Hot Flashes

In Western medicine, hot flashes are characterized as transient episodes of warmth, flushing, and sweating, most commonly associated with menopause and andropause (Freedman, 2001, Obstetrics & Gynecology). The phenomenon is understood to originate in the hypothalamus, which perceives a rise in body temperature and initiates a physiological response involving increased heart rate and vasodilation at the skin's surface to facilitate cooling (Rossmanith & Ruebberdt, 2009, Gynecological Endocrinology). Conversely, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) attributes hot flashes to a kidney Yin deficiency, manifesting as a pattern of disharmony (Chen et al., 2015, Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine). Such disharmonies result in 'false heat' symptoms like night sweats, five-palm heat, and thirst, which are indicative of depleted body fluids and essence, as well as other symptoms like dizziness and tinnitus. Both medical paradigms offer distinct perspectives on the etiology and symptomology of hot flashes.