Understanding Palmar (hands) and Plantar (feet) Hyperhidrosis: A Comprehensive Guide

Excessive sweating of the hands and feet, also known as palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis, respectively, can be quite uncomfortable and may interfere with daily activities and social interactions. While sweating is a natural bodily function for regulating temperature, some individuals experience sweating beyond what is considered normal.

Types of Hyperhidrosis

Primary Hyperhidrosis:

• Primary hyperhidrosis refers to excessive sweating that is not a symptom of another medical condition. It often begins during childhood or adolescence and tends to affect specific areas of the body, such as the palms, soles of the feet, underarms, or face.
• This type of hyperhidrosis usually occurs symmetrically, meaning it affects both sides of the body equally.
• Primary hyperhidrosis is believed to be caused by overactive sweat glands and may have a genetic component, as it often runs in families.
• It can significantly impact a person's quality of life, causing social embarrassment, affecting daily activities, and leading to psychological distress.

Types of Hyperhidrosis

Secondary Hyperhidrosis:

• Secondary hyperhidrosis refers to excessive sweating that is a symptom of an underlying medical condition or is caused by external factors such as medications or hormonal changes.
• Unlike primary hyperhidrosis, secondary hyperhidrosis can affect larger areas of the body and may occur at any time in life.

Some common causes of secondary hyperhidrosis include:

• Medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism, diabetes, menopause, or certain neurological disorders.
• Medications like antidepressants, antipsychotics, or medications for treating high blood pressure.
• Hormonal changes, such as those experienced during pregnancy or puberty.
• Infections or other medical conditions that cause fever.

Western Medicine Perspective on Palmar and Plantar Hyperhidrosis

From a Western medicine perspective, palmar (hands) and plantar (feet) hyperhidrosis are conditions characterized by excessive sweating beyond what is necessary for thermoregulation. Here's an overview of how Western medicine views these conditions:

Causes

• Primary Hyperhidrosis: The exact cause of primary hyperhidrosis is not fully understood, but it's believed to result from overactive sweat glands that respond excessively to stimuli such as emotional stress or heat. Genetics likely play a role in predisposing individuals to this condition.
• Secondary Hyperhidrosis: Secondary hyperhidrosis is typically caused by an underlying medical condition or external factors such as medications. Conditions like hyperthyroidism, menopause, diabetes, anxiety disorders, or certain infections can lead to excessive sweating.

Symptoms

• Excessive sweating of the palms and soles, often occurring symmetrically.
• Damp or moist skin that may lead to discomfort, odor, and skin infections.
• Social embarrassment and psychological distress due to the visible signs of sweating and difficulty with daily activities such as writing, holding objects, or shaking hands.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosis of palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis typically involves a thorough medical history, physical examination, and possibly additional tests to rule out underlying medical conditions contributing to secondary hyperhidrosis.
• Tests may include blood tests to check for thyroid function, glucose levels, and other metabolic markers, as well as imaging studies or nerve conduction tests in certain cases.

Treatment

• Topical Treatments: Prescription-strength antiperspirants containing aluminum chloride hexahydrate are often the first-line treatment for hyperhidrosis. These antiperspirants work by temporarily blocking sweat ducts and reducing sweat production.
• Iontophoresis: This non-invasive treatment involves passing a mild electrical current through water in which the hands or feet are soaked, effectively blocking sweat glands and reducing sweating.

Treatment

• Botulinum Toxin (Botox) Injections: Injections of botulinum toxin into the affected areas can temporarily block nerve signals that stimulate sweat production.
• Oral Medications: In some cases, oral medications such as anticholinergics may be prescribed to reduce sweating, although they may have side effects.
• Surgery: Surgical options such as sympathectomy (cutting or clamping the nerves that control sweating) may be considered for severe cases of hyperhidrosis that haven't responded to other treatments.

