The core symptom of excessive sweating is frequent, bilateral, and symmetrical profuse sweating in specific areas of the body (such as the armpits, palms, soles of the feet, and scalp) without any obvious triggers (such as high temperatures or exercise). These episodes occur at least once a week but do not occur during nighttime sleep.
If heavy sweating occurs after exposure to high temperatures or exercise, it is a normal physiological response. However, if sweating persists even while sitting still in an air-conditioned room, it may be a medical condition known as hyperhidrosis.
🔍 Common Symptom Characteristics
Localized Sweating: People with hyperhidrosis typically experience sweating only in specific areas, while other parts of the body remain dry. The most common areas affected are the armpits, palms, soles of the feet, and the head.
Bilateral, symmetrical sweating: Symptoms usually appear on both sides of the body simultaneously, such as sweating in both hands or both feet at the same time.
High frequency of episodes: This abnormal sweating occurs at least once a week.
No episodes at night: This is a key distinction between hyperhidrosis and night sweats. Hyperhidrosis does not cause sweating during sleep, whereas night sweats caused by conditions such as tuberculosis occur during nighttime sleep.
⚠️ Warning Signs to Watch For
Excessive sweating alone is not necessarily a serious problem, but special attention is required if it is accompanied by the following symptoms:
Sudden cold sweats accompanied by chest pain, chest tightness, or palpitations: This may be a precursor to a heart attack, especially in middle-aged and older adults or those with a history of hypertension or diabetes.
Night sweats accompanied by low-grade fever, cough, and weight loss: This may indicate infectious diseases such as tuberculosis.
Sweating accompanied by hand tremors, palpitations, and weight loss: This may be a sign of hyperthyroidism.
Excessive sweating after meals accompanied by increased thirst and frequent urination: This may indicate diabetes or pancreatic dysfunction.
There is a clear distinction between sweating caused by a heart attack and ordinary night sweats: Sweating due to a heart attack is sudden, can occur at any time of day or night, and occurs simultaneously with cardiac discomfort (such as chest tightness, chest pain, or numbness in the arms); whereas night sweats caused by physical weakness typically occur after waking up at night, stop immediately upon waking, and are not accompanied by chest pain.
The Story of Fogged-Up Glasses
I. Treatment for Tearing in the Wind
One winter several years ago, many patients came to see me, complaining of blurred vision. They couldn’t describe the symptoms clearly, only saying it felt as if there were eye discharge, but when they wiped their eyes, nothing was there. I recommended that the patients take Qi Ju Di Huang Pills, but the results were only so-so. I also tried Zhang Xichun’s method—decocting dandelion, steaming the eyes with the vapor, and then drinking the liquid—but that didn’t yield very good results either. Based on their pulse readings, the patients clearly suffered from liver and kidney yin deficiency, but why wasn’t the treatment working?
It was a very cold night. My wife and I were heading home from work, and as soon as we walked in the door, I noticed a layer of condensation on her glasses. She said, “ ‘It’s really cold outside, but so warm in here!’
As I looked at the condensation on my wife’s glasses, it suddenly dawned on me what the patient had been describing as that sensation of blurred vision!
The very next day, a patient who wore glasses came in—he was also experiencing blurred vision. I asked if it felt as though there was condensation on his lenses. The patient replied happily, “That’s exactly how it feels—it’s very uncomfortable to see things!”
I began to ponder: What herb could remove this excess “fog” from the patient’s eyes? Then I thought of Plantain Seed (Cheqianzi), which has the effects of promoting diuresis and improving vision—exactly what I needed!
The kidneys govern storage and retention; when kidney deficiency occurs, this function is disrupted. Kidney fluid then rises with liver qi, ascending to the eyes, causing patients to experience blurred vision—as if their glasses were fogged up. Some patients exhibit symptoms such as tearing in the wind, In fact, all of these symptoms are caused by kidney deficiency, with kidney fluid rising to the eyes!
Therefore, in treating blurred vision, I focused primarily on nourishing the liver and kidneys, while also incorporating Plantain Seed to drain dampness and fluid from the liver meridian. The patient’s condition improved very quickly.
