BACK TO ASK THE HERBALIST INDEX

ANSWERS FROM LORYHL:
QUESTION: I am 15 years old and I understand about going through puberty and all, but I sweat A LOT!  I sweat under my arms, my feet, and my hands. I mean it is bad to where whenever someone goes to grab my hand I pull away. Not to mention having a boyfriend and holding hands doesn’t go well with me. They look at me like I weird or something and it’s very embarrassing. I have tried drionic, but that really hurts because it sends shock through your body. It is very uncomfortable. I just don’t know what else I can do.

ANSWER:  I suggest the following:  Google EFT or Emotional Freedom Technique.  It is very simple to do and I can tell you it will help you. You not only have some physical issues going on, you also have some confidence/self worth issues, which are normal for your age. 

ANSWERS FROM KAREN MALLINGER
NO-GLOW TEA
QUESTION: Can you get any results when you first drink the tea, or is 3-4 months just to get any results?  Is it safe?   Say it is really going to be a hot day, can I drink a few cups of tea in the morning and have results that same day-----even if the effects aren't lasting ?

ANSWER: I think you misunderstand what herbs are and how they work. This is not some "magic potion" that you take and it cures whatever's wrong with you. First of all, there are never any guarantees, and none have been implied. Second, it is a lifestyle change. You can't just start drinking herb teas and still put garbage into your body and expect to see changes. Herbs don't work that way. Lastly, herbs are plants and they work gently, with the body. One cup of any kind of herb tea, with the possible exception of hemlock, is not going to give you immediate results.
 
Sorry you got the wrong idea. Excessive sweating is not an acute issue. It is chronic and therefore requires several changes to help the body come back into balance, the biggest one being the diet. The tea just helps it all along. If you're looking for "the quick fix" herbs aren't it.

QUESTION: I have just turned 18. I don't remember having this problem when I was a younger teen but I have noticed I've been sweating profusely under my arms. It seems abnormal that the sweat shows on every
shirt I wear. Strangely, it seems like I sweat more under my arms when I'm not active than when I'm working out. I have read in magazines that it is normal to go through this stage when you are a teenager but it's getting to the point where I can't even wear certain types of shirts. Please help.

ANSWER: You are still young, so your hormones are still changing. That could be all that's going on. Sage tea is usually very effective for excessive sweating, but for you, this may not be excessive. It may just be your hormones. Avoid spicy foods and make sure you are well hydrated. Try to avoid the impulse to use more antiperspirants, as they have been linked to Alzheimer's due to the aluminum content.

QUESTION: My daughter is 14 years old & has a problem with excessive sweating to the point that it is embarrassing.  What do you recommend she take/do?

ANSWER: A couple of things come to mind. First, she is probably still going through puberty, so her hormones are still adjusting. That would be my first guess as to why this is just coming on now. I have a tea that seems to be effective for those with excessive sweating, but this may be something that will clear up on its own with time. Still, if you're interested, it can be found at my website at www.allgoodegifts.com in the Apothecary.

QUESTION: Since I was about 12 years old I can remember having problems with sweating. I am now 15 and over those years the sweating has gotten more profuse and problem-some. Doctors have told me that I am in good health & should not worry about sweating, but it is definitely an emotion burden. I sweat under normal conditions (i.e. heat & exercise) but I do sweat much more than anyone around me doing the same thing in the same conditions and always have a lot of facial blushing as well. I could not say that one area sweats more than another, it is just most noticeable in the face & back. Knowing that I sweat a lot makes me feel uncomfortable in social situations and the stress adds to me sweating even more.  I was wondering if there was any remedy I could take to reduce sweating even if it is natural & genetic for me?

ANSWER: The best thing for excessive sweating is sage tea. Also, increase your intake of Zinc to 50 mg per day. I have a No Glow Tea and a No Sweat Tincture on my website that have proven very effective for this. You can find both at www.allgoodegifts.com in the Apothecary.

QUESTION: My husband sweats terribly under the arms. He can be in an air-conditioned room and his shirt will be wet under the arms. He ask me to try and find something to help this problem. It is driving him crazy. He ruins so many shirts! He has to be very careful about deodorants or they will get hard in the armpit area after a few times of being worn and then washed. I am sure it is due to the sweat mixed with the deodorant. Do you have any suggestions on a natural remedy to help with this problem?

