Diaphoresis - Han Zheng

Definition

A condition marked by abnormal discharge of sweat due to yin-yang imbalance and a weakened Cou Li (interstitial space).

There are 2 types: Zi Han (spontaneous perspiration) and Dao Han (night sweat).

Spontaneous perspiration: sweating while awake and aggravated on slight exertion.
Night sweat: perspiration while asleep and stops when waken up.

Lung Qi Deficiency: Lung governs skin and hair and controls Wei Qi. Lung qi deficiency will lead to weakness of Wei Qi and malfunctioning of cou li, resulting in spontaneous perspiration.
Ying Wei Disharmony: Ying Qi and Wei Qi have the same origin but ying moves in the vessels and wei in cou li. When there is disharmony, wei qi will malfunction. Resulting in abnormal discharge of sweat, i.e. spontaneous perspiration.
Yang Deficiency: when Yang qi is deficient, it will not be able to control yin fluid, resulting in abnormal discharge of yin fluid, i.e. incessant spontaneous perspiration or even yang depletion.
Yin Deficient Fire: loss of essence (blood loss and seminal emission) and consumption of yin fluid (febrile diseases) lead to exhaustion of yin fluid and generation of deficiency fire. This fire can force yin fluid out, resulting in night sweat.
Internal heat steaming: Liver Fire and Damp Heat steaming internally can force fluid out and lead to spontaneous perspiration.

Spontaneous sweating

Lung Qi Deficiency

Symptoms: Perspiration with aversion to wind and cold, aggravated by slight exertion, susceptible to cold and influenza, lassitude and a pale complexion.
Tongue: Thin white tongue coating
Pulse: Thready and Weak
Treatment strategy: Tonify qi and reinforce exterior to stop perspiration
Formula: Yu Ping Feng San
Acupoints:

Symptoms: Perspiration with aversion to wind, aches all over the body, occasional light fever and chill, or perspiration only half of the body or just localised sweating.
Tongue: Thin white tongue coating
Pulse: Moderate
Treatment strategy: Harmonise ying and wei
Formula: Gui Zhi Tang
Acupoints:

Symptoms: Long term illness or critical cases with sudden profuse perspiration, faint voice, lack of vitality, tiredness, breathlessness and cold limbs.
Tongue:
Pulse: Weak
Treatment strategy: Tonify qi and warm yang to stop perspiration
Formula: Shen Mai San
Acupoints:

Internal heat steaming

Symptoms: Steaming perspiration, flushed face as if being baked, restlessness, limbs and joints pain, feverish feeling not relieved by sweating, bitter mouth, dark urine and dry feces.
Tongue: Red tongue with yellow coating
Pulse: Rapid and Powerful
Treatment strategy: Clear liver heat and resolve dampness to re-harmonise ying
Formula: Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
Acupoints:

Night sweating

Heart Blood Deficiency

Symptoms: Perspiration while asleep and stops when waken up, palpitation, insomnia, many dreams, lack of vitality, breathlessness and tiredness and a pale complexion.
Tongue: Pale tongue with thin coating
Pulse: Weak
Treatment strategy: Tonify blood and nourish heart to stop perspiration
Formula: Gui Pi Tang
Acupoints:

Symptoms: Perspiration and tidal fever, vexation and insomnia, chronic dry cough, aches in lower back and knees, hot feeling at 5 centres, weight loss, irregular menstruation with small amount of red menstrual blood, somnial coitus and nocturnal emissions.
Tongue: Red tongue with little coating
Pulse: Thready and Rapid
Treatment strategy: Nourish yin and reduce fire to stop perspiration
Formula: Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang
Acupoints: