1
Yin deficiency with effulgent fire
- Key distinguishing signs
- Night sweats, hot palms/soles, afternoon tidal heat, dry mouth and throat, restlessness, red tongue with little coat
- Treatment principle
- Nourish yin and downbear deficiency fire
Generaldào hàn
Night sweats
Also called:nocturnal hyperhidrosissleep sweating
From the TCM perspective: Night sweats (dàohàn): yin leakage during sleep
Overview
Night sweats occur during sleep and cease on waking, called 'thief sweat' in TCM. The commonest cause is yin deficiency with deficiency heat forcing fluids out; heart/spleen blood deficiency or damp-heat may also produce it.
☯Common patterns (syndrome differentiation)
2
Heart-spleen deficiency
- Key distinguishing signs
- Night sweats with palpitations, restless sleep, poor memory, fatigue and weak appetite, pale tongue
- Treatment principle
- Tonify the spleen and nourish the heart and blood
3
Damp-heat steaming
- Key distinguishing signs
- Sticky night sweat, bitter mouth, heaviness, sticky stool, dark urine, yellow greasy coat
- Treatment principle
- Clear heat and drain dampness
4
Exuberant stomach heat
- Key distinguishing signs
- Sweating with strong hunger, bad breath, thirst and constipation, red tongue with yellow coat
- Treatment principle
- Clear stomach heat and drain accumulation
Daily self-care
- Keep the bedroom cool with light bedding and avoid heavy blankets.
- Reduce hot spicy food and evening caffeine; favor yin-nourishing foods (black beans, lotus seeds, lily bulb, pear).
- Shower tepid and change damp sleepwear.
When to seek medical help
The following warning signs require prompt medical evaluation — do not rely on self-treatment:
- Night sweats with recurrent fever, coughing blood or unexplained weight loss.
- Night sweats with swollen glands, rash or chronic diarrhea.
- Sweating that soaks clothes or bedding with marked fatigue.
Medical disclaimer: Educational content about traditional Chinese medicine for information only; it is not a diagnosis or treatment and does not replace a qualified clinician. If symptoms worsen or warning signs appear, seek medical care.