Can prickly heat powder and cooling water really beat the heat? The facts behind some popular remedies

While prickly heat powder and cooling lotions can provide temporary comfort in tropical climates, they do not lower your body's core temperature and should not be relied upon to prevent heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Dr. Sharen Tian, a family physician, advises that for heat exhaustion, fundamental measures like staying hydrated, seeking shade, using air conditioning, and avoiding strenuous activity during the hottest parts of the day are more effective.

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Products like the prickly heat powder, calamine lotion, and cooling body wipes can certainly improve comfort in hot weather. They may help with sweating, skin irritation, and create a cooling sensation.

"Heatiness," a concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), describes an imbalance caused by excessive heat or insufficient cooling energy. This imbalance can be triggered by environmental factors or by consuming "heaty" foods such as durian, red meat, fried items, and chocolate. Symptoms associated with heatiness include fever, sore throat, mouth ulcers, acne, and excessive thirst, according to acupuncturist Yan Yew Wai.

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However, none of those products can lower your body's core temperature. They should not be relied upon to prevent heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

For those who grew up in Singapore in the 1970s and 1980s, remedies like prickly heat powder, calamine lotion, and various TCM concoctions such as barley water, chrysanthemum tea, and green bean soup were common. These were applied or consumed to keep cool and prevent rashes and other symptoms of heatiness. The article explores the effectiveness of these traditional remedies and modern comfort measures in managing the discomfort of high temperatures.

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For heat exhaustion, she advised, you’re better off sticking to the fundamentals, such as staying well hydrated, seeking shade, using air-conditioning, and avoiding strenuous activities during the hottest parts of the day.