Excessive Sweating in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Understanding different excessive sweating patterns according to TCM theory

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10
TCM Patterns
56
Formulas
Overview
What causes it 10 TCM patterns documented
How to recognize Symptoms specific to each excessive sweating pattern
Classical remedies 56 herbal formulas documented

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), excessive sweating is seen as a manifestation of internal imbalances and disharmonies within the body. Unlike Western medicine, which often targets the symptoms directly, TCM aims to identify and treat the root causes. In TCM,it can arise from various patterns such as Heat, Wind, Dampness, Cold, and Yin Deficiency. Determining the precise pattern is essential for effective treatment, as each pattern requires a specific therapeutic approach to restore balance and harmony.

TCM Patterns for Excessive Sweating

Heat

Causes: Sweating, Profuse sweating, Sweating on limbs

7 variations documented
Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine
How it presents with excessive sweating

Sweating

Along with: Abdominal pain, Abdominal fullness, Diarrhea, Hematochezia, Mucous in feces, Smelly stools,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Dry-Heat or Dry-Fire
How it presents with excessive sweating

Sweating

Along with: Fever, Thirst, Excessive sweating, Sore throat, Skin dryness, Dry nose,

Exterior-Heat
How it presents with excessive sweating

Sweating

Along with: Aversion to cold, Fever, Excessive sweating, Thirst, Body pain, Stiff neck

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Lung Heat
How it presents with excessive sweating

Sweating

Along with: Feeling of heat, Thirst, High fever, Cough with thin yellow sputum, Shortness of breath, Excessive sweating,

Wind-Heat
How it presents with excessive sweating

Sweating

Along with: Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital stiffness,

Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines
How it presents with excessive sweating

Profuse sweating, Sweating on limbs

Along with: Afternoon fever, Excessive sweating, Abdominal fullness, Abdominal pain, Constipation, Dry stools,

Bright Yang Stomach Heat
How it presents with excessive sweating

Profuse sweating

Along with: High fever, Excessive sweating, Excessive thirst, Flushed face, Feeling of heat, Irritability,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Wind

Causes: Sweating, Profuse sweating, Sweating on limbs

6 variations documented
Damp-Wind
How it presents with excessive sweating

Sweating

Along with: Aversion to cold, Fever, Neck gland swelling, Nausea, Excessive sweating, Occipital stiffness,

Dry-Wind
How it presents with excessive sweating

Sweating

Along with: Aversion to cold, Excessive sweating, Skin dryness, Dry nose, Dry mouth, Dry throat,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Wind-Heat
How it presents with excessive sweating

Sweating

Along with: Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital stiffness,

Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines
How it presents with excessive sweating

Profuse sweating, Sweating on limbs

Along with: Afternoon fever, Excessive sweating, Abdominal fullness, Abdominal pain, Constipation, Dry stools,

Bright Yang Stomach Heat
How it presents with excessive sweating

Profuse sweating

Along with: High fever, Excessive sweating, Excessive thirst, Flushed face, Feeling of heat, Irritability,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Wind-Damp
How it presents with excessive sweating

Sweating

Along with: Excessive sweating, Feeling of heaviness, Edema, Urinary dysfunction, Ascites, Rheumatic heart disease,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Dampness

Causes: Sweating

4 variations documented
Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine
How it presents with excessive sweating

Sweating

Along with: Abdominal pain, Abdominal fullness, Diarrhea, Hematochezia, Mucous in feces, Smelly stools,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Damp-Wind
How it presents with excessive sweating

Sweating

Along with: Aversion to cold, Fever, Neck gland swelling, Nausea, Excessive sweating, Occipital stiffness,

Summer Heat with Dampness
How it presents with excessive sweating

Sweating

Along with: Fever, Aversion to cold, Excessive sweating, Headaches, Feeling of heaviness, Tight feeling in chest and stomach,

Wind-Damp
How it presents with excessive sweating

Sweating

Along with: Excessive sweating, Feeling of heaviness, Edema, Urinary dysfunction, Ascites, Rheumatic heart disease,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Cold

