How does modern medicine explain night sweats caused by yin deficiency as described in the Donguibogam? Sweating at night is not simply due to the heat. This is referred to as night sweats, and if excessive sweating during sleep is severe enough to soak your pajamas or bedding, it may be a sign that problems have arisen in various systems of our bodies.
The very first thing to consider is an autonomic nervous system imbalance. Thermoregulation in our body is handled by the hypothalamus, which is influenced by the autonomic nervous system consisting of the sympathetic nerve and the parasympathetic nerve. When the sympathetic nerve is excessively activated due to stress, anxiety, or sleep deprivation, blood vessels dilate and sweat gland activity increases, which can lead to night sweats. In particular, if sympathetic nerve activity rises during sleep, a phenomenon where the body becomes overheatedβmuch like when tense during the dayβcan occur.
Hormonal changes are also an important cause. In women, during the climacteric or menopausal transition, fluctuating estrogen levels can cause the thermoregulatory center of the brain to malfunction, resulting in hot flashes accompanied by night sweats. Men may also experience similar symptoms due to changes in testosterone levels. An endocrine disease such as hyperthyroidism can excessively activate overall metabolism, raising body temperature and causing heavy sweating. In addition, taking certain medications can also be a cause of night sweats, with typical examples including antidepressants, antihypertensives, and diabetes medications.
Furthermore, a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea can also be a cause. Because breathing is not smooth, the body makes greater efforts to obtain oxygen, and in this process, body temperature rises, leading to sweat. The chills felt after sweating are a natural defense mechanism in which our body constricts blood vessels and causes muscles to tremble to raise a suddenly lowered body temperature back up.
From a modern perspective, yin deficiency in the Donguibogam can be seen as sharing the same context with chronic autonomic nervous system imbalance, weakened hormonal regulation, or increased physical energy consumption due to ongoing stress. Therefore, if you sweat unusually heavily at night, do not view it as a mere simple phenomenon, but consult a specialist to identify the precise cause.
