Hyperhidrosis is the term used to describe excessive sweating, which is a common disorder experienced by an estimated 2-3% of Americans in areas including the underarms (axillary hyperhidrosis) or of the palms and soles of the feet (palmoplantar hyperhidrosis.)

Just because a person sweats excessively, it does not mean they are not healthy. Sweating is the body's natural way of regulating temperature and is good for you to begin with as it rids the body of toxins. It's when the sweating becomes overwhelming that it becomes a problem.

Factors that cause most people to sweat include:

- Exercise, especially strenuous exercise

- Hot weather

- Nervousness, anxiety or stress

Within the skin are two types of sweat glands:

Eccrine glands – Are found over most of the body and open directly onto the surface of the skin.

Apocrine Glands – Are found in areas abundant in hair follicles, such as the scalp, underarms and genitals.

The human body has between 2 million and 5 million eccrine sweat glands. These glands are stimulated to secret fluid on the skin to cool it when body temperature rises. This fluid (perspiration) is composed mainly of water and salt (sodium chloride) and contains trace amounts of other electrolytes — substances that help regulate the balance of fluids in your body.

Apocrine glands secrete a fatty sweat directly into the tubule of the gland. During times of emotional stress, the sweat is pushed to the skin’s surface when the tubule contracts. When the sweat reaches the surface of the skin, bacteria begin breaking it down which can often times result in a strong odor.

How much a person sweats and even the smell of a person’s sweat is determined by a number of factors including certain foods, drugs or medical conditions.

Some factors that may cause hyperhidrosis include:

- Heredity

- Certain foods and beverages

- Certain drugs

- Menopause

- Low levels of male hormones

- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

- Fevers

- Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)

- Heart attack

- Tuberculosis

- Malaria

- Certain types of cancer

Conventional medical treatment involves a procedure called Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy, which is surgery to cut the specific sympathetic nerves responsible for activating the sweat glands in the upper body. I suggest you avoid this procedure at all costs.

The regimen outlined below includes a holistic approach to treating & preventing hyperhidrosis:

Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing when possible

Stay away from antiperspirants, which contain aluminum and toxic chemicals that promote Alzheimer's disease. These chemicals are absorbed right through your underarm skin and directly enter your bloodstream. To reduce odor from sweating, try washing under the arms once daily with a mild, natural soap. I recommend trying Dr. Bronner's organic soap.

Reduce your intake of refined sugars to reduce excessive sweating

Practice deep breathing, which is effective in combating excessive sweating

Always be sure to drink plenty of pure water after excessive sweating to rehydrate the body

Keep room temperature at a comfortable temperature

The following herbs may also be helpful:

Sage - Has a calming action on sweat-producing nerve fibers.

Wild Strawberry and Stinging Nettle - Good for night sweats.

Peppermint, Lemon Balm and Fennel - Are effective in treating perspiration due to anxiety.

Lavender, Orange and Rose Oils - Aid in masking body odor.

Acupuncture - Can be used to temper the over activity of the sympathetic system (that controls sweat gland function) to reduce sweating and regulate normal body temperature.

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