Hyperactivity of the heart fire

Clinical manifestations : Mental restlessness, insomnia, flushed face, thirst, ulceration and pain of the mouth and tongue, hot and deep yellow urine ; hesitant and painful urination in severe cases ; a red tongue and a rapid pulse.

Etiology and pathology : The syndrome is often due to mental depression which turns into fire in prolonged cases ; to retention in the interior of the body of exogenous pathogenic factors turning into fire ; or to excessive indulgence in pungent and hot food, cigarette smoking or alcoholic drinking, all of which produce heat and fire over a long period of time. The heart fire produced in the interior attacks the heart and results in disturbance of the mind, which is the cause of mental restlessness and insomnia. As the tongue is the sprout of the heart, the hyperactive heart fire hares upwards and causes ulceration and pain of the mouth and tongue. Consumption of body fluid by fire and heat gives rise to thirst, hot and deep yellow urine, and even hesitant and painful urination in severe cases. Flushed face, a red tongue and a rapid pulse are the outcomes of hyperactivity of pathogenic heat which accelerates the blood circulation.