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I sweat too much. Is it just my body type or is it hyperhidrosis?

Have you ever thought, "Am I the only one who sweats this much?" It is very common for hyperhidrosis patients to have damp hands and feet just by being nervous, sweat running down their backs even when staying still, or sweat pouring from their faces like rain just by eating. Many people think it's just their body type and dismiss it, but this excessive sweating can be a sign of 'hyperhidrosis,' which goes beyond daily inconvenience and lowers the quality of life. Especially if it's hard to focus at important moments because of sweat, or if you feel difficulty in interpersonal relationships, it's hard to consider it a simple body type issue anymore.

💡 [Key Answer] The 3 most common causes of "I sweat too much" symptoms: ① Autonomic nervous system imbalance / ② Stress and psychological tension / ③ Accumulation of damp-heat in the body Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic resolves the root cause of hyperhidrosis through autonomic stabilization treatment, which regulates the overactivity of sweat glands by restoring the balance of the autonomic nervous system and normalizing body functions.

Sweat is our body's important temperature regulation system. Sweating when it's hot, during exercise, or when eating spicy food is a natural physiological phenomenon. However, hyperhidrosis refers to a pathological state where excessive sweat is secreted beyond these physiological needs. Generally, hyperhidrosis is divided into 'primary hyperhidrosis,' which occurs without a causal disease, and 'secondary hyperhidrosis,' which occurs due to a specific disease (thyroid dysfunction, diabetes, menopause, etc.) or drug side effects.

In particular, primary hyperhidrosis concentrates sweat on specific areas such as hands, feet, armpits, and face, and is closely related to mental tension or stress. It is known to occur because the brain's hypothalamus over-stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, making sweat glands more active than necessary. Excessive sweating can make one vulnerable to skin eczema or fungal infections, and can lead to social withdrawal or even depression due to psychological shrinkage, so active treatment is necessary.

Hyperhidrosis is more deeply related to our body's 'autonomic nervous system,' which regulates sweat secretion, rather than an abnormality of the sweat glands themselves. The autonomic nervous system is a system that automatically regulates body functions — from heart rate, digestion, and body temperature to sweating — even if we are not conscious of it. Chronic stress, lack of sleep, and excessive tension break the balance of the autonomic nervous system, causing the sympathetic nervous system to become over-activated, which leads to overactivity of sweat glands and produces more sweat than necessary.

In Korean medicine, hyperhidrosis is not seen simply as a symptom of sweating a lot, but as a diagnosis of internal imbalance, especially 'autonomic dysfunction,' a state where the harmony of the autonomic nervous system is broken. In Korean medicine, sweat is seen as the 'liquid of the heart,' and poor heart function and the accumulation of damp-heat in the spleen and stomach are also diagnosed as major causes of hyperhidrosis. In other words, hyperhidrosis occurs due to complex causes, such as when the body's defensive energy weakens and cannot properly close the sweat pores, or when unnecessary heat accumulates in the body and continues to stimulate the sweat glands.

The effectiveness of Korean medicine treatment for hyperhidrosis is being confirmed through numerous clinical studies.

A study titled "A Study on Herbal Medicine Treatment for Hyperhidrosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis" published in the 「Journal of Korean Medical Ophthalmology & Otolaryngology & Dermatology」 in 2022 systematically analyzed the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicine treatment alone for hyperhidrosis. After analyzing a total of 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the researchers found that the herbal medicine treatment group showed a statistically significantly higher efficiency rate compared to the Western medicine alone treatment group, and the incidence of side effects was also significantly lower. This suggests that herbal medicine is effective and safe in improving the root cause of hyperhidrosis.

Also, a study titled "Trends in Clinical Research of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Oral Herbal Treatment of Primary Hyperhidrosis in Children" published in the 「Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine」 in 2022 confirmed the effectiveness of oral herbal treatment for pediatric primary hyperhidrosis patients. After analyzing a total of 5 randomized controlled trials, it was found that the treatment group showed a significantly higher treatment effect even 1 month and 2 months after taking herbal medicine, and 1 month after the end of treatment. The researchers concluded that herbal medicine treatment is an effective treatment for pediatric hyperhidrosis and requires at least 1 month of treatment.

