Shi Di Shui (Ten Drops Water, 十滴水) is a classic Chinese medicine for treating heat-stroke and the related symptoms of headache, dizziness, nausea, abdominal pain and gastrointestinal discomfort caused by heat-stroke in summer time. Until relatively recently when fans, air conditioners and cold drinks become common in China, Shi Di Shui is one of the most commonly used medicine in a summer first aid kit for home and travel. And companies and institutions usually distribute this summer first aid kit to their workers in summer season.
Shi Di Shui contains rhubarb root, chili peppers, fennel, camphor, peppermint oil, cinnamon and ginger. Why this formula uses hot herbs to treat heat-stroke? Does it add fuel to fire? Well, according to traditional Chinese medicine, heat-stroke is caused by the condition that the channels from inner body to the skin is blocked, and excessive heat in the body can not escape. That is why the most noticeable symptom of heat-stroke is that the patient has no sweat. So the treatment for this disorder is to open the channels, let heat escape from the skin, let sweat pour out to cool the body as it evaporates. Shi Di Shui does not only contain hot-pungent herbs (chili peppers, ginger and cinnamon), it also contains cold-pungent herbs (peppermint and camphor) and laxative herb rhubarb root. The idea of this formula is to use hot-pungent and cold-pungent herbs as diaphoretic to let heat escape through skin by sweating, and use laxative herb to let some heat escape through intestines.
Shi Di Shui is sold in form of liquids. It could be found in a Chinese herbal store.
For more information about natural remedies for heat-stroke, go to Natural Remedies Center: http://www.naturalremediescenter.com/treat/heat-stroke/