Lifestyle Modifications

• Avoiding triggers such as spicy foods, caffeine, and emotional stress that can exacerbate sweating.
• Wearing breathable fabrics and moisture-wicking socks to help manage sweating.
• Practicing good hygiene to reduce the risk of skin infections associated with excessive sweating.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Perspective on Palmar and Plantar Hyperhidrosis

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis are viewed as manifestations of disharmony within the body's internal systems, particularly involving imbalances in Qi (vital energy), Blood, Yin, and Yang. Here's how TCM might understand and address these conditions:

Imbalances in Organ Systems

TCM views the body as a complex network of interconnected organ systems, each with its own functions and energies. Three key systems often implicated in hyperhidrosis are the Lung, Spleen, and Kidney systems.

Imbalances in Organ Systems

Deficiency of Spleen and Stomach Qi

• Lung System: The Lung system governs the skin and controls the opening and closing of pores. Dysfunction or imbalance in the Lung system can disrupt the body's ability to regulate sweating properly.
• Spleen System: The Spleen system is responsible for transforming and transporting fluids in the body, regulating the digestive process, and maintaining overall energy balance. When the Spleen is weakened or imbalanced, it may lead to the accumulation of dampness, which can manifest as excessive sweating. 
• Deficiency of Spleen and Stomach Qi: Meaning the spleen and stomach don't have enough Qi (energy), you might sweat a lot on your hands and feet, feel tired, have trouble breathing, feel cold in your limbs, not feel hungry, have loose stools, and have a pale tongue with a white coating. This happens when you eat irregularly, eat too much, or are really tired, and it makes your energy weak, causing cold limbs and a pale face. Weak spleen function also leads to poor digestion, less appetite, and loose stools.

Imbalances in Organ Systems

Deficiency of Spleen and Stomach Yin:

• Kidney System: The Kidney system in TCM encompasses more than just the anatomical kidneys; it governs water metabolism, regulates the body's overall balance of Yin and Yang energies, and plays a crucial role in reproduction and aging. Imbalances in the Kidney system, such as deficiencies in Yin or Yang, can contribute to sweating issues.
• Deficiency of Spleen and Stomach Yin: Meaning there's not enough yin (cooling energy) in your spleen and stomach, you might sweat on your hands and feet, have a dry throat and mouth when you wake up, not feel hungry, feel like you want to vomit, have irregular stools, have a red tongue with little coating, and a weak pulse. This can happen from being exposed to too much heat, eating spicy or hot foods, or having illnesses that create a lot of internal heat. Not having enough yin makes your body hot inside and disturbs your body fluids, causing sweaty hands and feet. Waking up with a dry throat and mouth shows that your body is not regulating fluids well.

Excessive Heat or Dampness Accumulation in the Spleen and Stomach

• Excessive Heat: This can result from external factors such as hot weather or a heated environment, as well as internal factors such as emotional stress or inflammation. Excessive heat can disrupt the body's ability to regulate temperature and sweating, leading to increased perspiration.
• Dampness Accumulation: Dampness refers to an excess of moisture or fluid retention in the body, often resulting from poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, or weakened Spleen function. Dampness can obstruct the flow of Qi and disrupt the body's ability to properly regulate fluids, leading to symptoms such as sweating.
• Excessive Heat or Dampness Accumulation in the Spleen and Stomach: Meaning  there's too much dampness and heat in the spleen and stomach, you might experience sweating in your hands and feet, tightness in your chest and upper abdomen, loss of appetite, feeling heavy, and being really tired. You might also notice your urine is short and reddish, your tongue has a yellow and greasy coating, and your pulse feels slippery or fast.

Contributing Factors

• External factors such as environmental temperature, humidity, and physical activity levels can exacerbate hyperhidrosis.
• Poor dietary habits, such as consuming greasy or spicy foods, can contribute to dampness accumulation and heat in the body.
• Emotional stress, anxiety, and lifestyle habits like staying up late can also impact the body's internal balance and contribute to hyperhidrosis.

Symptoms

• Excessive sweating of the palms and soles, often accompanied by sensations of heat or dampness.
• Fatigue, weakness, or other signs of Qi or Blood deficiency in some cases.
• In TCM terms, hyperhidrosis may be categorized into different patterns of disharmony, such as heat and dampness accumulation, Qi or Blood deficiency, or Kidney Yin or Yang deficiency.

