How to stop SWEATING naturally with HERBS 🌿
Learn 3 herbal hacks to reduce excessive sweating with household herbs!
Good Morning valued subscribers.
In this edition,
- I discuss a diagnosis of excessive sweating a.k.a hyperhydrosis
- I show you three evidence based herbal hacks to treat the problem.
I hope you enjoy 🙏🏽
I have created a 3 minute YouTube video summarising the topic.
You can find it here 👇
This video is a summary of a slightly longer blog post which discusses the following:
- Functions of Sweating 📖
- Diagnosis of Excessive Sweating💧 (Primary Hyperhidrosis)
- How to rule out worrying causes of Sweating 😰 (Secondary Hyperhydrosis)
- Using Sage 🌿 in Tea, Capsule of Topical format to treat excessive sweating and hot flushes caused by the menopause (1).
- Using Black Tea☕️ in a herbal soak to prevent sweating in hands and feet.
- Using Apple Cider Vinegar to prevent sweat from becoming odorous 👃🏻
👉Click HERE for the Full Blog Post Including DOSES and DIRECTIONS of USE 👈
Do you have Primary Hyperhidrosis?
Check out this infographic to diagnose yourself 👇
Herbal Sweat Theory 🌿
The essential theory of treating hyperhidrosis naturally is finding herbs which are high in tannins. These are organic plant compounds derived from phenolic acids, sometimes called tannic acids. Tannins have been used throughout history for their ability to contract skin cells. This is called astringency. Tannins have been used to convert animal hides into leather by constricting and tightening the proteins in animal hides.
These tannins exhibit the same process in our skin, constricting our bodies tissues (2). The tart taste of black tea or red wine is due to the tannins shrinking effect on our mucous membranes. If we consume astringent compounds by ingestion or topically to affected areas, we can shrink the size of our sweat glands and slow down the secretion of fluids (2).
Two herbs which are powerful astringents are Sage and Black Tea.
Sage Herbal Tea
Sage has been used by German Authorities since 1976 as a treatment for hyperhidrosis and is included in a number of formulations for menopausal hot flushes and night sweats.
The European Medicines Agency recommends 2g of diced herbal substance in 150ml of water (3).
1) Add boiling water to chopped fresh Sage sprigs or dried sage
2) Squeeze the juice from one lemon wedge into the mixture.
3) Add a dash of honey or agave syrup (if required)
4) Strain and Serve
Syrup and Lemon is added to ensure the Sage is not over powering.
This can be drunk twice a day.
👉Click Here for More Information 👈
Sage Anti-Perspirant
This decoction can be used as a natural, chemical free antiperspirant. Traditional antiperspirants reduce sweating by blocking pores with a chemical, aluminium chloride. Over time and with persistent use, pores become clogged, its effectiveness wanes and you need to switch brands. This organic antiperspirant only has only two ingredients, fresh sage leaves and water. The solution shrink the size of the sweat glands via astringent action.
Boil 250ml of water in a cooking pot.
Dice 50 grams of fresh sage plant or 2 tablespoons of dried sage.
Steep the herb in the water for 10 minutes after the water has boiled.
Cool the sage solution in the fridge and add to your spray bottle.
Apply the sage solution to the affected areas and clean throughly. Pat the areas dry with a towel.
Do this daily for the best results.
Sweaty Hands/Feet - Black Tea Soak ☕️
To get the benefit of using tea tannins, it’s necessary to soak your hands/ feet in brewed black tea rather than tea extracts. Steeping tea in hot water releases the important plant compounds into the solution.
Fill up a basin/bowl with 1 litre of hot but not boiling water.
Add two bags of black tea.
Let the tea steep for 10 minutes
Add cold water to cool to a comfortable temperature.
Soak your affected areas for up to 20 minutes and pat dry.
Do this at night for the best effects.
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
A study tested the ACV effect on bacterial growth in petri dishes cultured at body temperature for 24 hours. The results showed that ACV reduced bacterial growth of E.Coli, fungal growth of Candida Albicans and importantly Corynebacterium, a bacteria which is responsible for underarm odours (4).
Apple Cider Vinegar Bath
The best way to consume apple cider vinegar is directly onto the skin.
Dab a cotton ball into the vinegar and rub it over your affected areas.
Leave overnight and rinse in the morning.
You can also take an ACV bath.
Add two tablespoons of ACV to your bath water and enjoy as normal.
👉 Click here for more information 👈
Contraindications
Sage supplementation or topical concoctions are contraindicated in pregnancy or lactation. This can cause uterine contractions. Beware of using the essential oil of sage which is high in a neurotoxic compound called thujone (3). This can induce seizures.
Conclusions
If you’ve found any of these tips helpful to combat your hyperhidrosis, let us know in the comments below!
It can be difficult finding products without toxic chemicals or ingredients so try these all natural alternatives before going back to traditional antiperspirants.
Herbal 💚
Dr Adam Sayedi
Medical Doctor & Herbalist in Training
References
IJMRHS: Sage and Hot Flashes/Night Sweats, 2016. Available at: https://www.ijmrhs.com/medical-research/the-effect-of-salvia-officinalis-tablet-on-hot-flashes-night-sweating-and-estradiol-hormone-in-postmenopausal-women.pdf
Tannins are Astringent. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry phytojournal.com. https://www.phytojournal.com/vol1Issue3/Issue_sept_2012/8.1.pdf
European Medicines Agency, 2016. Salvia Officinalis Assessment Report - https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-report/final-assessment-report-salvia-officinalis-l-folium-salvia-officinalis-l-aetheroleum-revision-1_en.pdf
Yagnik D, Serafin V, J Shah A. Antimicrobial activity of apple cider vinegar against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans; down regulating cytokine and microbial protein expression. Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):1732. Published 2018 Jan 29. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-18618-x