With the emergence of the new traditional Chinese medicine therapy called fire therapy, more and more diseases can be prevented or treated using this method. However, many people experience excessive sweating after fire therapy. So, why do we sweat after fire therapy? Is it good to sweat after fire therapy?
Why do we sweat more after fire therapy?
Physiological sweating
Fire therapy utilizes the heat generated by burning alcohol and the principle of air convection to stimulate acupuncture points and affected areas. Through the conduction of meridians, the medicinal effects penetrate into the body, improving blood circulation and clearing meridians. Sweating after fire therapy is related to individual constitution, just like some people sweat profusely even with slight movement during hot weather, while others don't sweat much. People who are prone to sweating may experience sweating during fire therapy due to the local increase in body surface temperature and the expansion of pores caused by the heat generated by burning alcohol.
Pathological sweating
If there is excessive moisture in the body, some of it will be converted into sweat and expelled from the body due to the heat on the body surface and air convection, resulting in increased sweating.
Is it good to sweat more after fire therapy?
Since fire therapy promotes sweating through the heat, is it better to sweat more after fire therapy? The amount of sweating after fire therapy depends on the situation.
Good for people with excessive moisture
Fire therapy has the effect of dispelling dampness. For people with excessive moisture in their bodies, fire therapy can help eliminate dampness through sweating. The sweat may be sticky, but it can make people feel comfortable and refreshed, which is beneficial.
Not good for people with weak constitution
For individuals with poor physical condition and weakness, excessive sweating after fire therapy, accompanied by feelings of fatigue and lethargy, is not beneficial for their health. In such cases, sweating should be stopped promptly.
Why doesn't sweating occur after fire therapy?
Some people do not easily sweat, and they may not sweat after fire therapy either.
For some people with excessive moisture, their pores may be blocked, and during the initial fire therapy sessions, their pores may not open, preventing the elimination of moisture and toxins from the body, thus resulting in no sweating after fire therapy.
For individuals with Yin deficiency or anemia, sweat is formed by the vaporization of Yin fluid in the body driven by Yang energy. If there is insufficient Yin fluid or anemia, sweat conversion will not occur naturally, and sweating will not happen after fire therapy.
What to do if there is excessive sweating after fire therapy?
If excessive sweating occurs only within an hour after fire therapy, it can be left as it is. It is advised to avoid wind because the pores are dilated and the skin is not tightly closed, making it easy to catch a cold.
If excessive sweating continues for a period of time after fire therapy, applying talcum powder to the sweaty areas can help control sweating as talcum powder has astringent properties.
Massaging the Hegu acupoint can also help stop sweating. Use the thumb of one hand to apply pressure and knead the opposite Hegu acupoint (place the thumb of the left hand horizontally on the right hand's tiger's mouth, pressing downward, and the point where the thumb touches is the Hegu acupoint). The pressure should be sufficient to produce a sore and swollen sensation.
If excessive sweating occurs along with weakness, it is advisable to seek medical attention promptly.