Causes: Sweating, Profuse sweating, Sweating on limbs

3 variations documented
Empty-Cold
How it presents with excessive sweating

Sweating

Along with: Chills, Cold extremities, Pale face, Absence of thirst, Apathy, Excessive sweating,

Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines
How it presents with excessive sweating

Profuse sweating, Sweating on limbs

Along with: Afternoon fever, Excessive sweating, Abdominal fullness, Abdominal pain, Constipation, Dry stools,

Bright Yang Stomach Heat
How it presents with excessive sweating

Profuse sweating

Along with: High fever, Excessive sweating, Excessive thirst, Flushed face, Feeling of heat, Irritability,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Yin Deficiency

Causes: Sweating

2 variations documented
Kidney Yin Deficiency
How it presents with excessive sweating

Sweating

Along with: Excessive sweating, Back pain, Hearing loss, Dry mouth and throat at night, Lower back pain, Constipation,

Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang
How it presents with excessive sweating

Sweating

Along with: Menopausal symptoms, Hypertension, Irregular periods, Menopausal hot flashes, Excessive sweating, Irritability,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Qi Deficiency

Causes: Daytime sweating, Spontaneous daytime sweating

2 variations documented
Qi Deficiency
How it presents with excessive sweating

Daytime sweating

Along with: General weakness, Weak voice, Generalized fatigue, Apathy, Dislike of speaking, Spontaneous sweat,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Lung Qi Deficiency
How it presents with excessive sweating

Spontaneous daytime sweating

Along with: Daytime sweating, Dislike of speaking

Dryness

Causes: Sweating

2 variations documented
Dry-Heat or Dry-Fire
How it presents with excessive sweating

Sweating

Along with: Fever, Thirst, Excessive sweating, Sore throat, Skin dryness, Dry nose,

Dry-Wind
How it presents with excessive sweating

Sweating

Along with: Aversion to cold, Excessive sweating, Skin dryness, Dry nose, Dry mouth, Dry throat,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Summer Heat

Causes: Sweating

2 variations documented
Summer-Heat
How it presents with excessive sweating

Sweating

Along with: Fever, Aversion to cold, Excessive sweating, Headaches, Feeling of heaviness, Upper abdominal discomfort,

Summer Heat with Dampness
How it presents with excessive sweating

Sweating

Along with: Fever, Aversion to cold, Excessive sweating, Headaches, Feeling of heaviness, Tight feeling in chest and stomach,

Yang Deficiency

Causes: Sweating

1 variation documented
Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang
How it presents with excessive sweating

Sweating

Along with: Menopausal symptoms, Hypertension, Irregular periods, Menopausal hot flashes, Excessive sweating, Irritability,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Yang Collapse

Causes: Profuse sweating on the forehead

1 variation documented
Collapse of Yang
How it presents with excessive sweating

Profuse sweating on the forehead

Along with: Apathy, Chills, Cold extremities, Bright pale face, Sweating on forehead, Absence of thirst,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Herbal Formulas for Excessive Sweating

Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address excessive sweating

Xiao Feng San

Addresses these excessive sweating patterns:

Wind Dampness Heat

Sang Xing Tang

Addresses these excessive sweating patterns:

Heat Dryness Wind

Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang

Addresses these excessive sweating patterns:

Heat Wind Cold

Xiao Cheng Qi Tang

Addresses these excessive sweating patterns:

Heat Wind Cold

Bai Hu Tang

Addresses these excessive sweating patterns:

Heat Wind Cold

Shao Yao Tang

Addresses these excessive sweating patterns:

Heat Dampness

Qiang Huo Sheng Shi Tang

Addresses these excessive sweating patterns:

Wind Dampness

Er Xian Tang

Addresses these excessive sweating patterns:

Yin Deficiency Yang Deficiency

Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San

Addresses these excessive sweating patterns:

Dampness Summer Heat