Don't Scrape Blindly for Heatstroke! Use Acupoint Massage and Cooling Foods to Beat Both 'Yin' and 'Yang' Heatstroke

Feeling headaches and chest tightness? Many people’s first reaction is “Quick, let’s do Gua Sha (scraping therapy)!”

But did you know that Gua Sha isn’t a cure-all? Done incorrectly, it’s not only ineffective but may “drive pathogenic factors deeper” and worsen your symptoms.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), heatstroke is classified into “Yin heatstroke” and “Yang heatstroke”. To properly relieve heat-related illness, you must first identify your body constitution and heatstroke type.

Yin and Yang Heatstroke from a TCM Perspective

From a TCM standpoint, heatstroke occurs when “summer-heat pathogen” invades the body or when thermoregulation fails. The causes and symptoms of these two types are completely different:

1. Yang Heatstroke (Qi and Fluid Depletion)

	Yang Heatstroke (Qi and Fluid Depletion)	Yin Heatstroke (Cold-Dampness Invasion)
Cause	This is the most common type — “staying under the scorching sun for too long”. Profuse sweating under intense heat depletes the body’s vital energy and fluids.	This is the type modern people are most prone to — “air conditioning sickness.” Rushing into a heavily air-conditioned room right after heavy sweating, or gulping down icy drinks to cool off. Pores snap shut due to cold contraction, trapping internal heat with no way to escape.
Symptoms	High body temperature, excessive sweating, thirst, reduced urination, weakness.	Low-grade fever without sweating, headache, heavy limbs, nausea, diarrhea.
TCM Treatment	Focus on replenishing Qi and nourishing Yin to generate fluids (e.g., Bai Hu Tang / White Tiger Decoction).	Administer warming and cold-dispersing remedies based on the affected area (e.g., Ge Gen Tang or Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San).

The Science and Taboos of Gua Sha: Are You Doing It Right?

The principle behind Gua Sha is using external force to forcibly open the capillaries on the skin surface, releasing the trapped heat (summer-heat pathogen). However, not every type of heatstroke is suitable for Gua Sha!

Yang Heatstroke Is Suitable for Gua Sha

In Yang heatstroke, the heat is at the “surface level” waiting to be released. Gently scraping along the Dazhui acupoint and both sides of the neck and shoulders until slight red marks (sha) appear can help dissipate the trapped heat.

Yin Heatstroke Strictly Prohibits Gua Sha

During Yin heatstroke, pores have already contracted and sealed shut due to cold. Forceful scraping not only has limited effect but may also damage the skin surface.

Most importantly, after Gua Sha your pores are wide open — you must absolutely avoid blowing air conditioning directly on yourself, otherwise cold air will penetrate straight into your body and make things even worse!

Gua Sha Reminder: After Gua Sha, drink a cup of warm water and make sure to rest in a room-temperature environment to avoid catching cold from drafts.

Common Gua Sha scraping locations in TCM

Acupoint Massage Self-Help Techniques

If Gua Sha isn’t convenient, using your hands for acupoint massage is also a gentle and effective way to find relief.

	Recommended Acupoints	Effect
Yang Heatstroke Heat Relief	Dazhui (GV14), Taiyang (EX-HN5)	Helps clear heat and refresh the mind, relieving hot and uncomfortable sensations in the head.
Yin Heatstroke Relief	Neiguan (PC6), Fengchi (GB20)	Relieves chest tightness and nausea (Neiguan) and headache tension (Fengchi).

Below are the acupoint location descriptions

Acupoint	Location
Dazhui (GV14)	The depression below the most prominent bone at the back of the neck when you lower your head
Taiyang (EX-HN5)	Located in the depression at the intersection of the eyebrow tip and outer eye corner (one on each side)
Neiguan (PC6)	About three finger-widths above the wrist crease, between the two tendons
Fengchi (GB20)	At the back of the neck, below the hairline, in the depressions on both sides (one on each side)

Cooling Food Therapy and Herbal Tea Remedies

Eating the right foods can double your heat-relief results! Here are TCM-recommended summer remedies:

Food	Description
Herbal Cooling Tea	Replenishes Qi and nourishes Yin, made with American ginseng, Ophiopogon root, and Schisandra berry (based on the Sheng Mai Yin formula). This tea replenishes the vital energy lost through sweating and quenches thirst, ideal for those with Yang heatstroke who spend long periods outdoors.
Si Shen Soup (Four Herbs Soup)	Strengthens the spleen and eliminates dampness. Si Shen Soup boosts metabolism and vital energy, making it an excellent supplement for those who easily feel fatigued and lose appetite during summer.
Sour Plum Juice	Its sour-sweet properties nourish Yin, generating fluids and quenching thirst
Herbal Grass Jelly Tea	Refreshingly cooling and heat-reducing, suitable for moderate consumption during Yang heatstroke
Warm Ginger Tea	Drink it hot during Yin heatstroke! Warm ginger tea helps open the pores, allowing trapped heat to escape through perspiration

In Summary

When facing summer heat pathogens, the most important thing is to “treat according to the specific condition”.

Yang heatstroke focuses on clearing heat and generating fluids — cool down and hydrate; Yin heatstroke focuses on dispersing cold and promoting sweating — keep warm and drive out the cold.

By making good use of TCM acupoint massage and herbal tea remedies and maintaining a healthy spleen and stomach, you can fundamentally enhance your body’s ability to adapt to hot environments and enjoy a healthy, refreshing summer.