Excessive Sweating

Excessive sweating is one of those conditions seen as more of an annoyance than anything else. Yet it is a sign of imbalance in the body. From a conventional medicine perspective, it can be a sign of an overactive thyroid, a low blood sugar level, or an abnormality in the autonomic nervous system.

In traditional Chinese medicine, chronic excessive sweating is typically categorized as a deficiency of Yin (night sweats) or a deficiency of Yang and Defensive Qi (spontaneous sweating). Yin and Yang are considered opposing qualities in the body, with Yin simulating the qualities of water, including coldness, downward direction, and deficiency; whereas Yang simulates the qualities of fire, including hotness, upward direction, and excess. Ideally, Yin and Yang should be in balance-neither too much water nor too much fire. Let me explain two different cases of excessive sweating to demonstrate:

Patient A was a 49-year-old female whose chief complaint was severe night sweats as well as occasional daytime menopausal hot flashes. In recent years she noticed that she had become increasingly sensitive to heat, was more irritable, and had difficulty staying asleep, all symptoms of Yin deficiency (and thus too much Yang, or "fire"). A combination of acupuncture and herbs helped alleviate her night sweats as well as her other symptoms.

Patient B was a 12-year-old girl whose chief complaint was excessively sweaty hands and feet. Although in good general health, she was sensitive to cold, had less energy than she thought she should, and caught colds quite frequently. These symptoms fit the picture of Yang and Defensive Qi deficiency. In her case herbal therapy was used, and within a few months, her hands and feet were sweating less.

If you have a problem with excessive sweating or if you would like to know if holistic medicine might be of benefit to you, you are welcome to call me at 858/673-1397 for a free phone consultation.

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Rancho Bernardo Sun/ Diamond Gateway Signature
February 2002