No Sweat

Once again, I bow to the power of Chinese herbals. Or, at least, correctly prescribed herbals. I have a patient who suffers from hyperhidrosis. Basically, she busts out in a sweat that soaks her and whatever she is wearing. The situation is worse in stressful situations, which is a real bummer as she is a lawyer. Stressful situations are legal's stock in trade.
Chinese medicine calls sweat the, "fluid of the heart." Indeed, sweat, the loss of fluid, definitely has an effect on blood, since that water lost by sweating has to come from somewhere, and that somewhere is from the bloodstream. This is why professional cyclists experience an increase in their blood viscosity during a Grand Tour, such as the Tour de France, and why replenishing fluids is so important.
The Heart is situated in the Upper Jiao (or Upper Burner) along with the Lungs. The Heart is also Fire, and if out of control, or disturbed in some way, this Fire may effect the Lungs, which are Metal. The Lungs control the pores of the skin, the gateway for sweat. So, if Heart-Fire starts to burn too bright, or a little out of control due to a disturbance to the Heart-Spirit, either by stress, fear, or some other emotional factor, the Lungs may lose their ability to control the pores effectively, and allow inappropriate sweat, further effecting the Heart.
For this patient, it was important not to let this sweat get too out of control, otherwise, the condition could progress to a stage of fulminant Heart-Fire, with real Shen (Spirit) disturbance, and night sweating and further to Yin Deficiency Fire.
I prescribed for her a modified version of Mu Li San (Oyster Shell Powder). This marvelously balanced formula is ideal for strengthening the Lung-Metal control over the pores, and has cool medicinals in it to help curb Heart-Fire before it gets too hot, and astringes sweat. The cool, salty oyster shell, Concha Ostreae, nourishes the Heart Yin, soothes irritability, and contains fluids. Along with qi tonifying astragalus (Rx. Astragali Membranacei) and Heart-nourishing wheat (Semen Tritici Aestevi L.), harmony is restored to the Upper Burner between the Heart and Lungs, stopping inappropriate sweating, and easing the Heart-Spirit.
I mentioned that this formula is modified, and since she is a little blood-deficient, I added He Shou Wu and Shu Di Huang for her, both blood tonics. After taking this formula in the form of granules (100g), she told me her sweating had stopped. I love when that happens.