Natural Cures For Hyperhidrosis

Embarrassed to shake hands because of sweaty hands? Afraid to remove shoes in public because of the stink you sweaty feet may raise? Getting red-faced every time you raise your arms to expose those sweat patches on the shirt or top underarms? Relax, you’ve only got hyperhidrosis and you’re not alone, at least one percent of the population is afflicted with this disorder. Let’s see what this tongue-twister of an affliction is all about.

Hyperhidrosis defined

Sweating, as you already know, is body’s way of cooling itself to maintain constant internal body temperature. However, nature makes some people overdo this perspiration thing and make them sweat excessively. This production of perspiration, beyond what is necessary to cool the body, is called hyperhidrosis. The blame for this excessive sweating can be pinned on your sympathetic nervous system that controls over five million sweat glands throughout the body, of which about two-thirds are in the hands alone!

The nerves generally initiate sweating, as and when needed, but may get “supercharged” and cause the sweat glands to release more sweat than required. Why this happens cannot be said with certainty, but researchers don’t rule out genetic causes.

The four major parts most susceptible to hyperhidrosis are face, armpits, hands and feet. In severe cases, sweat may literally drip. If you think sprinkling baby talc would help, think again. According to dermatologists, it’s one of the worst things you can do, as powder cakes up after absorbing the sweat and leave you not only clammy, but caked as well!

Treating hyperhidrosis the natural way

Those afflicted with this condition don’t need to get desperate, as there’re some effective hyperhidrosis treatments available. However, there’re some natural cures too. Let’s see what these treatments are:

a. Antiperspirants:

These constitute an initial treatment for moderate or light hyperhidrosis and are usually recommended as the first therapeutic measures. The most effective natural agent is the compound of aluminum chloride mixed in seventy to ninety percent alcohol. Apply this two to three times a week in the evenings regularly to get rid of hyperhidrosis. These antiperspirants can be used on sweaty palms too.

b. Electrical stimulation:

Technically known as iontopheresis, this procedure consists of stimulating the affected areas with mild electric currents. Don’t worry it only uses a nine volt dry battery! The body part is immersed in water and current is passed through water with increasing intensity until a tingling feeling persists. The recommended dosage is an hour and a half per site per night. This will make those parts sweat less for four to six weeks.

c. Hyperhidrosis acupuncture:

Acupunctureis a branch of Chinese medicine and is said to be successful in the treatment of excessive sweating. What this procedure does is to stimulate the anatomical points of the body that sweat excessively, by means of needle points. This prevents the nerves from becoming overcharged, bringing perspiration under control.

d. Managing stress:

Yes, stress is the culprit here too! In some, it’s stress and nervousness that brings about this condition. According to researchers one effective way of curing this condition is to manage stress. So, include yoga and meditation in your schedule.

e. Psychotherapy:

It has very limited use for a majority of patients, since in
most cases psychological problems are a consequence of hyperhidrosis, not the cause. Although, it can’t cure the problem, it may help you to accept the problem and live with it.

Hyperhidrosis, it seems, is more irritating than serious, but can become embarrassing in the extreme. So, if you feel reluctant to hold your beloved’s hands, because of your clammy palms, go in for natural cures. They are safe, effective and with almost no side effects. But before you try them out, take your physician’s advice.