Natural Herbs for Sweaty Hands

Herbs have been used around the world for thousands of years to treat a wide variety of ailments. While in the past the use of herbs has been thought by many to be gimmicky, in truth, herbs are often the basis for pharmaceutical drugs, and are being proven effective as stand-alone treatments as well. Anxiety and nervousness, which also lead to excessive sweating of the body and hands, are among the many conditions that can be treated with herbal remedies.

Sage

• While there is a lack of studies on the use of sage in sweating, its use is suggested by many herbalists. Sage is believed to calm the nerves that produce sweat. The most common way to use the remedy is by holding wet sage tea bags against the palms for approximately ten minutes. It can also be consumed as tea by using approximately 3 ½ tablespoons per cup of hot water, and drunk once a day.

St. John's Wort

• Often excessive sweating is caused by anxiety and stress. Due to its calming effects, St. John's wort is often suggested to reduce excessive sweating. The University of Maryland Medical Center warns that care should be taken when using the herb, as it often has adverse interactions with other medications.

Kava

• The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine states that Kava is generally used as a treatment for anxiety. As with St. John's wort, it is this use that helps reduce sweating. However, the FDA warns that the herb may cause liver damage.

Schisandra

• Schisandra, also known as five-flavor berry, is used to treat sweating along with cough, wheezing, and diarrhea. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center states that various lignans are believed to be accountable for the results acquired from using schisandra, but also warns that inadequate research has been performed to evaluate the results, and no testing has been done on humans.

White Peony root

• Chinese herbalists consider white peony root to be a blood toner. It is said to balance blood in the body and improve circulation. While it is commonly used to treat gynecological issues, and ward off miscarriage, it is also used to treat excessive sweating. It is most often administered in tea form by placing the wet tea bags in the hands for those suffering from sweaty palms, or by drinking two cups of tea per day for other uses.

Precautions

• Herbs can interact poorly with one another, or prescribed medications. Some herbs have adverse effects with certain medical disorders, or can be harmful during pregnancy. Consult your physician before using herbs.