Healing Spark: Recognize

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It's unpleasant to wake up drenched in sweat. One of the reasons there's no Western medical treatment for night sweats is because there are so many circumstances that can factor into it. And you are not alone. A study of 2,267 patients visiting their primary care doctor had 41% reporting night sweats during the previous month (Mold et al. J Fam Pract 2002; 51:452). Eastern medicine considers night sweats a specific dysfunction and does have a way to address it.

Cooling and nourishing foods, in addition to adequate rest and relief from stress, can help restore your body to dryer and cooler nights.

There are 11 things we've identified as things to consider when looking for contributing causes to your night sweats. First of all, night sweats may be common but they are not normal. It is a signal from your body that something is wrong and a reason to investigate the cause(s). If you see a doctor, they will obtain a detailed medical history and probably request tests to find out if a medical condition is the culprit.

You can probably guess some of the more common causes of night sweats:

1) Hot and humid sleeping environment
2) Alcohol, caffeine, cigarettes, and spicy foods
3) Menopause
4) Infectious diseases (bacteria and viruses)

It is just simple logic to understand why any of these first four situations might cause night sweats. The body regulates its temperature through your rate of sweating from your 200-500 million pores depending primarily on five factors: temperature, moisture, physical health, emotional status, wind.

Some of the less likely but more serious circumstances that can lead to night sweats include:

5) Hypoglycemia or diabetes
6) Hormone disorders (like hyperthyroidism)
7) Cancer (especially lymphoma)
8) Sleep apnea
9) Idiopathic hyperhidrosis
10) Neurological conditions (like autonomic neuropathy)
11) Medications (like antidepressants)

Before you panic about night sweats as an early sign of some cancers, try to look for simpler explanations. Eastern medicine considers night sweats an imbalance of Yin, where self-nourishment and body fluids are in a depleted state. A perpetually stressful lifestyle can land you in a depleted state quite easily. Aside from a shiatsu or acupuncture treatment on a few tonifying Yin points or Chinese herbs, there are some lifestyle and diet basics that may clear the symptom of night sweats for you.

Cooling and nourishing foods, in addition to adequate rest and relief from stress, can help restore your body to dryer and cooler nights. Note: do not sleep under a fan or with a draft blowing on you as this can lead to other unwanted conditions. Some cooling and nourishing foods you can try include: barley, beans, eggs, pork, fish, sesame, asparagus, peas, potatoes, seaweed, yams, tomatoes, apples, pears, watermelon, and bananas. That's not a comprehensive list, but things that are usually easy to find at the local grocer.

Always feel you can discuss your situation with your health care provider. There are many other symptoms you may have at the same time as night sweats which could indicate a different or more serious cause worth medical investigation. Some of the causes of night sweats require proper medical attention. As in most cases, anything that is a chronic problem demonstrates something more serious than an occasional symptom. Listen to your body when it sends you big, obvious messages with undesirable symptoms like night sweats. With some of the insights above you may be able to track down the source, or they might just point you in a direction to discuss with your doctor if you're aware of other symptoms that are related.