SweatSolutions.org: Kitchen Herb May Help Relieve Sweating

November/December 2005 Edition Table of Contents:

» SweatHelp.org Relaunches: More Useful than Ever

» When Parents Just Don't Understand

» Educational Events a Massive Success in 2005

» Kitchen Herb May Help Relieve Sweating

» AAD Symposium Makes Important Statement About Sweating

» View Events

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Kitchen Herb May Help Relieve Sweating

(November/December 2005) Researchers at the School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in Iran report that a simple �tea� made from dried sage leaves and water may moderately relieve symptoms of hyperhidrosis. One of the lead researchers in the study attended the International Hyperhidrosis Society program at the European Academy od Dermatology and Venerology (EADV) meeting in London this past October (see the story about CME successes in this issue of SweatSolutions)

Thirty-five patients (18 men and 17 women, aged 8-49 years) who had been diagnosed with either palmar or plantar hyperhidrosis took part in the study. Over the course of six weeks these patients were given sage tea treatments three times a day. The tea contained 5% sage and was applied to the skin (they did not drink it!) where excessive sweating was a problem. The skin was always completely dried before the sage tea was applied. After six weeks of this treatment the people in the study who received the sage tea experienced significantly more relief from their sweating than the people who were given a placebo. (A placebo is a �fake� or non-treatment that allows scientists to get accurate comparisons in their studies.) The sage tea was shown to reduce sweating by 37%, as compared to 14.8% reduction of sweating with the placebo or �fake� treatments.

Sage is an herb from an evergreen shrub in the mint family. Sage can be found naturally around the world including in the United States, Europe, and Middle East, and is often used in cooking. The researchers in this study think that sage may work to control sweating because it has astringent properties.

The researchers say you can make the sage tea at home using three spoonfuls of dried sage leaves mixed with 250 ml (8.5 ounces) of room temperature water. The mixture should be allowed to steep for 24 to 48 hours. After straining, the resulting solution or �tea� can be applied to underarm or hand surfaces. For treatment of plantar, or soles of the feet, hyperhidrosis, the researchers recommend a dry powder of sage placed in shoes. The powder can be made by grinding dried sage leaves with an electronic or hand mill. Sage tea or powder should be applied to the problem area three times a day. The area should be completely dried before application. Sage tea applied to the skin is believed to be safe because sage has long been used as a flavor enhancer in foods. But remember, this tea is not for drinking.

For more information, see the full report of the study.