Etiology and Pathogenesis of Sweat Syndrome: A Discussion from the Perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Abstract

Sweat syndrome is a common clinical disorder characterized by abnormal sweating in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), covering spontaneous sweating, night sweating and other subtypes, which also includes hyperhidrosis described in modern medicine. Successive TCM physicians have enriched its theoretical system from the aspects of concept, diagnosis, etiology, pathogenesis, syndrome differentiation and treatment principles. Nevertheless, interpretations of its etiology and pathogenesis vary among ancient literatures. This paper reviews relevant records in classical TCM works and explores the pathogenesis of sweat syndrome from five dimensions: yinyang imbalance, qiblood disorder, disharmony between nutrient qi and defensive qi, zangfu organ dysfunction, and internal injury by interior pathogens. It aims to summarize academic viewpoints of ancient physicians and provide new ideas and references for clinical treatment of sweat syndrome.