Natural Healing tips for Excessive Sweating

Sweating is a natural bodily function, but some people may find that they sweat in large quantities, even when they are not hot or exercising. This is known as hyperhydrosis, and is a result of an overactive sympathetic nervous system, which in turn over stimulates the sweat glands.

There are some natural treatments for less severe forms of hyperhydrosis, which can give relief from the unpleasant symptoms.

Tomato is a well known home remedy for tackling odour, and it is thought that if you drink a cup of fresh tomato juice every day for a week and every 2-4 days for the following week, you can reduce the intensity of the body odours resulting from excessive sweating. Some people are allergic to tomatoes though, so cease the treatment if you experience any signs of a reaction such as a skin rash, swollen joints or shortness of breath.

Baking soda is also thought to be effective against body odour. If you suffer from sweaty, smelly feet pour 2 tablespoons of baking soda into shoes and leave to soak overnight before shaking out, to help dry out shoes and reduce odour. Also you can dip cotton wool into baking soda and dab onto armpits to reduce dampness, and if you combine this with a little lemon juice it will also have a slightly antibacterial effect, which will help combat the odour-releasing bacteria that thrive on sweat.

Some people also believe that wiping the armpits with cider apple vinegar, or a freshly cut slice of potato can also help prevent body odour.

Sage is an age old remedy for excessive sweating. It contains carminative oils that reduce tissue inflammation and soothe mucous membranes, and also has a calming effect on the sympathetic nervous system. You can grow sage yourself, and the best plant for home remedy treatments is red sage (salvia officinalis). Harvest the leaves at the beginning of the flowering season in late spring/early summer and dry slowly in a cool temperature to preserve the volatile oils. You can take this treatment in the following ways:
* Sage tea – place 3 fresh leaves or 1-2 teaspoons of dried sage leaves in a cup and pour over boiling water. Leave to infuse for 10 mins then sip slowly. Repeat twice a day until symptoms begin to improve and then drink as and when necessary.
* Sage infusions – take 500g (1lb 2oz) of fresh sage or 200g (7oz) of dried sage and add to a clean sterilised glass jar. Add 500ml (18 floz) of a strong pure spirit alcohol (like vodka), and top up with about 200ml (7floz) of fresh water. Leave in a cool place to infuse for at least 2 weeks. You could strain this tincture into fresh sterilised jars, or just strain as and when you use it. Take 2-4ml of the tincture three times a day, either on its own or diluted in a glass of water.
* Sage compress – this can also be soothing for skin that has become macerated and broken from being constantly damp from excessive sweat. Soak 5 fresh sage leaves or 3 teaspoons of dried leaves in hot water and leave till it has cooled completely. Add a little witch hazel for additional antiseptic benefits and the soak in some clean squares of cotton cloth. Simply press the soaked cloth against the affected areas for 3 to 5 mins, before rinsing and repeating. If you suffer from sweaty feet you could simple soak your feet straight into the infusion for 5-10 mins.