Hyperhidrosis refers to excessive perspiration
especially from the palms, soles, and armpits as well as the head and forehead.
This medical condition can cause social embarrassment, depression, and inability
to do office work like writing or handling paper documents. Hormonal disorders,
diabetes, obesity, stress and high temperatures can aggravate this condition.
The modern treatment of hyperhidrosis consists of
the local use of antiperspirants, oral anticholinergic medicines,
iontophoresis, Botox injection, surgical denervation, radiofrequency ablation,
surgical removal, and subcutaneous liposuction. However, major concerns with these
treatments are limited improvement; repeated sittings for treatment; considerable
treatment cost; serious or troublesome side effects, and recurrence of symptoms.
Excessive sweating is believed to be due to an
overactive autonomic nervous system. In Ayurvedic pathophysiology, it is
believed that faulty Meda (fatty tissue) metabolism results in excessive
production of waste material, thereby causing excessive sweating.
The primary treatment of hyperhidrosis, therefore,
is to normalize the Meda metabolism. Medicines which act on the Meda tissue and
also on the overactive autonomic nervous system are given in high doses or rubbed
locally on affected body parts. It is also beneficial to treat stress, obesity,
diabetes mellitus and other conditions which aggravate or cause excessive
sweating.
Complete cessation of sweating is not desirable,
since sweating regulates body temperature, maintains fluid balance, and keeps
the skin and sweat pores soft. Patients may require Ayurvedic treatment for
periods ranging from three to six months or more. Later, the patient can be
treated with reduced doses to prevent a relapse of the condition.
Ayurvedic treatment is safe for long term use, and
significant relief can be obtained on a very long term basis. In addition to reduction
of excessive sweating, patients report feelings of improved relaxation,
increased confidence, and better control while handling stressful situations; and
these results are reported several months to even several years after stopping
treatment. Ayurvedic treatment therefore has a significant role to play in the
management of hyperhidrosis.
The writer, Dr A A Mundewadi, is available as an
Ayurvedic Consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and www.ayurvedaphysician.com For Ayurvedic herbal treatment of hyperhidrosis, kindly click here
