Can limes relieve excessive internal heat (a traditional Chinese medicine concept)?

Aug 02, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, limes can help alleviate symptoms of excessive internal heat ("fire"). Limes are considered to have a cooling property, which helps neutralize excessive internal heat in the body and may relieve discomforts such as dry mouth, sore throat, and swollen gums caused by excessive heat. The high water content in limes can replenish bodily fluids lost due to internal heat, moisturize the throat and oral cavity, and reduce the sensation of dryness.

Generally speaking, lemon can help alleviate excess internal heat. The detailed explanation is as follows:

Lemons are of a cool nature. This characteristic enables them to neutralize excessive internal heat to some extent, helping relieve discomforts caused by excessive internal heat, such as dry mouth and sore throat. The large amount of water contained in lemons helps replenish bodily fluids lost due to excess heat, moisturizing the throat and oral cavity and reducing the sensation of dryness. At the same time, antioxidants like vitamin C in lemons can enhance the body's resistance, promote metabolism, and assist in eliminating harmful substances that cause excessive internal heat, thus regulating the body's condition internally. In addition, drinking lemon-infused water provides a refreshing taste that brings comfort and helps relieve the irritability associated with excessive internal heat.

To avoid unnecessary harm to the body, it is recommended not to rely solely on lemon to relieve severe symptoms of excessive internal heat. If obvious symptoms such as mouth ulcers or constipation appear, dietary adjustments should be combined with reducing intake of spicy and irritating foods. When consuming lemons, moderation is important, as their cooling nature may cause discomfort for individuals with spleen and stomach deficiencies and coldness, potentially leading to abdominal pain and diarrhea.