Chinese Medicine For Night Sweats
Night sweats are a common symptom of menopause, and can also effect non-menopausal women and men. When severe, they really interfere with quality of life and make it impossible to sleep well.
Chinese Herbal medicine is an ideal treatment for night sweats, whether menopausal or not, and it can work quite quickly and dramatically to re-balance the body and regulate the temperature.
At the most basic level, body temperature is a question of Yin and Yang. In this context, Yin means cool and Yang means hot, so overheating indicates either too much Yang (called ‘Full Heat’ or ‘Fire’) or not enough Yin (called ‘Yin Deficiency’ or ‘Empty Heat’)
In the first case, too much Yang, the heat will be severe, and there will also be hot flushes during the daytime. The skin will likely be quite red, there will be sweating, and probably irritability or angry outbursts. Very cooling herbs will be used to clear the excess heat.
In the second case, not enough Yin, the heat will not be as strong, and probably only at night. There will also be less redness, maybe just flushed cheeks. Energy levels will probably be lower. There will most likely be anxiety or restlessness, maybe a feeling of being ‘tired but wired’. In this case, herbs are given that gently calm and cool, while also strengthening the system.
Obviously, these are quite simplistic symptom pictures, and in reality people are normally a lot more complicated, but it gives you an idea about one of main distinctions of different types of night sweating.
Studies On Chinese Herbs For Night Sweats
One study on Chinese herbs in 2012 (published in the journal ‘Menopause‘) looked at the effects of a particular herbal formula called Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang on post-menopausal women who were experiencing severe hot flushes and night sweats.
A significant improvement was found in the group taking the formula, compared with the control group who took a plecebo. Both the frequency and severity of hot flushes and night sweats were significantly reduced.
A similar, more recent study (also in Menopause) used 2 different formulas, and measured results using a standard quality of life questionnaire. It too found a marked improvement in quality of life for the group taking the Chinese herbal formula, and a large reduction in night sweats and hot flushes.
These kind of studies are all the more impressive because they give all the participants the exact same formula, whereas in a real Chinese herbal practice, the formulas are individually tailored for every individual to give the best results.
This is not done in studies such as those above, because the authors are looking for evidence about specific formulas, but in a one-to-one clinical setting it’s not only possible, but essential – formulas are prescribed and/or modified on the basis of individual symptoms and overall state of health and well-being. This approach gives much better results than following a ‘one-size-fits-all’ strategy.
“I have been seeing Neil and using the Chinese herbs for night sweats and in my opinion these have been nothing short of miraculous I now sleep soundly all night with no sweating . Since starting the treatments I have experienced a general sense of well-being feeling better than I have felt for many years. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the treatments I have received and Neil as a practitioner he is approachable ,knowledgeable and demonstrates a keen enthusiasm for his work .” – Lisa Martin, Abergavenny
If you know anyone, like Lisa, who is suffering from night sweats, you can click here for details of my Bristol Herbal Medicine Practice
