Many factors can contribute to habitually sweaty palms. If your hands never stay dry for long, regardless of the climate and your activities, you might have hyperhidrosis, a chronic tendency to excessive sweat production. Your sweat could also be symptomatic of a separate underlying condition, which could range from heart disease to menopause. Acupuncture, the traditional Chinese healing art, might relieve excessive sweating. For a medical diagnosis of your condition, however, first consult with your primary care provider.
Potential Causes
Whether acupuncture is the ideal treatment for your condition depends on the underlying cause of your sweaty palms. A 2003 case study published in the "Journal of the British Acupuncture Society" demonstrated that acupuncture can successfully reduce sweating symptoms in patients with cancer. A 2011 article in "Medical News Today" reports the beneficial effects of acupuncture on hot flashes among menopausal women. Subjects who received 10 weeks of acupuncture treatment consistently experienced less intense hot flashes and sweating symptoms.
Sweating in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine forms the basis of acupuncture. Unlike western medicine, the framework understands disease as the blockage of qi or vital energy along specific pathways, called meridians, which relate to various organs. Stimulating specific points along these meridians can restore balance, conceived in terms of stagnation or flow, dampness or dryness, heat or cool. According to TCM, sweating can indicate many types of energetic blockages. Sweating on the hands may indicate heat in the stomach and intestine, dampness and deficiency of the spleen or stomach, or deficiency of the liver and kidney. An acupuncturist will question you on additional symptoms to determine the best method of healing.
Points Used
Depending on the nature of your sweating, your acupuncturist might use a number of possible acupuncture points. Applying slender needles to these points is meant to stimulate the flow of qi along the meridians that correspond to your particular diagnosis. Possible points may include liver-4, or hegu, which is frequently used in cases of spontaneous sweating to regular qi flow throughout the body. Another typical point is spleen-3, or houxi, which is regularly used for night sweats. If your spleen and stomach are causing the sweating, other points may include bladder-20 or bladder-21. For heart and kidney dysfunction, points may include kidney-7 or heart-6.
Precautions and Additional Considerations
Acupuncture has relatively few incidences of negative side effects or complications. The Food and Drug Administration regulates the manufacture and use of acupuncture needles. Most states require that acupuncturists receive certification to practice. To find a qualified practitioner in your area, consult your doctor for a referral or contact a national or statewide professional society of acupuncturists. Because sweaty palms could indicate deeper levels of disease, have your primary care provider give you a full physical and health consultation and run any appropriate tests.
References
- MedLine Plus: Hyperhidrosis
- "Journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society"; Acupuncture for the Treatment of Sweating Associated with Malignancy; C. Hallam, et al.; December 2003
- "Medical News Today"; Acupuncture Curbs Severity Of Menopausal Hot Flushes; March 2011
- "AcuFinder.org"; Stop Sweating with Acupuncture; Diane Joswick
- Shen-Nong: Chinese Medicine Treatment for Sweaty Palms and Feet
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Acupuncture: An Introduction
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