Excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, is a medical condition that affects approximately 3 percent of the adult population. Hyperhidrosis affects mostly the palms, feet, underarms and face and yet only half of the people affected seek treatment.

Causes of hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis is thought to arise as a result of the over-activity of the sympathetic nervous system or perhaps due to an underlying medical condition. The sympathetic nervous system normally functions to respond to localised changes; an example of this is increased sweating as a result of an increase in temperature.

This condition is categorised into:

• Primary hyperhidrosis – This is where there is some sweating beyond what would be deemed normal however it is not excessive all around the body. Primary hyperhidrosis is thought to arise when a particular type of sweat gland gets overly stimulated. Genetics may be implicated.
• Secondary hyperhidrosis – This is when a trigger for excessive sweating is diagnosed which may include hyperthyroidism, menopause, withdrawal from drugs or alcohol, diabetes, gout and certain infections.

From a holistic point of view, excessive sweating may be associated with poor kidney or liver function. There may also be a host of hormonal imbalances which may also be responsible. Diet may also be implicated in terms of nutritional deficiencies and toxicity build-up. A toxic body will result in excessive sweating in order to detoxify through the sweat glands.

Whatever the cause, hyperhidrosis is a serious medical condition with negative psychological outcomes. Individuals suffering from hyperhidrosis are constantly conscious of their condition and often have to modify their lifestyle to accommodate for this problem. Friends, family and doctors often do not realise how emotionally and physically draining this condition can be.

Treating hyperhidrosis naturally

Seeking a natural herb or vitamin to get rid of the problem of hyperhidrosis is almost like taking the conventional route. Hyperhidrosis indicates that there is something wrong with the body either nutritionally or perhaps with a toxin overload.

With specific reference to nutrition, eat a healthy whole food diet containing more vegetables than fruit, healthy fats and plenty of water. If your diet is not up to scratch, consider using a whole food based supplement such as Daily Multivitamins One-A-Day supplement which provides a blend of fruits and vegetable extracts with highly absorbable vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.

Remove the toxin burden from the body by the use of Detox Foot Patches. These foot patches are extremely easy to use; contain high quality ingredients and work on the principles of reflexology to effectively remove toxins from the body. Use them at night and you will be surprised at the amount of dark waste on each pad when you remove them in the morning.

Following on from the two above recommendations, and only if required, a supplement containing Sage may prove to be useful such as Organic Sage Leaf by Viridian Nutrition. Sage leaf calms the nervous system helping the body cope with emotional and physical stress. Sage is rich in thiamine and magnesium which are important for the nervous system; and Sage additionally contains rosmarinic acid which is known to inhibit sweat.

Hyperhidrosis is an indicator that the body is in a toxin overload or is nutritionally starved. The recommendations above should help to achieve balance within the body.

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