bubble_chart Concept

New mothers often experience a deficiency in qi and blood, leading to less dense striae and interstices. As a result, they may sweat more during meals or sleep, which typically decreases or stops naturally 7 to 10 days after childbirth. This is a normal physiological phenomenon postpartum. However, if sweating is excessive or persists for a long time, it is referred to as "profuse sweating," also known as "postpartum spontaneous sweating" or "night sweating."

bubble_chart Pattern Analysis

1. Qi Deficiency︰The symptoms include sweating and aversion to wind, which worsens with activity. The limbs are not warm, the complexion is pale, accompanied by flusteredness, shortness of breath, fatigue, and lack of strength. The tongue is pale and swollen with a thin white coating, and the pulse is soggy or thin and weak. This is often due to constitutional weakness, compounded by postpartum blood depletion and excessive damage, further weakening lung qi, resulting in insecure defensive yang and unsealed striae and interstices. As stated in the Revised and Annotated Furen Liangfang, "Postpartum" section: "Persistent sweating after childbirth is all caused by frequent deficiency of yang qi, unsealed striae and interstices, and reckless leakage of body fluids." Treatment should focus on replenishing qi and consolidating the exterior, repelling wind, and stopping sweating. Prescriptions such as Jade Screen Powder or Oyster Shell Powder with Chinese Angelica and raw Peony Root may be used.
2. Yin Deficiency︰The symptoms manifest as sweating during sleep that ceases upon waking, flushed complexion, dizziness, tinnitus, dry mouth without desire to drink, vexing heat in the chest, palms and soles, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, a red tongue with no coating or thin coating, and a thready, rapid, and weak pulse. This is due to inherent camp yin deficiency and postpartum loss of blood, which further depletes yin-blood, leading to yin deficiency with internal heat that forces sweat outward. As Nyuke Jinglun states: "Excessive blood loss postpartum causes yin to fail in restraining yang, resulting in yin deficiency and yang having nothing to cling to, leading to persistent sweating all over the body." Treatment should focus on tonifying qi and nourishing yin, promoting fluid production and astringing sweat. The recommended formula is Pulse-Reinforcing Powder plus Lily Bulb, Unprocessed Rehmannia Root, raw Peony Root, and glutinosae rice root.

Within a few days after childbirth, the mother may experience excessive sweating, mostly due to a sudden deficiency of qi and blood postpartum, and the striae and interstice not being dense. This kind of sweating usually improves on its own within a few days and is generally not accompanied by other symptoms. If the sweating is excessive or lasts for a long time, accompanied by symptoms such as flusteredness, insomnia, shortness of breath, lack of strength, and fear of cold, it falls within the scope of profuse sweating syndrome and should be treated according to pattern identification.

The treatment of this condition is the same as in internal medicine. For those with qi deficiency, the focus is on replenishing qi and consolidating the exterior; for those with yin deficiency, the focus is on enriching yin and astringing sweat. At the same time, considering the characteristics of postpartum blood loss and damage to fluids, it should be supplemented with products that nourish blood and produce fluids.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Yizong Jinjian Gynecology Essentials．Postpartum Section: "Excessive blood loss after childbirth leads to yin deficiency, and yin deficiency results in yang exuberance. If there is slight spontaneous sweating, it indicates the harmony of nutrient-defense, so sweating is not a concern. If there is no sweating over the body but only head sweating, it is a sign of yin deficiency and yang qi rising. If there is profuse sweating all over the body and head that does not stop, there may be a risk of yang exhaustion."
2. Fuqingzhu Gynecology．Treatment Methods for Various Postpartum Symptoms: "Sweating during sleep after childbirth, which stops upon waking, is like a thief peeking during sleep, and is called night sweating, not comparable to spontaneous sweating. The 'Miscellaneous Diseases Treatise' states, 'Spontaneous sweating indicates yang deficiency, night sweating indicates yin deficiency.' However, Angelica Six Yellows Decoction is not a formula for postpartum night sweating; only by treating both qi and blood can it be effective."