Traditional medicine, and the treatment of ailments through diet and meditation, have existed as an alternative to more scientific methods and procedures since time immemorial, especially in regions like India and Japan, and most particularly, in China. Some of these treatments have proven to be miraculous too, even in modern times, and have helped cure a number of conditions without any side effects and within a shorter time span.
Traditional Chinese medicine offers treatment options for a wide range of ailments and maladies, including a very effective one for excessive sweating during the night, which is also known as ‘Sleep Hyperhidrosis’.
What is Sleep Hyperhidrosis? Sleep hyperhidrosis is when you suffer from excessive sweating of the scalp, face, underarms, palms, groin, and the soles while asleep. Harmless enough, in and of itself, sleep hyperhidrosis could however prove to be a symptom of a more serious underlying medical condition, such as hepatitis. One of the most common causes among women is the hormonal changes caused by menopause.
Yin and Yang - The Traditional Chinese Treatment The core idea governing traditional Chinese medicinal practices is the concept of yin and yang - two opposites working together in harmony, perfectly balanced. As such, all diseases and ailments spring from a loss of balance in the yin-yang equilibrium.
In the case of sleep hyperhidrosis, it is the yin which falls out of harmony, thus failing to provide its usual cooling effect to the body. The heat in our bodies then has to find a different way out, and does so through hot flashes and excessive sweating during the night, as the yang carries on with its task.
The treatment, therefore, focuses on restoring the lost balance, so both yin and yang can once again work together harmoniously. This is achieved by learning to recognize when the body has reached its physical limits, and to then immediately cease all activity, and provide it the rest and nourishment it requires. A change of your lifestyle and habits may also be required, with the elimination of all things which disrupt the equilibrium.
The Fortification of Yin A major constituent of traditional Chinese medicine is diet, with some herbs and food consumed in particular, to complement the meditative side of the treatment. Food types which can help fortify the yin, restore balance, and reverse sleep hyperhidrosis include:
Food and Substances You Should Avoid
Conversely, there are food and substances which aid in the disruption of the yin, and should be avoided by people suffering from sleep hyperhidrosis. These include spicy food types and other things, such as:
The key to treating sleep hyperhidrosis using traditional Chinese methods is in understanding the causes and the symptoms, and in focusing on their elimination through will power, meditation, diet, and exercise.
What is Sleep Hyperhidrosis? Sleep hyperhidrosis is when you suffer from excessive sweating of the scalp, face, underarms, palms, groin, and the soles while asleep. Harmless enough, in and of itself, sleep hyperhidrosis could however prove to be a symptom of a more serious underlying medical condition, such as hepatitis. One of the most common causes among women is the hormonal changes caused by menopause.
Yin and Yang - The Traditional Chinese Treatment The core idea governing traditional Chinese medicinal practices is the concept of yin and yang - two opposites working together in harmony, perfectly balanced. As such, all diseases and ailments spring from a loss of balance in the yin-yang equilibrium.
In the case of sleep hyperhidrosis, it is the yin which falls out of harmony, thus failing to provide its usual cooling effect to the body. The heat in our bodies then has to find a different way out, and does so through hot flashes and excessive sweating during the night, as the yang carries on with its task.
The treatment, therefore, focuses on restoring the lost balance, so both yin and yang can once again work together harmoniously. This is achieved by learning to recognize when the body has reached its physical limits, and to then immediately cease all activity, and provide it the rest and nourishment it requires. A change of your lifestyle and habits may also be required, with the elimination of all things which disrupt the equilibrium.
The Fortification of Yin A major constituent of traditional Chinese medicine is diet, with some herbs and food consumed in particular, to complement the meditative side of the treatment. Food types which can help fortify the yin, restore balance, and reverse sleep hyperhidrosis include:
- Beans: Adzuki Beans, Black Beans, Black Soya Beans, Kidney Beans, and Mung Beans
- Fruits: Apples, Avocadoes, Bananas, Pears, Pomegranates, and Watermelons
- Others: Barley, Millet, Sesame Seeds, and Walnuts
- Protein: Beef, Clams, Crab, Duck, Eggs, Fish, Octopus, and Oyster
- Vegetables: Artichokes, Asparagus, Peas, Potatoes - Regular and Sweet, Tomatoes, Seaweed, and Yams
Food and Substances You Should Avoid
Conversely, there are food and substances which aid in the disruption of the yin, and should be avoided by people suffering from sleep hyperhidrosis. These include spicy food types and other things, such as:
- Alcohol
- Cigarettes
- Cinnamon
- Fennel
- Ginger
- Lychee
- Mustard
- Mutton
- Pepper
The key to treating sleep hyperhidrosis using traditional Chinese methods is in understanding the causes and the symptoms, and in focusing on their elimination through will power, meditation, diet, and exercise.