Night Sweats – You Would be Disappointed Not to Know These 7 Chinese Herbs that Eliminate Hormonal Imbalances!

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Night Sweats are part of Perimenopause

What are some symptoms of Perimenopause?

Other Possible Causes of Night Sweats

Treating Night Sweats using Mainstream Medicine

TCM treats Night Sweats and Perimenopause

How do Chinese herbs help with Perimenopause and Night Sweats?

What can I do at home to relieve my night sweats?

Identifying the source of night sweats

Acupuncture therapy for night sweats

When to see a doctor

Happy Patients

FAQ’s

Table of Contents

Night Sweats are part of Perimenopause

Perimenopause is the transitional stage before menopause. As women begin to hit their late forties, they begin to experience hormone imbalances which may result in several symptoms, including night sweats.

Night sweats are not life-threatening. They are inconvenient and often have other symptoms like moodiness, irritability, and insomnia. When your night sweats disappear, you will often see a reduction in the accompanying symptoms.

This article will compare Mainstream and Chinese medicine approaches to treating these conditions. We will also explain why Chinese medicine is preferred because it is a safe and effective way to treat hormonal imbalances.

What are some symptoms of Perimenopause?

The onset of perimenopause in females normally occurs in their mid-to late-40s. However, it can happen earlier or later. A woman’s ovaries start to generate less estrogen and progesterone during this time, which can result in a variety of symptoms, such as:

Irregular menstrual cycles
Sudden hot flushes in the day
Night sweats that drench your clothes and bedsheets
Mood changes
Vaginal dryness and reduced libido

While these symptoms are frequently associated with perimenopause, they can also be brought on by other things like stress, a poor diet, inactivity, and some medications. Therefore, it’s critical to rule out alternative explanations before concluding menopause is to blame.

Other Possible Causes of Night Sweats

Night sweats are a well-known symptom of perimenopause. They can also be brought on by other conditions as medically reviewed, such as:

Pharmaceuticals: Some pharmaceutical drugs, including blood pressure meds and antidepressants, can cause night sweats.
Infections: Night sweats may indicate certain infections, including HIV or tuberculosis.
Sleep Apnea: Sleep apnea can cause snoring and daytime sleepiness, but it also may cause night sweats

Treating Night Sweats Using Mainstream Medicine

Some changes that you can make in your lifestyle include:

Mainstream medicine has the following treatment options for perimenopause and night sweats:

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): This involves using exogenous estrogen and progesterone because the body is low in these hormones. Pills, patches, creams, and vaginal inserts are all acceptable delivery methods. If you do not like to use synthetic hormones, bio-identical hormones can also be used. Some women’s health specialists customize an appropriate mix of estrogen and progesterone for your needs.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): SSRIs are an antidepressant that can also lessen hot flashes and night sweats. The most effective SSRIs are escitalopram and paroxetine.
Gabapentin: This drug is frequently used to treat seizures, pain, and sleep disorders. It also has the potential to lessen hot flashes and nocturnal sweats.

SSRIs are common in psychiatric disorders, and Gabapentin has been used as an off-label drug for psychiatric conditions. It is important to discuss the potential risks and benefits of using these drugs with your healthcare provider before starting treatment.

HRT does not have a good reputation historically, as the side effects include an elevated risk of breast cancer, blood clots, and stroke. That said, there has been a move toward bio-identical hormones, which are less harmful than their synthetic counterparts.

TCM treats Night Sweats and Perimenopause

TCM offers a different way to understand and treat perimenopause and night sweats. Yin and Yang symbolize the opposing energies within the body. Yin is associated with lubrication, moisture, coolness, and calm; Yang is associated with friction, dryness, heat, and activity. Night sweats are commonly understood as an imbalance where Yin Deficiency results in Yang Excess.

Instead of using exogenous hormones, Chinese herbs can help your body produce the needed hormones. Herbs are also used to soothe your nervous system without using psychiatric drugs.

How do Chinese herbs help with Perimenopause and Night Sweats?

