What should I do if my mouth is “overheated” (a traditional Chinese medicine concept indicating internal heat) and my lips are dry and cracked?
Disease description:
I stayed up all night last night, and this morning my throat felt hoarse. When I looked in the mirror, I noticed a crack on my lip. I’d like to know how to treat “excess internal heat”-related dryness and cracking of the lips.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. He Haochen
Cracked and inflamed lips can be treated with honey or olive oil. These symptoms are commonly caused by consuming spicy, fried, or grilled foods; excessive fatigue; or emotional stress such as anxiety or anger. If there is exudate in the fissures accompanied by significant pain, begin treatment with moist compresses using cotton swabs soaked in lactic acid ethacridine solution or normal saline. If no obvious exudate is present and the fissure appears clean, apply a lip balm to moisturize the area.