A relative back in my hometown also suffered from this condition; he constantly rubbed his eyes with his hands, a symptom that was particularly noticeable when outdoors. He sought treatment at the local health center, where he was diagnosed with “wind-induced tearing.” The doctor recommended using Pearl Eye-Brightening Drops, but after more than a month of treatment, his condition had not improved.
After using my formula for ten days, he no longer experienced tearing in the wind—whether indoors or outdoors—and his vision became clear. He had previously suffered from frequent insomnia, but after taking the medicine, he even began to enjoy a sound sleep.
In treating this case, I utilized the ability of Plantain Seed (Cheqianzi) to drain dampness and fluid from the Liver Meridian. Following this approach, I have since treated more than ten patients with wind-induced tearing, all with excellent results.
It is not enough to simply know the results; we must also understand the underlying reasons. Why are these herbs used for “wind-induced tearing”? What is the pathogenesis of this condition? How do these herbs exert their effects in the human body? Only by fully understanding these principles can we achieve meaningful results in treating wind-induced tearing and truly be said to have conquered this condition.
From a physiological perspective, the liver is located on the right side of the body but functions on the left; liver qi rises from the left side of the body. The liver stores blood and supplies yin blood to the heart; simultaneously, the liver opens its orifice to the eyes, so the integrity of eye function is closely related to liver function.
According to the Five Elements theory, the kidneys belong to Water, the liver to Wood, and the heart to Fire. Along the axis of the kidneys, liver, and heart, Water generates Wood, and Wood generates Fire, following the traditional theory of the Five Elements’ mutual generation.
As liver qi rises, kidney water ascends through the liver meridian into the liver, nourishing liver yin and replenishing liver blood; as it follows the ascending liver qi into the heart, it both supports heart fire and replenishes heart yin; and as it ascends with the liver qi to the eyes, it keeps them moist. These movements and transformations of kidney water, driven by the ascending force of liver qi, constitute a positive action.
On the other hand, the kidneys govern storage and are capable of retaining kidney water, preventing it from rising excessively due to the ascending liver qi—this is a counteracting action.
Through this balance of positive and negative actions, the yin of the heart and liver in the human body remains in equilibrium, allowing the eyes to function normally—neither feeling dry and sore nor producing excessive tears.
If there is kidney deficiency, resulting in insufficient storage capacity and excessive ascension, water and dampness will rise. The liver meridian becomes saturated with kidney water and is forced to expel it through the orifices it governs, leading to excessive tearing—known as “watery eyes.”
My commonly used prescription includes several herbs: raw oyster shell, goji berries, white tribulus, plantain seed, chrysanthemum, and sour jujube seed. Among these, raw oyster shell—salty and cold in nature—enters the Kidney channel. Its astringent properties strengthen the Kidney’s ability to store and contain, addressing the root cause of excessive tearing by targeting the lower jiao while treating the symptoms of Kidney deficiency; Goji berries nourish kidney essence, addressing kidney deficiency as the root cause; Plantain seeds clear and drain dampness and fluid stagnation from the Liver meridian. When these three herbs are combined—one astringing, one nourishing, and one draining—the condition can be controlled. White Tribulus is included because, without having examined the patient in person, there may be an underlying element of Liver wind, so a wind-dispelling herb is added; Chrysanthemum, a light and clear herb, clears and drains wind from the head and eyes. With prolonged use of Plantain Seed, while dampness and fluid in the Liver Meridian are cleared, there is a risk of over-clearing, leading to insufficient generation of Liver blood and, consequently, a deficiency of Heart blood as well (i.e., the Liver fails to nourish the Heart). The purpose of using Sour Jujube Seed is to nourish the Yin of the Heart and Liver, thereby preventing Plantain Seed from damaging the Yin of the Heart and Liver with prolonged use.
Some might ask: Since Plantain Seed is the most critical herb in this formula, can it be replaced with other herbs if it is unavailable? Your theory stems from the story about glasses—but does this hold true in all clinical cases?