In the context of Perimenopause and Night Sweats, Chinese herbs enrich Yin and calm down the Yang Fire, reducing mood imbalances, better sleep, and, most importantly, a reduced frequency or complete elimination of Night Sweats.

A woman experiencing night sweats should consider Chinese medicine to relieve her symptoms. Chinese herbs are safe and effective and do not have side effects associated with using HRTs or psychiatric drugs.

Here are some specific ways that Chinese herbs can be beneficial in the treatment of night sweats:

Enrich Yin: Chinese herbs such as Rehmannia (Herb #1), Anemarrhena (Herb #2), and Asparagus Root (Herb #3) are known for their lubricating, moisturizing, and cooling properties. They are effective in treating night sweats caused by yin deficiency. These herbs help nourish the yin, reducing the intensity and frequency of night sweats.
Nourish Blood: In Chinese medicine, it is believed that nourishing the blood is crucial for adult women, especially as they are near their 50s. Herbs like Angelica Sinensis (Herb #4) and White Peony (Herb #5) are known as herbs for the female body; they can nourish the blood, promote circulation, and promote hormonal balance. Angelica Sinensis is also known to be hormone-regulating, which means it can treat the hormone imbalance that is the cause of night sweats.
Calm and Sooth: Night sweats are a symptom of a dysregulated nervous system. Chinese herbs like Polygala Root (Herb #6) and Albizia Flower (Herb #7) have calming and soothing properties that can alleviate mood, reduce night sweats and promote better sleep.

Now you know! These are the 7 important herbs for calming Night Sweats and Perimenopause!

Overall, Chinese herbs can be a safe and effective treatment option for women experiencing night sweats. However, working with a qualified Chinese medicine practitioner is important to ensure that the herbs are properly prescribed and dosed. We hope you found this article to be useful and helpful.

Acupuncture therapy for night sweats

According to TCM belief, the heart governs the blood, and sweat is the fluid of the heart system. Blood and fluid are vital yin components of the body, and night sweats are connected with heart-yin depletion and heart-yang hyperactivity. Excessive sweating, hot flashes, heated palms and soles, palpitations, impatience, sleeplessness, red cheeks, mouth dryness, and a red tongue are all symptoms of heat disharmony. Acupuncture stops excessive perspiration and encourages the body to rebalance itself.

Identifying the source of night sweats

Your doctor will use various techniques to establish the reason for frequent or bothersome night sweats. These might include:

talking about your symptoms, medical history, and medicines
going through your family tree
carrying out a physical examination
ordering laboratory or imaging tests to diagnose a medical ailment

If your doctor suspects an underlying health issue requiring expert care, they may refer you to a specialist.

What can I do at home to relieve my night sweats?

If you don’t have any additional symptoms that point to something more serious, consider these night sweat remedies:

Open a window. Sleep in a cooler location. Leave windows slightly open at night in your bedroom, or use a fan if feasible.
Change your bedding. Substitute breathable, light quilts or moisture-wicking sheets for plush or heavy blankets. It is beneficial to eliminate excess bedding and sleep beneath more lightweight layers while sleeping in your bedroom.
Adjust the time of your workouts. Physical exercise right before bedtime may lead to nighttime perspiration.
Stay away from sweat triggers. Before bed, avoid consuming hot meals, smoking cigarettes, or drinking alcohol.

When to see a doctor

While night sweats are often a cause for concern, they may not always need a trip to the doctor. Please get in touch with your doctor if you:

Night sweats regularly
Have a fever, pain in a specific part of your body, weight loss, a cough, diarrhea, or other symptoms.
Have a fever, pain in a particular part of your body, weight loss, cough, diarrhea, or other symptoms.
You are unlikely to have menopause soon, or the symptoms may have begun months or years after you had no menopausal symptoms.

Happy Patients

“Ever since my menopause over 6 years ago, I have had excessive sweating and flushes which have always been an issue. Being a wine lover, it was an added challenge, I already had to manage a feverish and sweaty body before drinks and a intensified version after.

