English
When different pathogenic factors become too extreme, they can transform into the fire evil.
Fire and heat evils are referred to the same pathogenic influence but in different intensity. The evil is first appeared as warm in nature, which further develops into heat and then becomes fire as the end product. Also, when any of the other evils become too extreme, they often transform to become the fire evil. The symptoms are usually more intense forms of those associated with the original evils, plus symptoms of extreme heat. Inner fire or heat can be generated by dysfunction of the organs, blood, qi (vital energy) and bodily imbalance, which belong to the presentations of yang qi abundance. Excessive emotional activity or over-indulgence in food, drink, and sex can also lead to inner fire or heat symptoms. Violent anger, for example, often causes a sensation of heat rising from the upper abdomen, where liver-fire is raging. Too much roast and deep-fried food causes fire to collect in the stomach; while deep grief or passion will often cause it to rise to the lungs. In general, heat evil is often originated from external, while fire evil is often originated from internal.
Characteristics of the fire and heat evils
- Fire and heat evils belong to yang evils; they tend to flame upwards in the body, and often affect the head region, to develop flush face, bloodshot eyes, irritability, thirst, and sweating. In serious cases, individuals may have signs like insomnia, mania, and unconsciousness.
- Fire evil is likely to consume qi (vital energy) and impair the body fluids; when it causes internal dryness, individuals will have symptoms like thirst, throat and mouth dryness, scanty urine and hard stools. When there is also qi deficiency, then breath shortness, fatigue and general weakness will appear.
- Fire evil usually impairs the liver meridian, and affects liver functioning, resulting in malnourishment of the tendons. Individuals may have symptoms like high fever, coma, delirium, limbs twitch, and neck stiffness, that TCM claims a endogenous wind syndrome. In addition, fire evil stirs up blood flowing, and damages the blood vessels, leading to bleeding symptoms like blood in stool, bloody urine, bleeding under the skin and heavy menstration in women.
- Fire evil is likely to cause sores and abscess; when fire evil enters into the body, it has a tendency to accumulate and erode the surrounding tissues, leading to sores and abscess. Clinically, for skin problems that appear localized redness, hot and swelling, fire evil is usually to be blamed.
