Patient's question:
I have always sweated a lot when I sleep at night. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night feeling very cold, as if I had taken a shower in my sweat. During the day, I also feel palpitations, dizziness, and physical fatigue. I've heard that excessive sweating can indicate kidney problems, but I'm not sure if that's true.Doctor's answer:
Hello, night sweats are often caused by qi deficiency or yin deficiency. It is recommended to consult a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner for differential diagnosis before taking symptomatic medication.If the night sweats are caused by qi deficiency, it is usually due to poor vasodilation function. The modified Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Strengthen the Middle and Tonify Qi Decoction) can be used to regulate it. If the night sweats are due to insufficient heart blood, symptoms such as palpitations and insomnia may occur. Blood-boosting and heart-nourishing methods, such as the modified Gui Pi Tang (Invigorate the Spleen and Harmonize the Blood Decoction), are recommended for treatment.
If the night sweats are caused by a yin deficiency constitution, the body may exhibit dry heat symptoms, which can also lead to night sweats. In this case, the modified Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Decoction) can be used to improve the condition. For night sweats caused by yin deficiency with excessive fire, symptoms such as five-palm heat and restlessness may occur. Nourishing yin and extinguishing fire methods, such as the modified Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang (Angelica Six-Huang Decoction), can be selected for treatment.