Today I will introduce a good prescription for stopping sweat. Whether it is scalp sweat, facial sweat, or chest and back sweat, it can be treated. This prescription is Oysters-Astragalus-Cinnamon Twig Decoction (Muli Huangqi Guizhi Tang).

Let's first talk about why people sweat. From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, excessive sweating is related to qi deficiency, an unstable body surface, and yin-yang imbalance. Qi has a retaining function, like a goalkeeper: when qi is deficient, this “goalkeeper” cannot guard the gate, the pores open wide, and sweat leaks out, causing abnormal sweating. Regarding yin and yang, the Huangdi Neijing says, “When yang is added to yin, it is called sweat,” meaning that sweat is the result of the combined action of yang qi and body fluids. Only when yin and yang are balanced will sweating be normal.

The Oyster–Astragalus–Cinnamon Twig Decoction (Muli Huangqi Guizhi Tang) can both tonify qi and secure the exterior, and harmonize yin and yang. It contains seven Chinese medicinal herbs including oyster shell (Muli) and astragalus (Huangqi). First, for tonifying qi and securing the exterior there are astragalus, Atractylodes (Baizhu), and floating wheat (Fuxiaomai). Astragalus is a master at tonifying qi; it secures the exterior to stop sweating, and it also benefits qi and strengthens the spleen, enabling the spleen and stomach to generate more qi, blood, and body fluids. Atractylodes also benefits qi and strengthens the spleen; used together with astragalus, astragalus guards the front line while Atractylodes supports logistics in the rear, working in seamless cooperation. Floating wheat can secure the exterior and stop sweating, benefit qi and clear heat; because it is light and buoyant it can carry the herbs’ actions to the body surface, remove 虚热 on the skin, and also improve irritability, insomnia, spontaneous sweating, and night sweats.

As for harmonizing yin and yang, there are oyster shell and cinnamon twig. Oyster shell is the shell of the sea oyster; it comes from water, which belongs to yin, and because of its heavy nature it can draw back lost body fluids and suppress rogue 虚火. Cinnamon twig is pungent and sweet and warm in nature; it can add yang qi to the body. Used together, these two herbs supplement both yin and yang and harmonize them just right.

Finally, there are ephedra root and licorice. Ephedra root is sweet-astringent in taste and neutral in nature, enters the lung channel, can consolidate lung qi and close the pores, and is an essential medicine for stopping sweating. Licorice, acting as a harmonizer, can coordinate the various herbs, prevent oyster shell from being too cold and injuring the stomach, and can also help astragalus exert its effect, keeping the overall formula’s properties steady and reliable.

These seven herbs together form the Muli-Astragalus-Cinnamon Twig Decoction. This formula tonifies both yin and yang, harmonizes the exterior and interior, and treats qi and blood together; it is specifically for abnormal sweating. However, although the formula is good, it must be used on the basis of syndrome differentiation by a professional physician. If there are any problems, you should seek timely, standardized medical care and not self-medicate blindly.