Based on this data, Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic considers autonomic stabilization treatment, which regulates the overactivity of sweat glands by restoring autonomic balance and correcting internal imbalances, more important than a simple approach of suppressing sweat. We aim for fundamental improvement by restoring the body's natural regulatory ability without worrying about the side effects of drug administration or surgical treatment, such as dry mouth, constipation, and compensatory hyperhidrosis.

At Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic, we focus on autonomic stabilization treatment, which resolves the root cause of hyperhidrosis by restoring the balance of the brain and autonomic nervous system. When the balance of the autonomic nervous system is broken, the brain cannot rest and becomes overheated, stimulating the sweat glands. It's like an overheated engine making body regulation unstable.

We focus on 'lowering the heat of the overheated nervous system and creating an environment where the brain can rest.' We prescribe customized herbal medicine suited to the patient's constitution and symptoms to calm the excessive excitement of the sympathetic nervous system and help activate the parasympathetic nervous system. This reduces the overactivity of sweat glands and increases the body's resilience to stress, helping to naturally regain sweat control ability. Acupuncture and moxibustion treatment help alleviate the over-activation of the sympathetic nervous system and regulate blood flow and sweat gland responsiveness. We also contribute to restoring overall body health by integrally improving symptoms of autonomic dysfunction that accompany hyperhidrosis, such as emotional instability, sleep disorders, and indigestion.

Many people looking for an Incheon hyperhidrosis clinic are regaining a comfortable and healthy daily life at Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic, going beyond simply reducing sweat.

Am I hyperhidrotic? Hyperhidrosis Self-Diagnosis Checklist

If 3 or more of the following apply, we recommend suspecting hyperhidrosis due to autonomic imbalance and consulting with the medical staff at Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic Incheon.

• I sweat profusely in specific areas like hands, feet, or armpits all year round.
• I often get embarrassed because sweat pours like rain when I get nervous or stressed.
• Sweat interferes with daily activities like paperwork, shaking hands, or driving.
• Clothes often get wet due to sweat, and I feel socially withdrawn because I'm self-conscious about the smell of sweat.
• Skin eczema, athlete's foot, or dermatitis often occurs or worsens due to sweat.
• I often have night sweats that make the bedding damp.
• Sweat flows excessively from the face and scalp for no particular reason.
• I usually feel high anxiety or tension, and the quality of sleep is poor.

If 3 or more apply: Hyperhidrosis due to autonomic imbalance can be suspected. Consider Korean medicine complex treatment. If 5 or more apply: Hyperhidrosis symptoms are likely having a serious impact on daily life. Immediate visit for professional diagnosis and treatment is recommended.

A. The treatment period for hyperhidrosis varies depending on the severity of symptoms, cause, and constitution of the individual. Generally, Korean medicine treatment needs time to restore autonomic balance, so if you are treated consistently, you will feel your sweat control ability gradually improving. Treatment can usually last from a few weeks to several months.

A. Yes, Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic's autonomic stabilization treatment focuses on resolving autonomic imbalance, the main cause of hyperhidrosis. Therefore, symptoms of autonomic dysfunction such as anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, and sleep disorders that appear with hyperhidrosis can also be improved simultaneously.

A. Mild hyperhidrosis may improve just with lifestyle habit changes or stress management, but chronic and severe hyperhidrosis is hard to heal naturally. Especially if it interferes with daily life, it can mean a serious imbalance of the autonomic nervous system, so it is important to get professional help.

Hyperhidrosis, where sweat pours like rain, is not a problem that can be solved by enduring. You no longer have to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If you approach it in the right direction, your body will react faster than you think. Bring your symptoms as they are. Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic will find the cause together and help you regain a comfortable daily life.

Where life blooms. For herbal medicine, it's Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic. Check your symptoms similar to mine through the AI consultation on the Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic website first!

This article is health information compiled by Dalimchae medical staff based on questions frequently received in the treatment room. Medical Supervision | Incheon Branch Korean Medicine Doctor Min Jihong (Hyperhidrosis Column) based on Brain/Autonomic nervous system treatment standards.