Do you ever experience this situation? Even without significant physical exertion, just taking a few steps causes you to break into a profuse sweat, or your pillow gets soaked with sweat from sleeping at night. Why does this happen? Many people believe sweating is a way to detoxify, but in fact, excessive sweating quietly depletes the body's yang qi!

Traditional Chinese Medicine believes: "Yang acting upon yin produces sweat." The process of sweating is like yang qi pushing body fluids outward. Normal sweating helps regulate body temperature and eliminate waste, but excessive sweating is akin to having the heater on at home with the windows left open—yang qi escapes along with the sweat.

Yang Qi is responsible for warming the organs and promoting the circulation of Qi and blood. Excessive sweating causes Yang Qi to continuously dissipate, leading to physical weakness, not only making one prone to catching colds but also resulting in cold hands and feet and overall fatigue. Over time, this can also lead to a deficiency in Qi and blood, causing symptoms such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, lack of mental energy, and a pale complexion. Moreover, sweat and Qi-blood share the same origin. Excessive sweating is akin to draining the body's "nutrient-rich water," and naturally, Qi and blood cannot keep up.

Today, I’d like to share a powerful "general" for stopping sweating—Fu Xiaomai (light wheat), which is particularly effective in regulating excessive sweating due to deficiency. Fu Xiaomai is shriveled wheat grains. Although it may seem insignificant, it has the effects of astringing sweat, boosting Qi, and clearing heat.

Simply boiling Fu Xiaomai in water to drink, or combining it with Huangqi (astragalus) and Mahuanggen (ephedra root) to decoct a soup, can help us retrieve the escaping Yang Qi and stop excessive sweating. Huangqi replenishes Qi and strengthens the protective Qi’s ability to secure the exterior. Mahuanggen specializes in stopping sweating. When paired with Fu Xiaomai, it’s like installing sturdy curtains on the body’s windows, preventing Yang Qi from being needlessly lost.

Of course, the causes of excessive sweating vary from person to person. If you sweat profusely with even slight movement, constantly feel fatigued, and show clear signs of Qi deficiency, you can add Dangshen (Codonopsis pilosula) and Baizhu (white atractylodes). If you sweat during sleep and it stops upon waking, accompanied by warmth in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, it is likely due to Yin deficiency. In this case, pairing with Maidong (ophiopogon tuber) and Wuweizi (schisandra fruit) is more effective for nourishing Yin.

This article is intended solely for the purpose of popularizing traditional Chinese medicine knowledge. In TCM, treatment emphasizes syndrome differentiation, so it's best to consult a professional TCM practitioner regarding the specific combinations and dosages. Do not blindly self-medicate!