Complementary and alternative therapies for Hyperhidrosis

Overview
Complementary and alternative therapies (CAT) are popular with many people who have hyperhidrosis. CAT treatments for hyperhidrosis may include acupuncture and herbal supplements.

If you choose to try one or more CAT treatments, it is important to check in with your doctor before beginning a CAT regimen so that they can warn you about any potential interactions and correctly interpret any side effects.

What does it involve?
Acupuncture and herbal sage supplements are popular complementary or alternative treatments tried for hyperhidrosis.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practice that has been used for thousands of years to treat a wide range of illnesses. During an acupuncture treatment, you will lie still on a table. A trained acupuncturist or TCM practitioner will insert fine needles into the skin or connective tissue just beneath the skin. The needles are left in the skin for up to 30 minutes. Different regions of the skin are targeted during acupuncture depending on the condition being treated. The practitioner may gently twist or move the needles. Heat or electricity may be applied to the needles. Acupuncture is usually painless.

Some people try sage to reduce sweating. The benefits of sage to reduce hyperhidrosis symptoms have not been proven in clinical trials, but some people report improvement after taking herbal sage capsules or drinking sage tea.

Results
In one very small study, all three participants claimed to experience decreased sweating after receiving acupuncture for their hyperhidrosis.

Some people claim that one CAT treatment or another reduces their sweating. However, most CAT treatments have not been studied in rigorous clinical trials to establish their safety and effectiveness.

Constraints
Some herbal supplements can cause interactions with medications. Some CAT treatments may exacerbate other health conditions.

Health insurance may not cover CAT modalities. Some CAT treatments can be expensive.

Depending on where you live, it may be difficult to travel to an acupuncturist or herbalist.

Links
Alternative Therapies – International Hyperhidrosis Society
https://www.sweathelp.org/hyperhidrosis-treatme...

Acupuncture for primary hyperhidrosis: case series – Acupuncture in Medicine
http://aim.bmj.com/content/31/3/325

Sage for Excess Sweating – Richard Whelan, Medical Herbalist
http://www.rjwhelan.co.nz/herbs%20A-Z/sage.html...