Excessive Sweating — TCM Food Therapy & Dietary Approach
In TCM, sweat is the fluid of the heart, and blood and sweat share the same origin.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Patterns
In TCM, this concern is differentiated into several patterns, each with a classical herbal formula:
Exterior deficiency with insecure defense and lung-defense qi deficiency (Spontaneous Sweating)
Formula: Yupingfeng San (Jade Windscreen Powder) — from *Teachings of Master Danxi*
Yin Deficiency with Effulgent Fire (Night Sweating)
Formula: Danggui Liuhuang Tang (Angelica Six-Yellow Decoction) — from *Secrets from the Orchid Chamber*
Body Deficiency with Spontaneous and Night Sweating, Insecurity of Defensive Qi
Formula: Mu Li San (Oyster Shell Powder) — from *Formulary of the Bureau of the People's Welfare Pharmacies*
Deficiency of Both Qi and Yin
Formula: Shengmai San (Pulse-Engendering Powder) — from *Origins of Medicine*
These formulas are for reference under TCM syndrome differentiation and should only be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.
Food Therapy & Diet
Dietary Therapy Recipes
- Astragalus and Jujube Tea: 15 g astragalus (huangqi), 10 g jujube. Decoct in water and drink as tea.
- Light Wheat and Jujube Soup: 25–30 g light wheat (fuxiaomai), 3–6 jujubes, 6 g licorice, 10 g longan flesh. Simmer for 30–40 minutes.
- Black Soybean and Light Wheat Soup: 50 g black soybean, 30 g light wheat, 15 g lotus seed, 10 jujubes, 30 g rock sugar.
- Astragalus and Chinese Yam Porridge: 20 g astragalus, 60 g Chinese yam, 100 g white rice.
- Glehnia, Lily and Duck Soup: 50 g glehnia root (beishashen), 30 g lily bulb, 1 duck.
- Tremella and Jujube Soup: 30 g tremella (silver ear fungus), 20 g jujube, rock sugar.
Dietary Principles
- Favor foods that boost qi, nourish yin, fortify the spleen and secure the exterior (astragalus, codonopsis, pseudostellaria root, Chinese yam, lotus seed, gorgon fruit, jujube, light wheat, glutinous rice root, longan).
- For yin-deficiency night sweating, favor foods that nourish yin, clear heat and moisten dryness (duck meat, tremella, lily bulb, wolfberry fruit, pear, black soybean, black sesame).
- Take three cooked, warm meals daily and drink plenty of water.
- Avoid acrid, stimulating and sweating-inducing foods (fresh ginger, chili pepper, scallion, onion, garlic, perilla, mint).
- Avoid smoking and alcohol; for yin deficiency with effulgent fire and blood heat, avoid acrid fire-stirring foods.
Understanding the Condition
In TCM, sweat is the fluid of the heart, and blood and sweat share the same origin. Imbalance of yin and yang, an unconsolidated interstices, and outward leakage of fluids may cause abnormal sweating. Spontaneous sweating is mostly qi deficiency or yang deficiency; night sweating is mostly yin deficiency with effulgent fire. Disharmony between the nutritive and defensive, damp-heat, liver fire and blood stasis may also be involved.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.