Although borrowing the story of the glasses helped me grasp the underlying principle—and I’ve applied it to some patients in clinical practice—I couldn’t say for certain whether this theory would stand up to repeated testing. Later, during a visit to a folk herbalist, this principle was validated once again.
This folk herbalist has been engaged in the research and clinical application of Chinese herbal medicine for over forty years. He has traveled extensively throughout the country, befriending numerous folk practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and possesses a wealth of clinical experience. When I asked him about his experience treating “tearing in the wind,” the elderly practitioner explained without reservation that this condition is actually caused by excessive rising of liver qi combined with dampness in the liver meridian. He said that while calming the liver, one simply needs to combine the treatment with some dampness-draining herbs. He prefers to use Gentiana root, combined with chrysanthemum flowers and goji berries; for severe cases, he adds pearl oyster shell and oyster shell.
The herbalist’s words further solidified my treatment approach and also gave me a deeper understanding of “tearing in the wind.” The pathogenesis of this condition lies in yin deficiency of the liver and kidneys, with deficient wind disturbing the upper body and dampness in the liver meridian rising upward. Treatment involves nourishing and tonifying the liver and kidneys, calming the wind and subduing yang, while simultaneously supplementing with herbs that clear heat and drain dampness—this approach can cure the disease.
Among Chinese patent medicines, there is a category of over-the-counter drugs specifically for “tearing in the wind.” There are many such medications, but the most representative is Mingmu Dihuang Wan. Its formula consists of prepared Rehmannia root, processed Cornus fruit, Moutan bark, Chinese yam, Poria, Alisma, goji berries, chrysanthemum, Angelica root, white peony root, amaranth, and oyster shell (calcined).
Clinically, this formula is indeed effective for treating tearing in the wind, but it takes time to take effect. If one ingredient—Plantago seed or Gentiana root—is added, the results are significantly different.
II. Treatment of Spontaneous Sweating and Night Sweats
Combining medical principles with the small details of daily life leads to profound insights. Many scientific and technological inventions are not conceived out of thin air, but rather arise from elevating the principles of daily life and transforming them into something new. Even high-tech innovations, when examined closely, follow the same underlying principles.
The fluid associated with the liver is tears, and the fluid associated with the heart is sweat. Excessive dampness in the Liver Meridian can lead to tearing in the wind, with patients exhibiting profuse tearing. So how should excessive sweating be treated?
Imagine using two bags to hold water—one made of plastic and the other of burlap. You’ll find that the plastic bag holds water without leaking, while the burlap bag constantly lets water seep out.
Now, consider patients who are drenched in sweat. You’ll realize that this excessive sweating essentially stems from a failure in the pores’ ability to close properly—it is not an organic lesion, but a functional issue.
Organic problems belong to Yin, while functional problems belong to Yang—in other words, spontaneous sweating is caused by Yang deficiency!
With this understanding, let’s look at the Guizhi Jia Fuzi Decoction from the *Treatise on Cold Damage*: “In Taiyang syndrome, excessive sweating leads to uncontrollable sweating, aversion to wind, difficulty urinating, and stiffness in the limbs, making it difficult to bend or stretch them.”
Many people do not understand the use of Aconite Root (Fu Zi), worrying that a warming herb might increase sweating. In fact, Aconite Root can assist Yang and transform Qi. When the defensive Qi (Wei Qi) that protects the exterior is sufficient, the protective function is strengthened, and the ability to retain fluids is enhanced. The pores then contract effectively, and the uncontrollable sweating is cured.
How can we understand how an increase in Yang Qi leads to a reduction in sweating? Consider patients with qi deficiency: even slight physical activity causes them to break out in a profuse sweat. Their skin pores are like the holes in a burlap sack mentioned earlier—lacking the ability to constrict. When such patients take qi-tonifying herbs to replenish their defensive qi, the qi can then retain blood and body fluids, thereby controlling perspiration. Since the lungs govern qi, when lung qi is abundant, the pores naturally contract effectively, and the body’s ability to retain sweat naturally improves.
