1
Kidney yin deficiency
- Key distinguishing signs
- Hot flashes with night sweats, dizziness, tinnitus, hot palms/soles and dry throat, red tongue with little coat
- Treatment principle
- Nourish kidney yin and subdue floating yang
Women's Healthcháo rè
Hot flashes
Also called:hot flushesvasomotor symptoms
From the TCM perspective: Tidal heat: perimenopausal yin decline
Overview
Hot flashes are sudden waves of heat in the face and chest with flushing and sweat, common around menopause. TCM explains them by declining kidney yin with deficiency yang floating upward, sometimes with liver yang rising or combined yin-yang deficiency.
☯Common patterns (syndrome differentiation)
2
Liver yang rising
- Key distinguishing signs
- Sudden heat with headache, dizziness, irritability, insomnia and elevated pressure, strong wiry pulse
- Treatment principle
- Calm the liver and subdue yang
3
Qi and blood deficiency
- Key distinguishing signs
- Mild hot flashes with fatigue, palpitations, pallor and poor sleep, pale tongue and fine weak pulse
- Treatment principle
- Tonify qi and nourish blood
4
Yin-yang deficiency
- Key distinguishing signs
- Hot flashes followed by chills, sweating, irregular cycles, alternating heat and cold
- Treatment principle
- Harmonize and regulate yin and yang
Daily self-care
- Layer clothing and keep rooms cool; avoid triggers (spicy food, caffeine, alcohol, stress).
- Favor yin-nourishing foods (soy, lotus seeds, black beans, pear) and practice tai chi/qigong.
- Use slow deep breathing during a flash and track timing and triggers.
When to seek medical help
The following warning signs require prompt medical evaluation — do not rely on self-treatment:
- Hot flashes with any postmenopausal bleeding, or heavy/irregular bleeding.
- Continuous (non-flash) heat with fever, night sweats or weight loss.
- Severe symptoms disrupting sleep or daily life with palpitations or uncontrolled blood pressure.
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.