Diagnosis

• TCM diagnosis of hyperhidrosis involves a comprehensive assessment of the individual's signs, symptoms, medical history, tongue appearance, and pulse characteristics to identify patterns of disharmony.
• Pulse diagnosis involves feeling the quality and strength of the radial pulse on both wrists, which provides insights into the functioning of various organs and energy imbalances.
• Tongue diagnosis involves examining the color, coating, moisture, and shape of the tongue, which can reveal information about internal organ function and pathological factors.

Treatment Approaches

• Herbal Medicine: Herbal medicines containing Chinese herbs for sweaty hands and feet consisting of various herbs with specific properties to address the underlying patterns of disharmony. For example: Herbs that clear heat and resolve dampness may be used for cases of heat and dampness accumulation; Herbs that tonify Qi, nourish Blood, or tonify Kidney Yin or Yang may be prescribed for cases of deficiency patterns.
• Acupuncture: Acupuncture involves the insertion of thin needles into specific acupuncture points along the body's meridians to regulate Qi flow, harmonize organ function, and address imbalances contributing to hyperhidrosis.

Treatment Approaches

• Dietary Therapy: Recommendations may include dietary modifications to support the organs involved and reduce the accumulation of dampness and heat in the body. This may involve avoiding spicy, greasy, or excessively heating foods and emphasizing foods that nourish Yin or tonify Qi.
• Lifestyle Recommendations: TCM often emphasizes lifestyle modifications such as stress reduction techniques, adequate rest, regular exercise (such as Qi Gong or Tai Chi), and maintaining a balanced daily routine to support overall health and well-being.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulas vs Current Herbalism

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) boasts an extensive history of herbal treatment, developed over thousands of years, offering valuable insights. In contrast to Western herbalism's reliance on single herbs at high doses, TCM utilizes combinations of 4 to 10 herbs, working synergistically to address various body imbalances. This approach enhances positive effects and minimizes negative side effects. TCM formulas not only alleviate symptoms but also target the root cause of the imbalance, allowing for reduced or discontinued herbal intake as health improves.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulas vs Current Herbalism

While the medical industry and research groups focus on isolating and extracting specific compounds from herbs or herbal extracts offer concentrated compounds for new treatments, this approach may limit the benefits. The process of extracting herbs often involves the use of solvents or high heat, which can degrade the quality of the active compounds and may also introduce harmful residues. TCM emphasizes the use of whole herbs, where naturally occurring compounds complement each other, maximizing therapeutic effects.

Silkie’s Herbal Formulas

Silkie is the result of five generations of experience and wisdom in Chinese Medicine. We start with the highest quality herbs that have been harvested at the height of their potency. They are substantially more expensive than less potent herbs that were harvested in the pre-or post-season, but in our view, there is no substitute for premium quality. Our supplements are made with natural honey as the binder. We don't use any fillers or artificial ingredients because this is how our great-grandfathers did it and we carry on that tradition.

Silkie’s Herbal Formulas

Herbal formulations take years and years to master and the most potent formulas are often kept as family or lineage secrets. This rich tradition is a very valuable gift from previous generations. With five generations of crafting formulas to help the local community, we have refined the herbal blends for modern life. 

Silkie utilizes herbal formulations tailored to individual patterns of imbalance. These formulas typically consist of a combination of herbs chosen for their synergistic effects in addressing both the symptoms and root causes.

The Highest Quality Chinese Herbs for Sweaty Hands and Feet Formula

Silkie's Sweaty Hands and Feet formula is made with the highest quality herbs that are carefully selected and harvested at their peak potency. While this means they are substantially more expensive, it is why our clients see substantially more noticeable results. The use of natural honey as a binder for the pills is a tradition that Silkie Herbs has proudly maintained, ensuring the safety and effectiveness of their supplements. The avoidance of fillers and artificial ingredients further reinforces our commitment to the natural and traditional methods of herbal preparation.

The Highest Quality Chinese Herbs for Sweaty Hands and Feet Formula

Five generations of Silkie Herbs' expertise have resulted in a highly effective herbal formula that you can trust for your health. By utilizing Chinese herbal plant-based remedies for sweaty hands and feet, dietary adjustments, and lifestyle modifications, individuals can effectively manage sweat glands health symptoms and improve overall well-being.