My Feet Are Hot! What Causes Burning Soles?

Hello, this is Choi Yeon-seung, a Doctor of Korean Medicine at Baengnokdam Korean Medicine Clinic.

Strangely, My Feet Feel Hot

“Doctor, the soles of my feet are strangely too hot. It's not like I have a fever or anything; it's just my soles.”

This is a complaint I often hear in the consultation room.

It's not that the entire body feels hot or feverish, nor is there any noticeable cause like a cold or inflammation.

Yet, some people experience only their soles feeling scorching hot, or find that the heat rises so much when they lie down at night that they have to stick their feet out from under the blanket.

Causes of the Sensation of Hot Soles

People often speculate about this symptom, saying things like, 'It feels like poor circulation,' 'It feels like heat is accumulating inside,' or 'Could it be due to sensitive nerves?'

However, many people visit a hospital for diagnosis only to be told there's nothing particularly wrong.

So, where does this heat truly originate?

Upper-Lower Imbalance

Particularly, those who complain of an upper-lower imbalance, such as "cold hands, hot feet," can be seen as having more than just simple peripheral symptoms; it's a sign that the energy distribution within the body is disrupted.

Foot Heat That Worsens at Night

“During the day, it's still bearable, but only at night, my soles get so hot that it disrupts my sleep.”

The fact that the hot sensation in the feet worsens at night is not simply a matter of external temperature.

Lower Jiao Deficiency

Externally, it feels as if it's burning hot, but internally, it's light and weak like a deflated balloon. In such cases, Korean medicine often describes it as a deficiency of the Lower Jiao.

The Uterus and Hot Soles in Women

Especially in women, the energy storage structure centered around the uterus can contribute to the hot sensation in the soles of the feet.

Complex Causes of the Hot Soles Sensation

It's easy to assume that if your soles are hot, simply cooling them down will make them better. However, it is often the case that symptoms are comfortable in warm environments but actually worsen in cold ones.

Disturbance of Autonomic Nerves and Sensation

“My soles are constantly hot.” Behind such an expression, a subtle state of nervous excitation often hides.

Treatment Approach

The symptom of "hot soles" is clearly sensory. However, the way to address this sensation is not by suppressing or dulling the sensation itself.

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Baengnokdam Korean Medicine Clinic, 3rd Floor, Songdo Dream City, 81 Convensia-daero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon

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