From Tea to Topicals: Using Sage for Hyperhidrosis
Sage is an age-old solution to cleanse spaces and improve health. And it might just be able to reduce sweat. Here’s everything you need to know about sage for hyperhidrosis.
Sage and human health go way back. Their long history began in Ancient Greece, Rome, and China, where the sage leaf was used to treat sore throats, mood disorders, and other ailments. Today, researchers are looking at other potential uses—and preliminary findings suggest it can help boost memory, improve cognitive performance, manage cholesterol levels, and reduce sweating. And yes, you read that right: sage for hyperhidrosis may be a thing!
Admittedly, the relationship between sage and sweat is a bit tricky to explain. And whether or not sage can reduce excessive sweating depends on the cause and severity of the sweating.
The Science of Sweat
Before we dive into why sage reduces sweat, let’s look at the main causes of hyperhidrosis, the medical term for overactive sweat glands. Most cases fall into the primary hyperhidrosis category, when sweating is the main issue and not a byproduct of another condition. Even in these cases, hormones, the sympathetic nervous system, and sweat triggers can still cause sweat flares.
Secondary hyperhidrosis occurs when the sweating is caused by another condition, like menopause or diabetes. Those cases are often marked by night sweats, hot flashes, and other symptoms.
Sage specifically can address triggers of primary hyperhidrosis and some underlying medical conditions associated with secondary.
The Science of Sage: How It Reduces Sweat
In traditional European medicine (think: ye olde medieval pharmacy), sage was used to treat extreme sweating, among other conditions. The reason? Sage covers all the antis: It’s anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant.
Sage’s anti-inflammatory properties may reduce or prevent inflamed sweat glands, especially in the underarms and under the breasts, which can disrupt sweating-as-usual.
The antimicrobial properties of sage won't address hyperhidrosis directly but can prevent skin infections. Since hyperhidrosis increases the risk of skin infections, that means sage’s antimicrobial properties may improve the quality of life for those with any kind of hyperhidrosis.
Finally, antioxidants can help regulate activity in the eccrine sweat glands, which are involved in body temperature regulation. When the eccrine glands work as intended, there’s often less sweat and hot flushes.
Sage, Stress, and Anxiety
71% of people with hyperhidrosis report increased sweat when stressed. The reason goes back to our nervous system. Famous for regulating stress and anxiety levels, the sympathetic nervous system also sends cues to the body to sweat when we are nervous.
Many cultures traditionally burn sage to get rid of negative energy—and stress definitely falls within my definition of negative energy. More and more, research suggests there’s some science behind this age-old practice. Ingesting sage or using it in essential oils may help relieve stress and anxiety.
Sage and Hormones
Another arena where sage is particularly relevant is hormones, specifically estrogen (a hormone associated with female reproduction). Low estrogen, particularly in women experiencing menopause, can increase sweating.
Sage contains ferulic acid, a substance found to increase estrogen levels in some animal studies. This ferulic acid may reduce menopause symptoms, including excessive perspiration. Regardless of whether you have menopause or not, healthy estrogen levels help regulate body temperature—and it goes without saying that heat is a sweat trigger.
Tea Time: Using Sage Internally
While sage can be used in an essential oil or burned to cleanse a space, there’s little evidence that those two uses help with hyperhidrosis. If you have sweaty feet, hands, or underarms, you may want to opt for a sage tea instead.
Sage tea is a great way to get the herb’s antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and hormone regulating properties—and remember, all of these can help regulate sweating. Other benefits of sage tea (on top of all of sage’s other properties discussed above) include:
Higher alertness
Improved concentration
More calm, peaceful mood
How to Prepare Sage Tea
Some tea bags sold in grocery stores may already contain sage. If you want to DIY sage tea, you’ll need to have water and sage on hand. Since sage is an acquired taste, many find it useful to add lemon juice and a bit of sugar.
After you’ve gathered the ingredients, boil the water. Add the sage leaves (about a half ounce or 45 leaves should work)and any other additions to the boiled water. Once other ingredients are in, bring the water down to a simmer. Stir well before allowing it to steep for 20-30 minutes. Then, serve hot or with ice, depending on your preference.
Unlike with some hyperhidrosis medications, it’s hard to overdose on sage tea. That said, large doses may cause convulsions and any amount of sage is unsafe for pregnant people. And what exactly is a large dose? That depends on your size and gender, but around 300-600 miligrams should be a safe daily dose. For more customized information on dosage, consult a functional medicine provider.
When and How Often to Drink Sage Tea
We’ve all heard about how apples keep doctors away. Another helpful saying? A sage tea a day may keep hyperhidrosis away. If you’re short on time, swapping your daily coffee for sage tea is a great way to sneak it in without disrupting daily activities.
There’s no research, however, to suggest one time of day is better than any other to drink sage tea—instead, opt for whenever works best for you.
Convenient Alternatives With Sage
If tea isn’t your thing, no worries. There are alternatives, mainly oral sage supplements and recipes that incorporate this herb.
Oral Sage Supplements: A Convenient Alternative
Dietary supplements often come in the form of capsules, tablets, or tinctures that are taken daily. Sage tablets tend to be the most common and are often correctly dosed, meaning you don’t have to wonder if you’re consuming enough.
For those with hyperhidrosis, oral supplements offer a few unique benefits. For one, they’re a great way to consume a higher concentration of sage than what you would find in tea. They’re also convenient. Instead of boiling water, brewing tea, and drinking it, you instead just take a correctly dosed pill. On top of that, they may be a great choice if you aren’t a tea drinker or don’t like the taste of sage.
Recipes That Use Sage
Sage isn’t just touted for its health benefits; it also adds flavor to meals. Many chefs throw sage into pastas, meat marinades, and more. While a chef-favorite, you don’t have to go to culinary school to learn how to incorporate sage into your diet.
I’m a horrible cook, yet I’ve still be able to master these three recipes that include sage:
If you’re not vegetarian, incorporating sage into a balsamic glaze for chicken or a creamy sauce for meatballs may also do the trick.
Skin Solutions: Topical Applications of Sage
Not all home remedies can be applied as a topical cream, but sage can. When using sage topicals, you can target exact problem areas. This may be an especially good option for those with focal hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating in a concentrated part of the body.
While topicals may be beneficial, it’s important to note that few studies have investigated topical sage’s impact on hyperhidrosis. For extreme sweating or to see immediate results, consuming sage may work better.
Types of Topical Sage Products
Sage is used in a variety of topical products, including:
Sprays
Perfumes
Lotions
Body oils
Shampoos and conditions
Body soaps
Since you’re using sage as a herbal medicine, you want to be extra picky about what products you use. Typically, high-quality products include safety data on their labels or websites. These products are also third-party tested and have a short list of clean ingredients.
Final Thoughts: Is Sage the Solution You’ve Been Seeking?
While many natural remedies claim that they can reduce sweat, sage appears to be the real deal. Sage helps with hormone (and body temperature) regulation, may reduce sweating due to menopause, and can help regulate the nervous system, putting an end to stress sweat.
But before you dive into sage, it’s important to have realistic expectations about what sage can and cannot do. There’s not as much evidence to support its effectiveness for hyperhidrosis in particular, especially compared to more established treatment options. Fortunately, it can be used alongside other treatments.
For guidance in treating excessive sweat, check out SweatRx. Our platform connects you with a qualified doctor who can help you choose the right treatment for your symptoms, lifestyle, and preferences.
