If you’ve ever been caught in the middle of a meeting, on a subway ride, or simply trying to fall asleep—and suddenly feel a wave of heat flooding your face and chest, sweat pouring down, your heart racing, and your patience thinning—you’re not alone. For many women, especially in their 40s and 50s, hot flashes are more than just a “symptom of menopause.” They can feel intrusive, exhausting, and downright debilitating.
At Five Seasons Healing, we’ve sat with countless women who feel frustrated, depleted, and confused by what their bodies are going through. You may be sleeping poorly, feeling less like yourself, and wondering, Why is this happening—and how can I make it stop?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a different way to understand hot flashes—not just as a hormonal glitch, but as a signal that your body’s deeper reserves are running low.
A TCM Look at Hot Flashes: What’s Really Going On?
In Chinese medicine, while hot flashes may be due to a number of different origins, they are commonly rooted in a pattern called Kidney Yin Deficiency with Heat. This means your body’s cooling, moistening, and stabilizing system—the Yin—is running on empty.
The Kidneys, in TCM, are seen as the foundation of all life processes. They store your deepest vital energy, known as Jing, and they govern everything from growth and fertility to aging and hormonal balance. When the Yin aspect of the Kidneys is deficient, it’s like your internal cooling system has lost its water source—leaving internal heat to rise unchecked.
That rising heat is what you feel as:
- Sudden warmth or flushing in the face, chest, and neck
- Night sweats that wake you up drenched
- Trouble sleeping, especially waking at night hot or restless
- A sensation of heat in the palms, soles, or chest
- Anxiety, irritability, or feeling “wired but tired”
Why Does Kidney Yin Become Deficient?
This pattern is especially common during perimenopause and menopause, but it can start much earlier depending on your lifestyle, constitution, and life experiences. Some of the most common contributing factors include:
- Chronic stress or overwork – pushing through without rest taxes your reserves
- Longstanding poor sleep – the body can’t restore itself at night if it’s not deeply resting
- Excessive heat over time – such as chronic inflammation, overuse of stimulants, or emotional intensity
- Aging and hormonal transitions – Yin naturally declines with age, especially around menopause
- Postpartum depletion – after childbirth, the body needs deep recovery, and if that doesn’t happen, Yin can remain low
Many women we work with are deeply nurturing to others—but often forget to extend that same care to themselves. Kidney Yin Deficiency is the body’s way of saying, I need to be refilled.
How TCM Treats Hot Flashes
Treatment in Chinese medicine focuses on restoring what has been lost and clearing the heat that’s risen in the absence of Yin. Our goal is to gently cool, nourish, and root your energy.
At Five Seasons Healing, we use:
- Acupuncture to balance the nervous system and redirect heat downward
- Chinese herbal formulas to replenish Kidney Yin and clear Deficient Heat
- Dietary and lifestyle guidance to support restorative rest and nourishment
- Emotional support as the body moves through big transitions, especially related to identity, aging, and self-worth
This isn’t about suppressing symptoms—it’s about rebuilding your foundation so your body can once again regulate itself with ease.
Why Supporting the Kidneys is Key
In TCM, the Kidneys are often described as the “roots of life.” When the roots are dry, everything above ground becomes unstable. That’s why we treat the Kidneys—not just the hot flashes themselves.
When your Kidney Yin is replenished, you:
- Sleep more deeply
- Experience fewer and milder hot flashes
- Feel emotionally steadier and more at ease
- Regain clarity, resilience, and a renewed sense of self
Could Your Hot Flashes Be a Sign of Kidney Yin Deficiency?
This is one of the most common patterns we see in our clinic, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. TCM recognizes many different types of hormonal imbalances—and most people experience a unique blend of patterns rather than just one.
✨ Take our free quiz to discover your dominant TCM pattern:
Are Your Hormones Imbalanced According to Traditional Chinese Medicine?
And, if you’d like personalized care and support with your hot flashes, click here to book an appointment with one of our trained TCM practitioners. We’re here to help you on your path towards balance and healing.
