Night Sweats — TCM Food Therapy & Dietary Approach
Night sweating refers to sweating unconsciously during sound sleep.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Patterns
In TCM, this condition is differentiated into several patterns, each with a classical herbal formula:
Insecure Lung-Wei
Treatment principle: Boost Qi and Secure the Exterior
Formula: Yupingfeng San (Jade Windscreen Powder) — from *Teachings of Master Danxi*
Yin Deficiency with Effulgent Fire
Treatment principle: Enrich Yin and Subdue Fire
Formula: Danggui Liuhuang Tang (Angelica Six-Yellow Decoction)
Heart Blood Insufficiency
Treatment principle: Supplement and Nourish Heart Blood
Formula: Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction) — from *Formulas to Aid the Living*
Pathogenic Heat Stagnating and Steaming
Treatment principle: Clear the Liver and Drain Heat, Transform Damp and Harmonize the Nutritive
Formula: Longdan Xiegan Tang (Gentiana Decoction to Drain the Liver) — from *Yi Fang Ji Jie*
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
- Walnut and Schisandra Paste: Shell 5-8 walnuts; wash 2-3g schisandra fruit (wuweizi), mash together with an appropriate amount of honey into a paste and eat. Twice daily.
- Black Sesame and Mulberry: Cook 10g each of black sesame seeds and mulberries in water and eat once daily.
- Black Jujube and Glutinous Rice Congee: Pit 50g black jujubes and cook with 100g glutinous rice into congee; sugar may be added; effective with regular consumption.
- Lily Bulb and Honey: Steam 100g each of lily bulbs and honey for 1 hour, remove and cool; take 1 tablespoon each morning and evening, or cook lily bulbs into rice congee and add honey when eating; very effective with regular consumption.
- Black Soybean and Light Wheat Soup: Wrap 50g light (floating) wheat in clean cloth and cook with 15g black soybeans in water until the beans are done; eat the beans and drink the soup.
- Pork Kidney and Eucommia: Wash and slice 1 pork kidney, boil with 15g eucommia bark (duzhong) in water; eat the kidney and drink the soup.
- Loach Soup: Remove the innards and head of 200g live loach, pan-fry until golden, add water and cook until done, add salt; eat the meat and drink the soup.
- Radish or Pear with Adenophora: Cook 500g white radish or snow pear with 100g adenophora root (paoshen) in a little water; take once daily, finishing over 2 days, for about 15 days.
- Licorice, Jujube and Wheat Decoction: Decoct 10g licorice, 5 jujubes and 30g wheat in 2 bowls of water down to 1 bowl, strain and drink the soup. Twice daily.
Understanding the Condition
Night sweating refers to sweating unconsciously during sound sleep. In TCM night sweating is regarded as a manifestation of yin deficiency in the body, and dietary therapy uses methods that nourish yin and tonify.
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.