Can eating sweet potatoes help reduce internal heat when one has excessive internal heat?

Generally speaking, whether eating sweet potatoes can help reduce internal heat ("fire") depends on the specific situation. For mild symptoms of excessive internal heat caused by intestinal dryness and heat, eating an appropriate amount of sweet potatoes may help alleviate the condition. However, if the internal heat is caused by other factors, sweet potatoes may not be effective. Detailed analysis is as follows:

If the symptoms of excessive internal heat manifest as intestinal dryness and heat, such as mild constipation, eating an appropriate amount of sweet potatoes might help reduce the heat. Sweet potatoes are rich in dietary fiber, which can promote intestinal motility, help relieve constipation, and reduce heat accumulation in the intestines, thereby alleviating discomfort caused by intestinal dryness and heat to some extent. Additionally, sweet potatoes have a high water content, which can help replenish body fluids.

However, when excessive internal heat is caused by excess heart fire or upward inflammation of liver fire, manifesting as symptoms like mouth ulcers, sore throat, irritability, and anger, eating sweet potatoes may not effectively reduce the internal heat. These conditions are often associated with internal imbalances of yin and yang and accumulation of pathogenic heat, requiring targeted heat-clearing interventions. Sweet potatoes mainly aid in regulating intestinal function and cannot improve these types of internal heat symptoms.

To alleviate discomfort caused by excessive internal heat, dietary adjustments can be made according to the type of internal heat. At the same time, maintaining regular作息 (作息 means作息 here, perhaps better translated as "lifestyle habits"), avoiding late nights, and refraining from consuming spicy and irritating foods can help reduce the occurrence of excessive internal heat.