I then consulted Soma Clinic about this nagging problem and was given a formula of TCM granules on a heavier than normal dose. I felt great improvements in a span of 10 days of taking the granules twice daily. The flushes and excessive sweating reduced by 80%!! I am now able to enjoy a glass or 2 of my fav wines with great ease and highly recommend this to anyone who needs menopausal support.”

– Ms. T (Night Sweats, Perimenopause Support)

“Great news!!!! My flushes got down 70 % right after the herbs.. I used the herbs as advised and have only been using the pills during this holiday in Vietnam. I am still feeling great! Thanks.”

– N. V., Netherlands (Night Sweats, Perimenopause support)

FAQs

What causes Night Sweats?

According to the International Menopause Society (IMS), various factors can cause night sweats, including drugs, hormonal changes and certain medical disorders. When you have such a condition, the most common reason is because of hormonal changes caround the time of menopause.

When the body’s internal temperature rises, sweat glands in the skin respond by producing perspiration. Sweat evaporates from the skin, lowering the body’s temperature. Sweat is produced in heated settings as well as during physical exertion. Research show sweat is also produced when the body’s temperature rises due to stress, fear, or worry.

Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for excessive sweating that exceeds what is required to regulate the body’s temperature. Night sweats are hyperhidrosis that happens while you are sleeping.

Night sweats can range in severity from mild perspiration, unnoticeable when you wake up, to pouring sweat that soaks your clothes and bedding.

How to get rid of Night Sweats?

There are steps to reduce the amount you sweat while sleeping, explains Dr. Aarthi Ram, a neurologist and sleep medicine expert at Houston Methodist.

As someone who has done much research on the topics of menopause and sweating at night, Ram says it is normal to have fluctuations in your body temperature while sleeping, and this can sometimes result in sweating,.

However, Ram suggests that you consider the following interventions if you experience night sweats during menopause:

Acupuncture: Acupuncture is effective in reducing hot flashes and night sweats in women going through menopause. It is also helpful in treating mood swings, insomnia and vaginal dryness.
Herbal Therapies: Soy isoflavones and Black Cohosh are effective in reducing hot flashes and vaginal dryness in women going through menopause. There are numerous reports of Chinese herbs like Dong Quai and Rehmannia being excellent at reducing menopausal night sweats.
Lifestyle changes: This include stress management, sleep hygiene as well as staying off stimulants after 6pm at night.

Some other causes of Night Sweats

Although they do not make up the majority of the cases, some other causes of night sweats include:

Psychiatric Medicines: Use of certain antidepressants may cause night sweats.

Hormonal imbalances and hormone replacement therapy: Many females experience symptoms of menopause when using drugs like Lupron or Leuprorelin. The reason is that Lupron reduces estrogen levels, which puts the body in a state of fake-menopause.

Cancers: Night sweats can indicate malignancies such as leukemia, Hodgkin’s or Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, and cancers of the gut, bone marrow, adrenal gland and thyroid.

Infections: Infections such as TB and brucellosis (a bacterial infection) might be causing your symptoms. Night sweating is also related to conditions like pericarditis, pus-filled abscesses and HIV .

Nervous system disorders: Anxiety, stroke and spinal cord conditions can all cause night sweats.

Addictions: Sweating at night can be experienced when you are withdrawing from addictive substances like alcohol, opioids, cocaine, cannabis and benzodiazepines. Night sweats can also be caused by opioid addiction treatment, such as methadone.

Are night sweats a symptom of Covid-19?

COVID-19 might be the source of your night sweats. Sweating is typical for everyone throughout the day and at night since it is your body’s natural way of managing your body temperature. If you wake up with your sheets and pajamas drenched in sweat, this might indicate that you have the coronavirus. Due to COVID, you may also get cold sweats at night, so you feel a chill while sweating. You can also get night sweats without having a temperature.

Night sweats and the COVID-19 infection may be linked because the body can elevate its temperature to combat the coronavirus infection. Some patients may have night sweats after getting the COVID-19 vaccination since this is a known adverse effect of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.