Treatments For Night Sweats

Night sweats are an occurrence during menopause when hot flashes come at night.  They are common among perimenopausal women and can precede actual menopause for years.

Menopause is not the only cause of night sweats.

They can also accompany cancer; idiopathic hyperhidrosis; certain medications; hypoglycemia; hormone disorders; neurological conditions like autonomic dysreflexia, autonomic neuropathy, post-traumatic syringomyelia and stroke; and infections such as abscesses, the AIDS virus, endocarditis and osteomyelitis.

A person may be having night sweats if he or she wakes up in a damp or soaked bed or feels too hot or too cold.  There are many recommended treatments for night sweats.  The most effective would be to eliminate the cause if this option is possible.

When excessive sweating interferes with the activities of everyday life, a doctor may recommend surgery for the removal of sweat glands.  However, it may be possible to alleviate night sweats with lifestyle changes such as eliminating spicy foods or alcohol.

Cooling down a room with a fan or open window may also help alleviate the condition.  Taking a cold shower before bed may help and keeping a cool drink nearby could also help, but be careful about what is eaten or drunk within three hours before bedtime.

Alternative treatments may also be effective for alleviating night sweats.  Chamomile or peppermint tea may work to soothe and calm and may cool the heat-generating digestive track.  The tea need not be drunk while it is hot.

Peppermint oil is also a viable home remedy when it is dabbed on the back of the neck or on the soles of the feet.  One can also put a few drops in water to drink it.  However, since peppermint has awakening effects, too much of it can defeat the purposes of helping one sleep comfortably throughout the night.

Women going through menopause or premenstrual tension mostly use black cohosh.

A simple and accessible solution is to place a cool glass or cool, damp washcloth on the wrists.

Running cold water over the wrists also works.  If one is already in bed, it may help to keep a bowl of ice and a washcloth on a nightstand.  Bed fans, a pillow with chilling effects or wicking pajamas are also natural cures that can help alleviate night sweats.