Clinically, when I encounter patients with qi deficiency and excessive sweating, I always use a heavy dose of Astragalus (Huangqi), appropriately supplemented with Floating Wheat (Fuxiaomai), Ephedra Root (Ma Huang Gen), and other herbs, which often produces immediate results.
Some may ask: How should we interpret sweating that occurs during sleep?
Sweating syndromes are distinguished between spontaneous sweating (zihan) and night sweats (dao han). The qi-deficiency sweating mentioned earlier is spontaneous sweating, whereas sweating that occurs after falling asleep is night sweats. How should we understand night sweats?
In the earlier story about exploring the mountain cave, we discussed that sleep is the process by which yang qi enters yin; if yang does not enter yin, insomnia results. So how should we understand sweating that occurs after falling asleep?
The *Huangdi Neijing* contains the following statement: “When yang acts upon yin, it is called sweat.” This sentence elucidates the mechanism behind night sweats.
During the day, yang qi resides on the body’s surface; at night, it enters the body. When yin and yang are in balance, the body remains healthy. If yang qi is excessively strong, upon entering the body, this hyperactive yang qi acts upon the deficient yin, causing yin fluids to be vaporized, transformed into water vapor, and rise to the body’s surface, forming sweat. This sweat is hot because the purpose of sweating is to dissipate heat and release the hyperactive yang qi. Upon waking, yang energy shifts from the interior to the exterior of the body, and the state of “yang acting upon yin” ceases; the sweating immediately stops. Sweating is a mechanism by which the body seeks to restore the balance between yin and yang—much like how, on a hot summer day, a person feels a sense of heat in the chest and feels relieved after sweating. However, excessive sweating can easily damage the body’s yin, ultimately leading to a deficiency of both yin and yang. Treatment is straightforward; the principle is to nourish Yin and subdue Yang, and the Zhi Bai Di Huang Pill is effective for this.
Patients with excess yang and deficiency of yin share a common characteristic: restlessness and hyperactivity during sleep. This is because, with excess yang and deficiency of yin, “when yang prevails, there is movement,” leading to restlessness that produces hot sweats!
Some may ask: “I often sweat at night while sleeping, and the sweating is severe—often drenched in sweat—but it’s cold sweat. Why is that?”
As mentioned earlier, in cases of Yang excess and Yin deficiency, “Yang overpowers Yin,” leading to hot sweats. Conversely, in cases of Yin excess and Yang deficiency, the result is cold sweats.
In fact, the underlying principle is the same: cold sweats result from the body expelling Yin. Because of Yang deficiency and Yin excess, the body expels Yin to support Yang, seeking a new balance between Yin and Yang—this is a measure the body is compelled to take!
When treating such patients, it is necessary to support Yang; using substantial doses of herbs that warm and tonify Yang energy can yield excellent therapeutic results. These patients share a common characteristic: they feel exhausted—extremely exhausted—even while sleeping! Why is this? Because Yang energy is deficient and unable to propel the circulation of the body’s abundant Yin fluids, leading to a sense of fatigue. They even feel exhausted while dreaming—so exhausted that they break out in cold sweats!
Understanding sweating means understanding whether the body’s Yin and Yang are in balance!
Every natural reaction of the human body serves a purpose; none occurs without reason. By understanding the body’s reactions and comprehending why it behaves this way, we gain a deeper understanding of disease.
Often, we overlook subtle signs from the body, such as sweaty feet, a damp scrotum, sticky stools, rough nails, dry and shriveled fingertips, or fingers that become thin and stiff. These numerous signs may seem insignificant and harmless, but they are actually distress signals sent by the body. By interpreting these signals, we can identify pathological changes in the five zang organs; only by understanding them can we know how to restore our bodies to health.
Through the story of fogged-up glasses, we learned how to treat tearing in the wind. By understanding sweat as one of the Five Fluids, we also learned the difference between spontaneous sweating and night sweats, along with their respective treatments. Next, let’s use another story—the story of washing the floor—to gain insight into the treatment of low blood pressure.
