Home Remedies for Excessive Sweating

Sweating is a natural process that helps the body regulate its temperature. Strenuous physical activity, warm temperature or feelings of fear or anger are commonly associated with sweating. However, if you sweat more than normal and without a trigger, you may have hyperhidrosis, defined as excessive sweating.

Excessive sweating is often linked with stress, anxiety, obesity, nutritional deficiencies, and poor circulation. Some of the medical causes of excessive sweating are diabetes, fever, heart problems, hyperthyroidism, leukemia and menopause.

This problem can affect many areas of the body like the palms, soles, underarms, neck, forehead and even the scalp. It can happen while you’re awake or asleep.

Besides disrupting normal routine life, excessive sweating can cause social anxiety or embarrassment. It can also increase the risk of body odor.

Here are the top 10 home remedies for excessive sweating. Also, consult your doctor for proper diagnosis to rule out the possibility of an underlying condition causing the problem.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is one of the best home remedies for excessive sweating. Due to its astringent properties, apple cider vinegar can be used externally to control sweating. Also, when taken internally, it helps balance the body’s pH level.

• Wash the area that sweats the most and use a cotton ball to rub some apple cider vinegar on it. Leave it on overnight. The next morning, take a bath or shower and then apply some talcum powder or deodorant.
• Another option is to mix 2 teaspoons each of organic apple cider vinegar and honey in a glass of water. Drink it once daily on an empty stomach to combat excessive sweating.

2. Baking Soda

Baking soda also helps solve the problem of excessive perspiration. It is a natural antiperspirant, which means it can effectively absorb moisture and neutralize body odor, too. Plus, as baking soda is alkaline in nature, it lowers the pH level of the body parts that sweat a lot.

• Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with enough water to make a thick paste. Add 3 or 4 drops of an essential oil of your choice. Apply this to your armpits and other parts that sweat a lot. Wash it off after 15 to 20 minutes. Do this a few times a week.
• Alternatively, mix equal amounts of baking soda and cornstarch and store it in a bottle. Dust some of this mixture where you sweat the most. Use it as needed.

Try either of these remedies for several days.

3. Sage

Sage is an effective antiperspirant and astringent. This herb helps constrict the sweat glands, thus reducing sweating. Plus, it is rich in magnesium and vitamin B, which help control sweat gland activity.

• Add 1 teaspoon of dried sage leaves to 2 cups of water and boil it. Let it cool to room temperature and then use it to thoroughly clean the body parts that sweat the most. Follow this treatment at least 3 times a day for several days.
• You can also steep 1 teaspoon of sage in a cup of hot water for 5 minutes. Add some lemon juice and drink this tea 2 or 3 times daily.
• Also include this herb in your day-to-day cooking whenever possible.

4. Black Tea

Black tea is a good remedy to control sweating. The tannic acid in tea has antiperspirant and astringent properties. Thus, black tea helps make the sweat glands constrict so they do not produce sweat in excess. Also, black tea kills bacteria that cause body odor.

1. Put 1 or 2 tea bags in 3 to 4 cups of hot water.
2. Allow it to steep for 10 minutes.
3. Dip a wash cloth in this solution and rub it on the underarms and neck. To control feet and hand sweating, soak them in this water for 20 to 30 minutes.
4. Follow this treatment once daily for a few weeks.

Also, drink 2 to 3 cups of black tea daily.

5. Witch Hazel

Another home remedy to fight excessive sweating is witch hazel. This herb has astringent and antiperspirant properties that help shrink the skin pores, thus preventing sweating. Plus, its light and pleasant smell will help mask body odor.

• Saturate a cotton ball with witch hazel liquid extract dab it on your skin daily.
• Another option is to mix 1 tablespoon of witch hazel bark powder with a little water to form a paste. Apply the paste to the sweating areas and leave it on for 1 hour. Rinse off the paste using cold water. Follow this treatment daily for 1 to 2weeks.

6. White Sandalwood

According to Ayurveda, white sandalwood powder can help control sweating and keep skin dry. It has several enzymes that absorb extra moisture from the skin. Plus, its aromatic fragrance will help mask body odor caused by excessive sweating.

1. Mix 1 tablespoon of white sandalwood powder with enough rose water to make a thin paste.
2. Mix in a little bit of lemon juice.
3. Apply this paste on freshly washed body areas that sweat a lot.
4. Allow it to dry and then rinse it off with warm water.
5. Follow this treatment once daily until the excessive sweating is under control.

7. Tomato Juice

Tomato juice has astringent properties that help shrink pores block the ducts that secrete sweat. Plus, being rich in antioxidants, it helps regulate sweat glands.

• Drink 1 cup of fresh tomato juice daily for a week, then reduce the dosage to 1 cup every other day for another week.
• Before taking a shower, apply tomato juice on the body parts that sweat a lot and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse it off in the shower. Repeat once daily until you notice changes in your sweating pattern.

8. Lemon

Lemon has long been an Ayurvedic remedy to control sweating. It works as a natural deodorant to mask the embarrassing odors caused by perspiration.

• Add the juice of 1 lemon to a glass of water. Soak a washcloth in it and rub it all over your body. Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes and then take a bath or shower using only cold water. Do this once daily.
• Another option is to mix equal parts of lemon juice and baking soda into a smooth paste. Use a cotton pad to apply this mixture to the sweating areas. Leave it on for about 20 minutes, then rinse it off with water. Follow this remedy every other day.

Note: Avoid going out in the sun immediately after using lemon juice.

9. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has lauric acid in it, which helps kill bacteria that cause a bad odor with sweating. Plus, the sweet fragrance of this oil will help keep you smelling fresh throughout the day.

You can simply massage a little coconut oil gently onto the body parts that sweat the most. You can also make a natural deodorant using coconut oil. To make the deodorant:

1. Put 3 teaspoons of extra-virgin coconut oil and 2 teaspoons of shea butter in a bowl.
2. Microwave it for 1 minute so the mixture melts.
3. Mix in 3 teaspoons of baking soda, 2 teaspoons of arrowroot powder and a few drops of an essential oil of your choice.
4. Store this mixture in a jar and use it as a deodorant on areas prone to sweating.

10. Wheatgrass Juice

Wheatgrass juice is another effective home remedy for reducing excessive sweating. It helps by balancing the acids and toxins in the blood that cause sweating. Plus, wheatgrass juice is rich in B vitamins and other nutrients that help regulate body temperature.

1. Drink 1 to 2 glasses of wheatgrass juice daily.
2. Continue until you are satisfied with the results.

Additional Tips

• Drink plenty of cool water throughout the day to help regulate your body temperature.
• Shower or bathe every day using an antibacterial soap.
• Don’t wear clothes made of nylon or polyester that will trap sweat. Instead, wear light, breathable fabrics like cotton and silk.
• Before applying deodorant or antiperspirant, dry yourself completely.
• Use underarm liners and shoe inserts to absorb sweat and prevent odor.
• Avoid spicy foods that can increase the amount of sweat you produce.
• Reduce stress, which is a major sweat trigger for many people.
• Use dry shampoo to control sweating from the scalp.
• Cut back on smoking, drinking alcohol and excessive caffeine consumption as these things can lead to increased sweating.
• If you are overweight, take necessary steps to lose weight.
• Avoid eating fast food, processed ready-to-eat meals, soda or anything containing high fructose corn syrup.
• Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables that are high in water content.
• Eat foods rich in zinc or take a zinc supplement.
• Eat a handful of grapes every day to keep the body temperature cool.

Make sure to consult a doctor if excessive sweating occurs with chest pain, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath or sudden weight loss.