wk10 - sweating

Question 1

What is normal sweat?

Answer 1

· sweating when hot
· sweating upon exertion
· no big odor

Question 2

In general, what characterizes sweat abnormalities?

Answer 2

· too much sweat

· no sweat

Question 3

What are some different types of sweat abnormalities?

Answer 3

·  Abnormal Spontaneous Sweating
·  Night Sweats
·  Light Moist Skin Surface
·  Desertion Sweat
·  Cold Sweat
·  Sweat Block

Question 4

What is Abnormal Spontaneous Sweating? When does it happen?

Answer 4

· sweating during the day & without effort or cause

Question 5

What are Night Sweats? Is this mild sweating? Is the cause due to excess or vacuity?

Answer 5

· drenching
· happens at night
· is not mild
· could be excess or vacuity

Question 6

What is Vacuity Sweat? Is the cause due to excess or vacuity?

Answer 6

· light moist skin surface sweating without effort
· happens at any time
· worse with minimal effort, exertion, or movement
· due to vacuity

Question 7

What is Desertion Sweat (aka Expiry Sweat)?

Answer 7

· greasy or oily sweat

· refers to dangerous disease conditions when sweat is like pearls of oil emitted as dribbles & drips without cessation

Question 8

What is the pathology of Desertion Sweat (aka Expiry Sweat)?

Answer 8

· desertion of substance (yang desertion or yin desertion)
· might see it in someone in shock
· Yin or Yang Collapse

Question 9

What is Cold Sweat?

Answer 9

· fear of wind, cold limbs & sweating presenting at same time

Question 10

What is the pathology of Cold Sweat?

Answer 10

· could be Yang Vacuity

· cold distinguishes Yang Vacuity from Qi Vacuity (since we think of Yang as having a warming fxn)

Question 11

What is Sweat Block?

Answer 11

· absence of sweating in context where there should be sweat
· normal sweat fxn is blocked (not able to release the exterior

Question 12

What is the pathology of Sweat Block?

Answer 12

· Damp – treatment involves draining damp

· Cold – treatment involves warming

Question 13

Excessive Sweating is due to Heat of Excess Nature. What are the possible pathologies?

Answer 13

· externally contracted heat disease, esp. internal heat repletion patterns (“4 bigs”)
· bowel bind heat
· toxic heat

Question 14

What is Vacuity Sweat?

Answer 14

· spontaneous sweating with little to no exertion

· could be lighter moisture or drenching sweat

Question 15

Vacuity Sweat could present with lighter moisture or drenching sweat. What are the possible pathologies of each?

Answer 15

· lighter moisture would be early stage Qi or Yang Vacuity

· drenching sweat would be later stage Qi or Yang Vacuity

Question 16

Explain the etiology of Vacuity Sweat. What are the underlying patterns?

Answer 16

1) KD or SP Yang Vacuity – yang has fxn of holding things up & in, securing the exterior
2) Qi Vacuity – qi also has fxn of holding things in & securing the exterior
3) Dual Qi & Yang Vacuity

Question 17

What is Discolored Sweating & Staining in Armpits?

Answer 17

· unusual armpit sweating of a colorful nature

Question 18

What is the pathology of Discolored Sweating & Staining in Armpits?

Answer 18

· HT pathology (excess or vacuity)

· LV pathology (excess)

Question 19

What are the conditions supporting normal sweating?

Answer 19

Normal sweating occurs when:
· there is a balance of yin & yang
· the defense qi opens & closes the pores appropriately, thus protecting the balance of body fluids, qi & blood, yin & yang