency fever.

☯Common patterns (syndrome differentiation)

Wind-heat at the exterior

Key distinguishing signs: Acute fever with mild aversion to cold, thirst, red throat, slight sweat, rapid floating pulse, red tongue with thin yellow coat
Treatment principle: Disperse wind and release the exterior with cool acrid herbs, clear heat

Wind-cold binding the exterior

Key distinguishing signs: Mild fever with marked chills, absence of sweat, body aches, clear nasal discharge, tight floating pulse
Treatment principle: Release the exterior with warm acrid herbs, diffuse the lung and disperse cold

Yin-deficiency fever

Key distinguishing signs: Low-grade or afternoon/evening heat, hot palms and soles, night sweats, dry mouth, fine rapid pulse
Treatment principle: Nourish yin and clear deficiency heat

Qi-deficiency fever

Key distinguishing signs: Fever that worsens with fatigue and eases with rest, tiredness, weak voice, poor appetite, pale tongue with tooth marks
Treatment principle: Tonify central qi and raise yang with sweet-warm method

Daily self-care

Rest and drink plenty of tepid fluids (mint/chrysanthemum tea for heat, ginger tea for cold).
Keep the room cool and clothing light; use tepid sponging for high fever.
Monitor temperature regularly and record accompanying symptoms.

When to seek medical help

The following warning signs require prompt medical evaluation — do not rely on self-treatment:

Fever ≥39°C that persists or recurs, or fever lasting over 3 days without improvement.
Fever with stiff neck, severe headache, rash, confusion or seizures.
Fever in infants under 3 months, or fever with breathing difficulty, repeated vomiting or dehydration.

Medical disclaimer: Educational content about traditional Chinese medicine for information only; it is not a diagnosis or treatment and does not replace a qualified clinician. If symptoms worsen or warning signs appear, seek medical care.

All symptoms