ANSWER: The problem is more common than you may think. Excessive sweating not caused by a natural response to  certain conditions such as heat, exercise, strong emotions or medications is called diaphoresis and is attributed to the sympathetic nervous system. (That's the part not under our conscious control) Your husband should avoid cinnamon, ephedra, green tea, Japanese mint juniper berries, kudzu, lobelia, mate, red cedar, sassafras and yohimbe. Also, make sure he's taking Zinc every day, at least 30 mg. Coffee, tea and other stimulants will exacerbate the problem, so make sure he cuts back on those. Sage is the best herb for this condition. I have a tea I developed called No Glow Tea. You can find it on my website at www.allgoodegifts.com under Teas in the Herb Shoppe.

QUESTION: My husband takes Wellbutrin and Klonipin and has excessive sweating as a side effect. I have heard that sage works well for sweating. What herbs would help even though the sweating is made worse from the medications.

ANSWER: Yes, Sage is very good for sweating. I have a special tea that I developed called "No Glow" Tea. (I need to have one called "No Sweat" fro the men!!!!) Anyhow, you can find it on the website at www.allgoodegifts.com under Teas in the Herb Shoppe.

QUESTION: I am one of those persons that can sweat profusely just by sitting down and doing nothing. I had found a formula that is suppose to stop Profuse Sweating but I do not have access to some of the products and I have not found any companies or products as of yet, until I was in the internet and came across your webpage. The following ingredients made into an infusion usually begins to reduce sweating two hrs. After drinking a couple of cups of this tea when cooled. the formula is as follows: Bring 4 cups of water to a boil,  then add 1tsp. each of dried hops, dried stinging nettle, fresh-cut rose petals, fresh or dried strawberry leaves, fresh walnut leaves, and 3 tsp. of dried sage leaves.  Cover, remove from heat and steep fro an hour. Strain and sweeten with honey if necessary.  Have you ever heard of this infusion or do you have something similar that can help with excessive sweating.  Also do you have a catalog of your products that I can order. If so send me one to

ANSWER: I haven't heard of that particular remedy, but some of the ingredients are used frequently to aid those suffering from excessive sweating.  I can certainly make a custom blend for you. Go to my website at www.allgoodegifts.com and in the Herb Shoppe under Teas, select CUSTOM in the drop down menu. Then in the comments section of the checkout, put "No Sweat Tea". I don't have a catalog, but all of my products are listed on the website. Go have a look around! Also, if there's something you don't see, but you'd like, let me know. I specialize in custom formulations.

QUESTION: I am the founder of an non-profit organization called Overcomers Foundation.  We reach out to help people who suffer from a medical condition called Hyperhydoris(excessive sweating). It is mostly caused by a overactive sympathetic nervous system.  People who have this condition also suffer with anxiety as well. I am trying to find out what herbs will be beneficial if helping people with Hyperhydrosis.

ANSWER: I have several clients who have suffered with hyperhydoris and have just developed a special herb tea I'm very excited about called "No Glow" Tea. It contains hops, nettle and sage, all very good herbs to aid in this type of condition. 
           Also, since you will be concentrating on this particular condition, I'm wondering if most of your clients are suffering from hyperthyroidism? My research shows that hyperhydoris is a side effect of the condition. I have several excellent teas for this condition as well and am developing some tinctures if you or your clients would be interested.


SWEATING UNDER ONE ARM
QUESTION: I have a problem with just one of my underarms sweating for no reason.  I don’t know what it is caused from.  Could it be from lack of circulation in my arm?  And what can I do to make it stop???

ANSWER: Sweating under just one arm is a little strange. Have you spoken to your doctor about it? I would seem medical advice on this one. There are things you can try for abnormal sweating, but if it's only occurring under one arm, there may be something else going on. Check with your doctor.

ANSWERS FROM DAVID BRILL
EXCESSIVE SWEATING
QUESTION:   I have reviewed your answers regarding excessive sweating and appreciate the inf..  However you give no indication as to how these herbs should be used.  FYI...excessive sweating is know as hyperhydrosis.  It's  cause is unknown....sweating occurs at inappropriate times.....i.e. at rest etc.  My sweating occurs in the under arm region and is profuse.  It has nothing to do with external factors such as heat.  I am not obese and am in good health.  Stress compounds the situation a bit but is not the underlying cause.  I also blush a bit and was wondering if there are any remedies for this.  The blushing also happens at inappropriate times.  I ma not a shy person nor do I suffer from any social phobias. If you need any other inf. please feel free to e mail me.  Also where can these herBs be purchased?

ANSWER:   I normally recommend alcohol extracts, i.e. tinctures and you would follow directions on the bottle if you are not seeing an herbalists who would formulate a protocol for you.  You would put the number of drops recommended in water, juice or hot tea.  You could also do the herbs as teas. 

Normally the redness and flushing is a sign of heat, vessels close to the skin expand to allow more blood into the area; the sweating is also associated with heat.  The water removes heat as it evaporates off your skin. The redness and flushing brings blood to the suface removing heat or bringing heat depending on the ambient temperature and your bodies reaction to it.

