Night sweats are an instance of uncomfortable perspiration as you sleep. Night sweats are most often associated with menopause, a symptom called hot flashes, but can occur during periods of illness or in response to medications you may be taking. Some people may find that they can control or even eliminate episodes of night sweats when they take certain herbal supplements, because they stabilize hormone levels that can raise your body's temperature. As with any type of medication or natural herbs, talk to your doctor before you begin self-treating your sweating to be sure that particular herbal remedies are safe for you.
Black Cohosh
Black cohosh is related to the buttercup and has been used for centuries to treat menstrual difficulties, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. One of the active compounds in black cohosh is phytosterols, which can act like estrogen, a hormone that diminishes during menopause. A lack of estrogen can cause hot flashes, which in turn can be characterized by night sweats. UMMC suggests a standard dose of between 40 and 80mg daily to treat night sweats. Women who have a history of breast cancer should consult their physician before taking black cohosh. Herbs that contain phytoestrogens could have a negative effect on the progression of hormone-sensitive cancers.
Chasteberry
Chasteberry, also called vitex, can also be a natural herbal remedy for night sweats, as the plant regulates your hormone production, according to the Association of Women for the Advancement of Research and Education's Project AWARE. Chasteberry increases the amount of progesterone made in the body and limits estrogen production. Night sweats--those that occur during menopause or for another reason--often are the result of a malfunction of your body's internal thermostat, according to the Mayo Clinic. Your hormones play a role in telling your brain to cool off your body. Vitex can keep your hormones on an even keel, minimizing the sweating.
Dong Quai
Dong quai is a Chinese herb that may be beneficial to people who suffer from night sweats. During an instance of sweating, according to Breastcancer.org, your blood vessels dilate to diffuse the excess heat that your body puts off when your body temperature is elevated. Project AWARE reports that the likely reason that dong quai helps relieve night sweats and hot flashes is that the herb stabilizes the blood vessels.
Red Clover
Red clover is recognized by UMMC as a natural herbal circulation aid. The plant has been used traditionally to improve circulation and to remove excess fluids from the body. The plant also contains isoflavones that can have an estrogen-like effect on the body. The combination of the hormonal mimicking and the regulation of circulation might help people who experience night sweats. Mayo Clinic reports that women who sweat due to hot flashes may find relief when using red clover. People who have had ovarian, uterine or breast cancers should not use this herb, to avoid possible complications.
Sage
South African herbal supplement manufacturer Ageless reports that sage, an herb often used in cooking, can also be taken internally to combat night sweats. Among the many medicinal qualities of sage, a perennial shrub that's also called salvia officinalis, is its estrogenic properties. Like black cohosh and red clover, sage may stabilize hormonal levels so that your body is not signaled to cool itself off at seemingly arbitrary times.
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