The cold sweats attributed to a qi deficiency pattern in Donguibogam can be understood in modern medicine as similar to hyperhidrosis or thermoregulatory dysfunction. Sweating is an essential thermoregulation mechanism, produced when sweat glands are stimulated by the sympathetic nerve within the autonomic nervous system.
A state of qi deficiency corresponds modernly to an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system. Stress, irregular daily routines, sleep deprivation, and overwork can excessively stimulate the sympathetic nerve, accelerating sweat secretion. The body reacts as though it is under constant tension or threat, leading to abnormal sweating. Many people have noticed their back, palms, or soles becoming damp under stressful conditions.
In addition, endocrine diseases such as hyperthyroidism, climacteric hormonal fluctuations, certain medications, and chronic diseases like diabetes can trigger generalized or focal hyperhidrosis. Increased metabolic activity or hormonal imbalances readily disrupt thermoregulation. In particular, thyroid hormone plays a central role in managing the metabolic rate; when it is secreted in excess, energy is consumed rapidly, body temperature rises, and the body tends to release heat through sweating.
Psychological factors are also significant. Feelings of anxiety, restlessness, and tension affect the hypothalamus and limbic system in the brain, activating the sympathetic nerve and increasing sweat gland activity. This reflects the insight from Donguibogam that qi deficiency involves mental energy drain alongside physical weakness, a relationship consistent with modern psychosomatic medicine.
Ultimately, when the body cannot rest when needed, expends energy needlessly, and remains unbalanced, it signals distress through sweat. Rather than merely wiping the sweat away, it is helpful to pay attention to the messages sent by your qi and autonomic nervous system.
