Is this the same as deficiency heat (heoyeol)?

Burning sensations in the hands and feet (sujok-beonyeol) refer to the symptoms felt, while deficiency heat (heoyeol) is one of the Korean medicine categories used to describe the pattern of those symptoms. Not all cases of hot hands and feet are caused by deficiency heat.

What else should be checked?

We examine accompanying factors such as numbness or decreased sensation, changes in skin color, presence of diabetes, thyroid or menopausal changes, medications being taken, and whether symptoms worsen at night.

Does the actual temperature of the hands and feet have to be high?

Burning sensations in the hands and feet may involve actual heat when touched, but also include cases where one feels a burning or stifling sensation internally regardless of skin temperature. Recording the actual temperature, visible redness, and burning sensation separately helps narrow down the cause.

When should I undergo medical tests first?

If you experience decreased sensation, an inability to notice injuries, swelling and redness on only one side, or sudden loss of muscle strength, you must first check for neurological, vascular, or inflammatory causes. If symptoms persist after testing, the patterns of heat and cold can be examined along with sleep, sweat, dry mouth, and fatigue.

For burning sensations in the palms and soles, distinguish between sensation and skin temperature.

Burning sensations in the hands and feet is a description of the feeling that the palms or soles are heating up or burning. There is a difference between the skin actually being hot to the touch and only having an internal burning sensation. Whether it is worse at night, affects both sides, or is accompanied by numbness or decreased sensation serves as a clue to determine the cause.

Commonly confused terms and their differences: In Korean medicine, this can be examined in connection with patterns such as yin deficiency with internal heat, but the burning sensation itself is not a diagnostic name or a disease name. Through examination and necessary tests, we first distinguish causes that produce similar symptoms, such as peripheral neuropathy, nerve compression, vascular and skin issues, medications, or the menopausal transition.
Information to record before your visit: Mark the hottest areas on the hand and foot diagrams and record the start time, duration, and relationship with sleep, exercise, footwear, and posture. Also record skin color, edema, rash, wounds, numbness, decreased sensation, changes in muscle strength, diabetes, alcohol consumption, and any new medications. If possible, compare the skin temperature of both sides under the same conditions.
Scope of this material: NINDS data was used to explain the burning sensations and sensory loss that can occur with peripheral nerve issues and the evaluation of their causes. This page is not a criterion for diagnosing Sujok-beonyeol (burning sensations in the hands and feet) as Yin deficiency or for selecting supplements or Korean herbal medicine. You must seek medical attention immediately if you experience rapid muscle weakness, infected foot wounds, or sudden swelling or color change on one side.

Official References

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS): Symptoms, Causes, and Tests for Peripheral Neuropathy

Medical staff who wrote and reviewed this article

Choi Yeon-seung

Chief Director of Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic

The meaning of Sujok-beonyeol, the scope of differential diagnosis, and patient guidance expressions have been reviewed. The last review date was August 25, 2026.

Graduated from Kyung Hee University College of Korean Medicine
Providing Korean medicine treatment since 2010
Symptom treatment from the perspective of heat-cold balance and constitution

Check medical evaluation criteria for my symptoms View full profile

Check the guides where these terms are used

Symptom and Disease GuideBurning sensation in the soles of the feet

Symptom and Disease GuidePeripheral Neuropathy

Heat and Cold ColumnSujok-beonyeol, where the palms and soles feel hot: Why does this happen when test results are normal?

We examine the causes of Sujok-beonyeol, where heat sensations rise to the palms, soles, and face despite no abnormalities in hospital tests, from the perspective of heat (熱) in Korean medicine and provide criteria for self-checking your condition.

Heat and Cold ColumnWhy do I have Sujok-beonyeol symptoms even though my test results are normal?

For those experiencing discomfort from burning sensations in the palms and soles and a feeling of heat rising to the upper body, but who have found no specific abnormalities in general tests, we examine the causes from the perspective of heat (熱) in Korean medicine and provide criteria for self-checking.

Heat and Cold ColumnMy hands and feet feel burning: Why do I feel heat when test results are normal?

For those who feel persistent heat in the palms, soles, and face despite no abnormalities in hospital tests, we provide the causes from a Korean medicine perspective and criteria for self-checking.

Medical GuideWhere should I start checking when sensations of heat and cold recur?

Even if there are no clear abnormalities in tests, recurring sensations of heat and cold are a definite discomfort. By gathering information on the area, time of day, duration, and accompanying changes such as sleep, sweat, and digestion, we can examine the branches of symptoms more precisely from the perspective of heat and cold and determine the direction of Korean medicine treatment.

Medical GuideWhat should I check when heat or cold sensations disrupt my sleep every night?

Nighttime temperatures can make symptoms feel more distinct than during the day, and different causes, such as night sweats, menopausal changes, or neurogenic burning sensations, may overlap. Recording whether it is due to the bedroom temperature, whether it starts before falling asleep, or whether you wake up due to sweating, throbbing, or numbness will help in determining the necessary tests and the sequence of heat-cold medical evaluation.

Comparison of similar terms

Korean Medicine ConceptHeo-yeol

Deficiency heat (Heoyeol) does not mean having a 'heat-prone constitution'; rather, it describes a pattern where heat sensations appear alongside fatigue, changes in sleep, and dry mouth. You should not confirm this diagnosis on your own based on symptoms alone.

Conditions requiring differential diagnosisPeripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy can cause numbness, sensory loss, and burning sensations in the hands and feet. If the burning sensation in the soles persists or sensation becomes dull, do not dismiss it as a constitutional issue; you must have it confirmed at a medical institution.

Korean Medicine ConceptHeat syndrome

Heat syndrome refers to a tendency where various body signals converge toward a 'hot' direction. It is not a disease name referring to fever caused by infection or thyroid disease, so necessary differential diagnosis is required first.