Night Sweats Treatment
by Joan
While several volumes of books could be written on different night sweats treatment theories and ideas, on this page I will try to quickly summarize several options for practical and accessible night sweats treatment for you to implement. I don’t know if real night sweat cures exist for all circumstances, but I encourage you to consider at least one or two of the remedies I describe here.
I will expand on some of these at a later date, but for now you can select one of these below index links to jump down to the appropriate section. I hope this helps!
Common Sense Night Sweats Treatment
Natural Treatment for Night Sweats
Night Sweats Remedies
Night Sweats in Men Treatment
Menopause Night Sweats Treatment
Treat Night Sweats With the Chillow, The BedFan and Wicking Pajamas
Common Sense Night Sweats Treatment
First I’d like to address some basics to make sure you begin your night sweats relief with a common sense foundation. These night sweat cures may not seem exciting or evoke great epiphanies, but I believe they’re necessary steps in the treatment of night sweats.
Set the Proper Temperature for Sleeping
As I describe in my sweating while sleeping article, humans prefer a cooler temperature when they sleep than when they’re awake. While the exact right temperature for restful sleep is still up for debate, some studies indicate that the temperature may be around 66 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. It is important that you recognize the difference between the temperature indicated by your thermostat and the ambient temperature in and around your bedroom, bed and body.
If you discover that ambient temperature is well above the 66 to 68 degree area, you need to somehow get that temperature under control before you can realistically focus on other night sweats causes. Crack a window, place standing fan or install a ceiling fan… but do something.
Be Careful What You Eat and Drink Before Bed
The usual suspects are the culprit in this case: foods and beverages containing caffeine (including chocolate), alcohol, dense and fatty foods and spicy foods will all contribute to your suffering night sweats symptoms.
Night Sweats Treatment
Additionally, I think people underestimate how close to bed they should avoid these foods and beverages. An hour isn’t enough time: I encourage you to avoid these foods at least 2 to 3 hours before bed and ideally you shouldn’t consume either caffeine or alcohol in the evening at all (at least while you’re trying to determine the cause of your sweating at night).
You will find some foods and beverages that help prevent your night sweat. But I’ll leave that for the next section below.
Natural Treatment for Night Sweats
Chamomile tea may soothe and calm you while peppermint tea can both cool you and your heat-generating digestive tract. If you’re concerned with drinking a hot beverage near bed time, you can brew a strong tea earlier in the day then refrigerate it to make an iced tea.
If you don’t mind the scent of peppermint, a quality peppermint essential oil can help in a variety of ways. Some people put a dab on the back of their neck. Some put it on the soles of their feet. You can even put a couple drops in some water and ice for sipping as you prepare for bed. Unfortunately peppermint also has an awakening effect, so be careful with how much you use. If you think this sounds silly, just wait until you try it for yourself.
A really popular natural treatment for hot flashes and night sweats is black cohosh. And that will make for a nice segue into my night sweats remedies section.
Night Sweats Remedies
Black Cohosh
Straddling the natural treatments and the night sweats remedies sections is black cohosh. Black cohosh, or scientifically, Actaea racemosa, is an herbal remedy created from the roots and rhizomes of this herbaceous perennial plant. This would be considered an alternative therapy as the science supporting its use is inconsistent and controversial.
It is primarily used for women, menopause and even premenstrual tension. Its origin as a therapy derive from its use by Native Americans for alleged anti-inflammatory, sedative and pain-relieving properties.
I will write a whole page on the black cohosh phenomenon because it has become so popular, but I want to be clear that I am not personally recommending it. I know a couple people that swear by it, but it didn’t personally work for me and I am a little skeptical about its legitimacy as a therapy.
Simple, Natural Night Sweat Relief
Once simple night sweat cure — or cure for excessive perspiration (hyperhidrosis) of any sort is to place a cool glass, cool, damp wash cloth or run some cool water over your wrists. This is a really neat and genuinely useful trick that will quickly provide your body an overall cooled sensation. I kept a small bowl near my bed with a clean wash cloth and a bunch of ice cubes. When I felt hot, I reached for the wash cloth and held it against my wrist or wrists.
Because your veins gather at the junction of your wrists, you cool your blood as it passes this point and then the blood cools the rest of your body. It is a simple, safe and effective way to cool yourself anytime.
Another simple, natural way to find some relief in the night is to use lighter, more breathable fabric for your pajamas and your bed sheets. Further down, I discuss some other products and devices along this line that can provide natural relief without resorting to drugs.
Night Sweats in Men Treatment
One problem men have with night sweats is that so many night sweats therapies are targeted at women and their menopausal hot flashes. But as I discuss in my night sweats in men article, men are almost as likely to experience hormone-based changes that lead to night sweats as women. And men are just as likely to experience some of the serious illnesses that can lead to sleep hyperhidrosis, such as HIV symptoms, symptoms of lymphoma, hyperthyroidism, the night sweats cancer may cause and more.
For men, I encourage you to not shy away from remedies often directed at women but just as practical for men. Don’t feel too manly about sipping chamomile iced tea before you go to bed and don’t be stubborn about trying some moisture wicking pajamas.
Other Night Sweats and Sleep Help Online:
Menopause Night Sweats Treatment
On the alternative therapy side you have supplements and herbs, such as black cohosh and Estroven, and on the medical site you have HRT (hormone replacement therapy). I suggest you try the many natural and safe therapies I’ve included on this page before you attempt to treat your menopause night sweats with drugs.
The problem with drugs is that they often evoke side-effects which may ultimately exacerbate your night sweats or hot flashes. For example, the night sweats Zoloft can cause are not unlike the night sweats alcohol provokes. I don’t mean to sound too anti-drug — my doctor friends wouldn’t approve — but I do suggest taking a safe, natural and simple approach to treating your night sweats before you bring out the big guns.
Treat Night Sweats With the Chillow, The BedFan and Wicking Pajamas
I will write pages on each of these devices in the near future, but I wanted to at least introduce you to these three clever products that may be worth your money if you’re serious about your night sweats treatment. Unlike some sketchy herbal remedies out there, these are practical common sense solutions to over heating in the night. If you can manage, I encourage you to use the three together for maximum relief:
The Chillow
I’m sure you’re familiar with the way your pillow warms up from the heat of your face. I’ve always loved flipping the pillow to the cool side. Well, the pillow basically allows the surface side to stay cool all the time. It absorbs the heat from your face and shoulders and helps them stay cool.
Bed Fans
Most bed fans operate by connecting to the foot of your mattress, the blowing a light breeze beneath your sheets along your body. This breeze lifts away the heat eminating from your body.
Wicking Pajamas
Wicking pajamas, particularly the excellent Cool Jams brand of wicking pajamas, use a carefully designed material and texture to literally wick away moisture from your body while you sleep. This helps you by both keeping you cooler and keeping you drier. While most moisture wicking pajamas you’ll find will be for women, Cool Jams also makes men’s pajamas, t-shirts and boxers. Don’t be shy about trying them, boys: they’re very effective!
I really hope something in this article help you to find a more healthy and restful night’s sleep with effective night sweats treatment. Some of these topics have endless depths to explore so I’ll expand on them with additional pages on Night Sweats.