As I stated above I would need to know more about you to create a specific protocol.

Sweating is also associated with emotional issues, nervousness and anxiety.  If this is associated Nervine herbs such as fresh Oats would be appropriate, for stress use Adaptogen herbs.

You do not say if you are on any medications but they can affect sweating.

If you cannot find what you need locally, we mail order every day please call and we will send it to you.  I would begin with Sage and Astragalus.

The herbs generally associated with excess sweating are:

Sage, Latin Name Salvia officinalis, combines well with lycanthimum (ox eye daisy) for excess sweating

White Peony root, Latin Name: Paeonia albifloria is an amphoteric to sweating, reducing excess sweating or increasing loss of sweating, it balances and harmonizes the sweat response, increases or decreases sweating as needed.

Astragulus, Huang Qi, Yellow Leader, Latin Name: Astragulus membrananceus (beware there are other species being used as a substitute) is an amphoteric to sweating, reducing excess sweating or increasing loss of sweating, it balances and harmonizes the sweat response, increases or decreases sweating as needed.

Schisandra berry, Wu wei zu, 5 flavor fruit, Latin Name: Schisandra chinesis (northern) S. sphenanthera (southern, is preferred species) Astringing in activity: puckers the jing, night sweats, inappropriate sweating.

UNDERARM IRRITATION
QUESTION: I am having a problem under my arm pits. It started years ago and it was only about once or twice a year.  My doctor prescribed antibiotics to clear it up which worked well. But I would like to find an alternative because the problem has gotten worse. I'd normally have a large pimple/bump filled with pus and it would be very sore.  I'm almost unable to move my arm due to the pain. If I didn't get attention sometimes it would burst and all would be fine.  If I couldn't stand it any longer, I'd go to the doctor.  It would sometimes get as large as a ping pong ball.  
        I think it was caused by my sweating under the arm area and may be a reaction to the deodorant I used.  But I have switched to different deodorants/antiperspirants.  And now I'm even trying the no-alcohol, all-natural kind.  One of them was a tea tree oil natural deodorant and Origins deodorant. But even while using them the problem has become more severe.  Now they constantly occur under my arm pits and they are smaller (more like large pimples) and they burst and the pus comes out.  But then another one appears soon after that.  This is happening under both arm pits.
          I sweat under my arms quite badly and can not go without something.  I've tried that and it just won't work for me.  After about half the day I can't stand myself (the smell)
          Can you help to clear up this problem and offer some something to either prevent it or to use the next time it occurs?  Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.

ANSWER: I would try violet, viola species, and use in combination with, red clover and burdock root. Fresh is best for violet leaf, juice the leaves and add to black cherry juice do a shot a day until things clear or find a herbal tincture which is made from the fresh leaves, the other two herbs mentioned would also help to relieve congestion like this. 
              My thought on the antiperspirant use is you may be allergic to the aluminum used to shrink the sweat glands and stop perspiration, I would go off any antiperspirant which contains aluminum which is most, if you need to use something use a deodorant to cover the smell. But I think I would try to control the sweating internally see my answers on controlling sweating with herbs online and avoid deodorants and antiperspirants until the problem clears up. Better to use soap and water in the restroom and cleanse and bath the area several times a day to remove the sweat buildup and odor.

EXCESSIVE SWEATING
QUESTION: I was told cayenne pepper would be good for excessive sweating. Do you think this is true? Also, is there anything better?

ANSWER: I may be able to help but it is hard to tell with the information at hand.  Why do you have excess sweating, menopause, pregnancy, diabetes, weight problem? I would not use cayenne for this condition, unless it was homeopathic in nature, cayenne causes sweating.
       The herbs generally associated with excess sweating are:
Sage, Latin Name Salvia officinalis, combines well with lycanthimum (ox eye daisy) for excess sweating
White Peony root, Latin Name: Paeonia albifloria is an amphoteric to sweating, reducing excess sweating or increasing loss of sweating, it balances and harmonizes the sweat response, increases or decreases sweating as needed.
Astragulus, Huang Qi, Yellow Leader, Latin Name: Astragulus membrananceus (beware there are other species being used as a substitute) is an amphoteric to sweating, reducing excess sweating or increasing loss of sweating, it balances and harmonizes the sweat response, increases or decreases sweating as needed.
Schisandra berry, Wu wei zu, 5 flavor fruit, Latin Name: Schisandra chinesis (northern) S. sphenanthera (southern, is preferred species) Astringing in activity: puckers the jing, night sweats, inappropriate sweating.