Heat in the Palms and Soles

Q I've had diabetes for a long time and lately my soles burn. Should I consider this the same symptom?

A. In people with long-standing diabetes, burning soles can stem from peripheral neuropathy, so it needs to be distinguished. If numbness or tingling is also present, checking your diabetes control and the state of your feet comes first. This should not be assumed without checking.

Q My hands and feet burn and also sweat a lot. Is this the same as hyperhidrosis, or different?

A. Heat in the palms and soles and hyperhidrosis can occur together but focus on different things. Heat is about the burning sensation itself; hyperhidrosis is about excessive sweat volume. When both overlap, the cause needs to be examined together.

Q I had blood tests and nerve tests done and everything came back normal. So why does the burning continue?

A. Burning can continue even when tests come back normal. Blood and nerve tests look at structural problems or specific values, and a functional balance issue like thinned fluid reserves often isn't captured. A normal result should be read as ruling out a dangerous cause.

Q My palms and soles burn, and I've also lost weight and my heart races. Could this be connected to something else?

A. If weight loss, heart palpitations, and heavy sweating occur along with palm-and-sole heat, other causes such as thyroid dysfunction need to be distinguished. With this combination, please get the relevant tests done before Korean medicine treatment. Once the cause is clear, Korean medicine care can be added.

Q My hands and feet get so hot at night that I keep them out from under the blanket, and I'm worried about catching a cold. How should I manage this?

A. Using a thin blanket and wearing breathable fabric helps. Washing your hands and feet with lukewarm water before bed brings temporary relief for some people. Above all, keeping a regular sleep schedule matters most for the underlying management.

Q Would drinking a lot of water help? How much should I drink a day?

A. Adequate hydration helps replenish fluid reserves, but drinking small amounts several times a day is more effective than a lot at once. Plain water or lukewarm tea is better than caffeinated drinks. The right amount can vary by constitution and condition, so please check with us at the visit.

Q I have diabetes, and lately my soles burn while sensation feels dulled and a small wound isn't healing. Should I get checked right away?

A. If you have diabetes and are experiencing reduced sensation together with a slow-healing wound, checking for diabetic foot should come first. This combination needs proper testing before Korean medicine treatment. If you have this combination, please don't delay seeking care.

Q Suddenly only one foot is burning and the color seems different. Is this okay?

A. A sudden burning sensation limited to one foot along with a color change should first be checked for a possible vascular issue. If fever, sudden weight loss, or heavy sweating accompany it, thyroid problems also need to be ruled out. Please prioritize testing in this case.

Q I'm taking menopausal hormone medication. Is it okay to take herbal medicine alongside it?

A. It is common to combine herbal medicine with hormone medication, and most of the time both can be managed together without major issues. However, you must accurately tell us what you are taking at the visit so the combination can be adjusted safely. Please don't stop or combine medications on your own — go through a consultation.

Q Once I start treatment, when does it usually start feeling better?

A. We usually look at progress in units of 1 to 3 months. A drop in how often nighttime heat wakes you tends to come first, followed by a gradual easing in intensity and extent. Longer-standing cases can take more time.

Q Every night my palms and soles burn so much I keep sticking them out from under the blanket. Why does this happen?

A. Heat in the palms and soles often appears when the body's fluids and reserves that cool it down have thinned. Actual body temperature has not risen; it is the burning sensation itself that stands out at the palms and soles. This is especially common around menopause.

Q I'm a 48-year-old woman. My face doesn't flush, but my palms and soles burn a lot. Could this be menopause?

A. During menopause it is also common for heat to appear only in the palms and soles rather than as facial flushing. Not having facial flushing does not mean it is unrelated to menopause. The spot where heat gathers differs from person to person.

Q I'm fine during the day, but when I lie down at night my hands and feet burn more and I can't sleep. Why does it get worse at night?

A. At night, heat that was dispersed by daytime activity tends to gather at the limbs. In people with thin fluid reserves, once activity drops and the body relaxes at night, the inner heat stands out more. Rising temperature under the blanket adds to it.

Q When I eat spicy food, my palms and soles seem to burn more. Is there a connection to food?

A. Spicy, stimulating food, caffeine, and alcohol can raise the body's inner heat and often make the burning worse. Conversely, staying well hydrated and eating foods that keep the body moist can help. It's worth tracking whether your symptoms worsen after specific foods.

Q On days when I'm very stressed and haven't slept well, my hands and feet burn noticeably more the next day. Is there a connection?

A. Stress and lack of sleep can further deplete the body's fluid reserves and worsen the heat. When the body doesn't get enough time to recover, its ability to hold down inner heat also drops. If symptoms worsen on days you feel off, this pattern is likely a major factor.

Q I work in Incheon Dong-gu and can only come after work. Is that possible, and how often should I visit?

A. We recommend about twice a week early on, adjusted to your work schedule. Many people from around Incheon Dong-gu use after-work hours, so we discuss and set the schedule together at the first visit. If frequent visits are hard, we compensate by placing more weight on herbal medicine and lifestyle management.

Q What order do you follow at the clinic for treating palm-and-sole heat?

A. First we check when and under what circumstances it worsens and whether accompanying symptoms (diabetes, reduced sensation, systemic symptoms, etc.) are present, to screen out warning signs. Then, based on the degree of fluid deficiency and your constitution, we combine acupuncture with herbal medicine suited to your constitution. Lifestyle adjustments are guided alongside.

Q I tried acupuncture elsewhere before and it only helped temporarily before the burning came back. Will this time be different?

A. If relief was temporary and it recurred, the previous approach may have focused only on the local spot. Without addressing the underlying fluid deficiency and constitutional state, symptoms tend to repeat. With care that narrows down the cause, you can expect the interval between recurrences to lengthen and intensity to ease.