Excessive sweating according to Chinese Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
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Excessive sweating can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like excessive sweating here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here excessive sweating is often associated with aversion to wind, stiff neck and sneezing in the pattern “Greater Yang Attack of Wind”. As you will see below, we have in record four patterns that can cause excessive sweating.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of excessive sweating we’ve identified five herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat excessive sweating.
The four "patterns of disharmony" that can cause excessive sweating
In Chinese Medicine excessive sweating is a symptom for 4 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi) is the king ingredient for Gui Zhi Tang, a formula used for Greater Yang Attack of Wind
Greater Yang Attack of Wind
Pulse type(s): Slow (Chi), Floating (Fu)
In addition to excessive sweating, other symptoms associated with Greater Yang Attack of Wind include aversion to wind, stiff neck and sneezing.
Greater Yang Attack of Wind is often treated with Gui Zhi Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Cinnamon Twigs - Gui Zhi - as a key herb). Gui Zhi Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear wind-cold", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Releases pathogens from the muscle layer".
Honeysuckle Flowers (Jin Yin Hua) is the king ingredient for Yin Qiao San, a formula used for Wind-Heat
Wind-Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Floating (Fu)
In addition to excessive sweating, other symptoms associated with Wind-Heat include aversion to cold, fever and headaches.
Wind-Heat is often treated with Yin Qiao San, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Honeysuckle Flowers - Jin Yin Hua - as a key herb). Yin Qiao San belongs to the category of "external formulas for external disorders", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Disperses Wind Heat".
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Heart Yang Collapsing
Pulse type(s): Knotted (Jie), Minute (Wei), Hidden (Fu)
In addition to excessive sweating, other symptoms associated with Heart Yang Collapsing include shortness of breath, palpitations and pale complexion.
Heart Yang Collapsing is often treated with Shen Fu Tang, a herbal formula made of 2 herbs (including Ginseng - Ren Shen - as a key herb). Shen Fu Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that rescue devastated yang", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Restores Yang".
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua), Full (Shi)
In addition to excessive sweating, other symptoms associated with Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines include irritability, delirium and abdominal fullness.
Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines is often treated with Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang, a herbal formula made of 3 herbs (including Rhubarb - Da Huang - as a key herb). Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that purge heat accumulation", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Removes Heat and Dryness in the Lower Burner".
Read more about Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines here
Five herbal formulas that might help with excessive sweating
Gui Zhi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Releases pathogens from the muscle layer. Regulates the Nutritive and Protective Qi.
Why might Gui Zhi Tang help with excessive sweating?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Greater Yang Attack of Wind' of which slight sweating is a symptom.
Xiao Feng San
Source date: 1617 AD
Number of ingredients: 13 herbs
Key actions: Disperses Wind. Eliminates Dampness. Clears Heat. Cools the Blood.
Why might Xiao Feng San help with excessive sweating?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Wind-Heat' of which sweating is a symptom.
Shen Fu Tang
Source date: 1445 AD
Number of ingredients: 2 herbs
Key actions: Restores Yang. Strongly tonifies the source Qi. Saves Qi from collapsing due to devastated Yang.
Why might Shen Fu Tang help with excessive sweating?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heart Yang Collapsing' of which heavy sweating is a symptom.
Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Removes Heat and Dryness in the Lower Burner. Removes constipation.
Why might Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang help with excessive sweating?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines' of which profuse sweating is a symptom.
Xiao Cheng Qi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Moderately purges Heat accumulation. Circulates Qi in the Middle .
Why might Xiao Cheng Qi Tang help with excessive sweating?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines' of which profuse sweating is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for excessive sweating
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat excessive sweating
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with excessive sweating?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat excessive sweating as a symptom, like Liu Yi San or Bai Hu Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with excessive sweating?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat excessive sweating as a symptom, like Shao Yao Tang or Er Xian Tang for instance.
Dong Quai is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation.
Why might Baikal Skullcap Root (Huang Qin) help with excessive sweating?
Because Baikal Skullcap Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat excessive sweating as a symptom, like Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan or Shao Yao Tang for instance.
Baikal Skullcap Roots is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Heart, the Large intestine, the Lung, the Small intestine and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Expels Heat and Dampness. Clears Upper Burner Heat, especially of the Lung. Clears Heat and stops reckless movement of Blood. Clears pathogenic Heat which is upsetting the fetus. Cools the Liver, reducing Liver Yang rising syndrome.
Why might Gypsum (Shi Gao) help with excessive sweating?
Because Gypsum is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat excessive sweating as a symptom, like Shi Gao Tang or Yu Nu Jian for instance.
Gypsum is a Cold herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Lung and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Clears Heat and drains Fire. Clears Lung Heat. Relieves thirst and restlessness. Clears Stomach Heat.
Why might Platycodon Root (Jie Geng) help with excessive sweating?
Because Platycodon Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat excessive sweating as a symptom, like Yin Qiao San or Xing Su San for instance.
Platycodon Roots is a Neutral herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Lung.
Its main actions are: Opens the Lungs and smoothes the flow of Lung Qi. Expels Phlegm and pus from the Lungs and throat, can be used for either Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat according to the other herbs in the formula. Directs the actions of other herbs to the Upper Warmer.
Other symptoms often associated with excessive sweating
Aversion to cold Fever Irritability Headaches Shortness of breath Feeling of heaviness Palpitations Feeling of heat Frequent urination Loose stools