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The syndrome of sweating includes spontaneous sweating and night sweats. Spontaneous sweating refers to natural sweating while awake during the day, which becomes more severe upon movement; night sweats refer to whole-body sweating during sleep, which gradually subsides upon waking. Ancient medical methods state: Spontaneous sweating belongs to deficiency of Yang (deficiency of the functional activities of the body), with insecure Couli (pores/skin texture), governed by Wei Qi (Defensive Qi). Humans rely on Wei Qi to secure the exterior; when Wei Qi is insecure, the exterior becomes deficient leading to spontaneous sweating, and Body Fluids (Jin Ye) are thereby excreted. Treatment should aim to consolidate the exterior and tonify Yang. Night sweats belong to deficiency of Yin (substance/fluids); when Yin is deficient, Yang inevitably congregates within, thus Yang steams the Yin compartment causing Blood Heat (excessive heat in the blood), and due to Blood Heat, fluids are excreted as night sweats. Treatment should aim to clear Fire (pathogenic heat) and tonify Yin. This is the general principle, which certainly must be known. However, from my observation, spontaneous sweating can also be due to Yin deficiency, and night sweats are often due to Yang deficiency. For instance, in cases of mental fatigue and excessive heat, spontaneous sweating is most common. Therefore, some attribute it to Fire arising from the Stomach due to diet, Fire arising from the Spleen due to overwork, or Fire arising from the Kidney due to alcohol and sexual excess; all these can cause spontaneous sweating. In such cases, how can one not say it is Excess of Yang and Deficiency of Yin? Furthermore, wakefulness and sleep are determined by the entry and exit of Wei Qi. Wei Qi is Yang Qi. When a person sleeps, Wei Qi enters the Yin compartment; at this time, is it not a case of Exterior Yang deficiency? Thus, both spontaneous sweating and night sweats have their respective Yin and Yang syndromes. One cannot assert that spontaneous sweating must be Yang deficiency, nor that night sweats must be Yin deficiency. Then, since Yin and Yang differ, how are they distinguished? The answer is: simply observe the presence or absence of Fire. If Fire is present and sweating occurs, it is because Fire scorches Yin, indicating Yin deficiency; if no Fire is present and sweating occurs, it is because the Exterior Qi is insecure, indicating Yang deficiency. Understanding these two points leaves no ambiguity regarding the essentials of sweating, and the principles of treatment can be grasped.

1. Sweat is derived from Blood, fundamentally rooted in Yin. The Classic states: "Yang's sweat is named after the rain of heaven and earth," the meaning of which is understandable. However, sweat originates from Yin and emerges from Yang. Its root lies in the Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) within Yin, while its opening and closing are governed by the Wei Qi within Yang. Therefore, those who wish to stop sweating but do not know the prosperity or decline of Ying and Wei, or those who wish to induce sweating but do not understand the mechanism of the bellows (metaphor for respiratory/qi movement), are like boating on land or driving a cart on the sea. I know they will not cease until they fail.

1. Sweating syndromes have Yin and Yang distinctions. Yang sweating is hot sweat; Yin sweating is cold sweat. People only know that heat causes sweating, but do not know that cold can also cause sweating. The "cold" referred to here does not mean external cold, but rather internal deficiency of Yang, generating cold from within. When there is no Yang within Yin, Yin has no master, and sweat follows Qi leaking out. Therefore, great fright, great fear, or great terror can all cause sweating; these are signs of sudden consumption of Yang Qi and loss of True Yuan (Original Qi). In severe cases, such as after illness or postpartum, or following severe vomiting, diarrhea, or blood loss, there is often much sweating. Is this not due to the departure of Qi? Thus, the Classic says: "When Yin prevails, the body is cold and sweats; the body is constantly cold, shivering frequently with cold; cold leads to Jue (extremity coldness), and Jue leads to abdominal fullness and death." Zhang Zhongjing said: "Extreme cold reversely causes sweating, and the body becomes cold as ice." These all refer to Yin sweating. Therefore, when treating Yin sweating, one must examine the degree of Qi deficiency. For slight deficiency, slightly supporting the Righteous Qi will naturally stop the sweat; for severe deficiency, it is imperative to rapidly rescue the Yuan Qi. Even herbs such as Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger), Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark), and Fu Zi (Prepared Aconite Root) must be used. I have separate treatment records in the section on Chills and Fever in the Treatise on Cold Damage.