What Causes Heat Sensation in the Hands and Feet?
Dec 31, 2021
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Junfeng
Introduction
Palmar and plantar heat is typically caused by yin deficiency of the liver and kidneys, leading to hyperactivity of deficient fire. Insufficiency of liver blood and kidney yin can produce numerous symptoms: in addition to palmar and plantar heat, these include tidal fever, night sweats, difficulty falling asleep at night, frequent dreaming during sleep, easy awakening, poor mood during the day, fatigue, exhaustion, dry eyes, and dry mouth—all manifestations of yin deficiency.
Yin-Yang imbalance includes “Yin deficiency with internal heat.” This condition may arise following excessive sweating, vomiting, febrile illnesses, or prolonged disease that depletes Yin fluids in the body. When insufficient Yin fails to counterbalance Yang (i.e., “water cannot control fire”), symptoms of Yin deficiency with internal heat emerge. Individuals with Yin deficiency should avoid staying up late and consuming spicy or stimulating foods. Yin-Yang imbalance can manifest as warmth or heat in the hands and feet. However, warmth in the hands and feet may also result from other causes. What, then, are the underlying reasons? Let’s explore this further.
What Causes Warmth or Heat in the Hands and Feet?
Warmth in the palms and soles is commonly attributed to Liver-Kidney Yin deficiency and consequent hyperactivity of deficient fire. Deficiency of Liver blood and Kidney Yin can trigger numerous symptoms—not only warmth in the palms and soles, but also tidal fever, night sweats, difficulty falling asleep, frequent dreaming during sleep, easy awakening, poor daytime mood, fatigue, general exhaustion, dry eyes, and dry mouth—all resulting from Yin deficiency. Additionally, Liver blood deficiency may lead to reduced menstrual flow in women.
The Liver opens into the eyes; thus, impaired Liver function compromises nourishment to the eyes, potentially causing diminished memory and blurred vision. Kidney Yin deficiency may cause soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, or spontaneous, persistent erections in men. Regardless of whether the primary deficiency lies in the Liver or Kidney, warmth in the palms and soles warrants timely treatment. For such patterns of Yin deficiency with internal heat, herbal formulas such as Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Rehmannia Six), Qi Ju Di Huang Wan (Lycium & Chrysanthemum Rehmannia Pill), or Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan (Anemarrhena, Phellodendron & Rehmannia Pill) may be used to clear heat and nourish Yin.
Knowledge Extension: How to Manage Warmth in the Hands and Feet
1. Regulate Emotions
Negative emotions are a common trigger for warmth in the palms and soles. Therefore, individuals experiencing this symptom should promptly regulate their emotional state, avoiding excessive excitement or emotional agitation that may stimulate the body and exacerbate warmth in the hands and feet.
2. Adjust Constitutional Balance
Patients with underlying Kidney deficiency frequently experience warmth in the palms and soles. When warmth arises due to Kidney deficiency, attention must be paid to improving constitutional balance. Numerous methods exist for managing this symptom, among which Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapy is highly effective. Consuming Kidney-nourishing foods—such as lamb, black beans, and walnuts—can help alleviate warmth in the palms and soles.
3. Adjust Diet
Individuals experiencing warmth in the palms and soles may also improve their symptoms through dietary adjustments. Foods particularly suitable include ginger, pumpkin, scallions, onions, garlic, leeks, carrots, lychee, longan fruit, lotus seeds, jujubes (red dates), glutinous rice, walnuts, beef, chicken, duck, goose, shrimp, crucian carp, eel, and silver carp. These foods possess warming properties and help dispel cold from the body.
The above outlines the primary causes of warmth in the hands and feet. We hope this information proves helpful to you.
