Treatment of hyperhidrosis by TCM

Sweating is a normal physiological reaction of humans. When we exercise vigorously, we sweat a lot, which not only eliminates water but also dissipates a lot of heat to maintain normal body temperature. In fact, we also sweat while we sleep, but the amount is less so you don’t notice it. Proper sweating is beneficial for detoxification and enhancing metabolism, but some people have abnormal sweating. Traditional Chinese medicine has done in-depth research on this and can judge a person's health status by the various symptoms of sweating.

(a) Color change

Normal sweat should be colorless and transparent. If the color of sweat changes, it is usually chromhidrosis. In addition to internal diseases, drugs, diet, environment, and emotions can all cause changes in sweat color.

1. Yellow sweat: The sweat is yellow like cypress juice and stains clothes and bedding. It often occurs on the face, armpits, groin, etc., and is often caused by obstruction of the Ying and Wei systems or accumulation of dampness and heat in the skin. According to the tongue, pulse and concurrent symptoms, you can choose Qishaoguijiu Tang or Jiawei Yupingfeng San to relieve congestion, clear away heat and remove dampness. If the axillary sweat is yellow in color and accompanied by an odor, it can be treated according to the treatment for axillary odor.

2. Red sweat: sweat that is red or pink with no other symptoms. Except for the use of drugs such as iodide, chlorpheniramine (B663), and rifampicin, which can temporarily cause red sweat without the need for separate treatment, red sweat is generally caused by internal fire in the heart, which forces sweat to overflow. According to the principle that "sweat is the fluid of the heart", you can use Daochi San and Daochi Geban Tang to clear the heart and guide the fire downward.

3. Brown sweat: sweat that is brown or tan in color. In addition to those who suffer from frequent constipation, due to intestinal dysfunction and external heat that causes brown sweat on the skin, Ma Ren Zi Pi Wan can be used to moisten the intestines and promote bowel movements. If accompanied by dark urine, bluish-gray or dark-brown skin on the nose, cheeks, forehead and vulva, and thickening of the auricle cartilage to become bluish-black, it is called ocher disease. This is due to congenital deficiency and weak endowment. There is no satisfactory treatment at present, but you can try modified versions of Raspberry Pills and Zhushen Pills to replenish the kidneys and essence, and nourish the innate.

4. Blood sweat: manifested as sweating with blood, or blood pigments mixed with sweat, also known as pulse overflow. It often occurs on the eyelids, forehead, chest, vulva, etc. It can be seen in diseases such as plague, hemophilia, sepsis, purpura, yellow fever, and menstrual abnormalities. It is mostly caused by excessive heat and toxicity in the body, which forces blood to flow abnormally, or extreme deficiency of heart qi, which causes the pulse to lose its control. In addition to treating the original disease, according to the tongue, pulse and concurrent symptoms, you can choose to use Xiaoban Qingdai Drink to cool the blood and detoxify, or modify Maiyi Decoction to nourish the heart and restore the pulse.

5. Others: The color of sweat can often be affected by drugs, diet, and environment. For example, methylene blue can make sweat blue, and copper salts can make sweat cyan. Generally, no separate treatment is required. If there are color-producing bacteria or fungi on the skin or pores, or clothing dyes are dissolved in sweat, blue sweat, purple sweat, green sweat, etc. may also occur, which are collectively referred to as pseudochromohidrosis. If Qingrejiedu Decoction is used for external washing, it often has a better therapeutic effect.

(ii) Changes in smell

The odor of sweat is often related to race, age, gender, diet and individual differences.

Bromhidrosis: The sweat glands secrete a special odor, also known as "bromhidrosis"; if the sweat releases an odor after decomposition, it is called "odor bromhidrosis".

1. Bromhidrosis: It is characterized by sweating under the armpits with a foul odor, like the smell of wild fox. It is often accompanied by a family history and is passed down from generation to generation. It is more common in women and begins in adolescence. In severe cases, the areola, navel, front and back genitals may be affected, and there will often be soft earwax in the external auditory canal. This is an innate endowment, with filth inside the body and manifested on the outside through the skin. In addition to frequent washing, the turbidity should be cleared with aromatics. Detoxification and removal of filth method. If you apply axillary fragrance powder externally, it often has a remarkable effect.

2. Urohidrosis: Sweat that smells like urine and forms frost-like crystals after drying. It is common in patients with severe uremia, diabetes and gout. This is mostly due to internal accumulation of dampness and turbidity, which steams up the body and skin. In addition to treating the original disease, you can choose to modify the Yunyun Decoction based on the tongue, pulse and concurrent symptoms to use aromatic herbs to clear turbidity and mild herbs to drain dampness.

3. Foot odor: Symptoms include excessive sweating of the feet, whitening of the skin, and a foul odor that is unpleasant to the nose. It can be seen in foot bromhidrosis, tinea pedis, and palmoplantar hyperhidrosis. This is mostly caused by internal accumulation of dampness and heat, and the influx of filth and dirt. In addition to washing frequently, you can take Sanmiao Powder internally and apply Ruanjiao Powder externally to clear away dampness and heat and ward off filth with its aromatic fragrance.

4. Others: Sweat odor is often affected by diet, medications and certain diseases. If you take medicines containing musk, angelica dahurica, or spicy and heavy-flavored foods such as onion, garlic, and wine, there may often be a temporary odor in your sweat, which generally does not require separate treatment. Others, such as those from certain febrile diseases, uremia, diabetes, and hepatic coma, may have their own odor in their sweat. This is often caused by dirty and toxic evils that manifest themselves on the body and skin. In addition to treating the original disease, you can choose to modify Huo Pu Xia Ling Tang and Bai Zhu Yi Ren Tang according to the tongue, pulse and concurrent symptoms, to use the aromatic effect to clear turbidity, detoxify and eliminate filth.