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Spontaneous sweating belongs to Yang syndromes and is divided into deficiency (Xu) and excess (Shi) types. It may be caused by stomach heat or exterior deficiency; night sweats (Dao Han) belong to Yin deficiency, often due to Heart Qi deficiency and blood heat, and should be treated according to the specific syndrome.

[Note]
Sweat is the body's Jin-Ye (body fluids). Those existing in the Yang aspect are called "Jin" (thin fluid), those in the Yin aspect are called "Ye" (thick fluid), and those excreted on the exterior are called "Han" (sweat). If sweat occurs without an obvious cause, it is due to an imbalance of Yin and Yang. For example, when children sweat spontaneously without a clear reason, it is called spontaneous sweating. Spontaneous sweating belongs to Yang syndromes and has distinctions between deficiency and excess: Deficiency type presents with mild fever (Xi Xi Fa Re) accompanied by aversion to cold, indicating Exterior Deficiency; Excess type presents with steaming sweat (Zheng Zheng Zi Han) and fever without aversion to cold, indicating Interior Heat. For Exterior Deficiency, the treatment principle is to consolidate the exterior; for Interior Excess, the principle is to purge the heat. Another condition is sweating during sleep and stopping upon waking, known as night sweats (Dao Han). Night sweats primarily indicate Yin deficiency, but one must distinguish whether it is due to Heart Qi deficiency failing to secure the exterior or Heart Fire damaging the Yin. Heart Qi deficiency requires tonifying the Heart, while Heart heat requires cooling the blood. Physicians should differentiate carefully to avoid errors.

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Chapter on Sweating Disorders

For spontaneous sweating due to exterior deficiency, use Yu Ping Feng San (Jade Windscreen Powder); if severe, add Fu Zi (Prepared Aconite Root) to Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) to strengthen consolidation; for interior excess heat causing sweating, use Bai Hu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) to clear interior heat; if accompanied by constipation, use Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang (Regulate the Stomach and Direct Downward Decoction) to purge excess heat.

[Note]
Continuous (Ji Ji) spontaneous sweating due to exterior deficiency is mainly treated with Yu Ping Feng San (Jade Windscreen Powder).
If accompanied by aversion to cold, it indicates Yang Qi deficiency; Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) with added Fu Zi (Prepared Aconite Root) can be used to secure the Yang.
Yangming Interior Excess Heat, presenting with steaming spontaneous sweating, is treated with Bai Hu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) to clear.
Those with constipation are treated with Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang (Regulate the Stomach and Direct Downward Decoction) to purge.

(Yu Ping Feng San / Jade Windscreen Powder) Huang Qi (Astragali Radix, honey-fried), Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, soil-fried). Decoct in water and take orally.
(Fang Ge / Formula Verse)
Exterior Qi weakness causes frequent spontaneous sweating,
Yu Ping Feng San is quite suitable for treatment.
Huang Qi, Fang Feng, and stir-fried Bai Zhu,
Decoct in water, take warm, at any time.

(Gui Zhi Jia Fu Zi Tang / Cinnamon Twig Decoction plus Prepared Aconite Root) Bai Shao Yao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Zhi Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, honey-fried), Zhi Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata). Use fresh ginger and jujube as guides, decoct in water, and take orally.
(Fang Ge / Formula Verse)
When exterior Qi weakness is severe,
Gui Zhi Tang is best.
Bai Shao Yao, Gui Zhi, and Gan Cao,
Add Fu Zi, and the illness gradually recovers.

(Bai Hu Tang / White Tiger Decoction) See Interior Heat section.
(Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang / Regulate the Stomach and Direct Downward Decoction) See Interior Heat section.
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Chapter on Sweating Disorders