How to avoid night sweats?
Do you sweat a lot at night? Many live with night sweats. Hot sweats, cold sweats, we can lose up to 1 liter of sweat per night. Thus, they can lead to significant drops in body temperature, which is not nothing!
Whether it’s caused by health problems, or hormonal changes, you surely want to counteract this excessive sweating. So here are our tips and tricks against night sweats, to allow you to sleep better.
To reduce night sweats, avoid synthetic fabrics that do not breathe. Whether it’s for your underwear, your pajamas or the sheets of your bed, choose natural fibers instead.
Cotton and bamboo garments are excellent choices to help regulate your temperature and prevent sweating.
Although it seems obvious, an overheated room will not help you avoid night sweats! In winter, program your thermostats so that the temperature remains at 18 degrees Celsius.
18 degrees Celsius is the ideal temperature to sleep well without sweating. In addition, a cool room helps to breathe better.
Ventilate the bedroom to fight against night sweats
Along the same lines, be sure to ventilate the room where you sleep to avoid night sweats. The fresh air will cool your room, and you’ll sleep better with the window open.
If you have a fan, turn it on! But be careful not to point it directly at you to avoid aches the next morning.
3. Avoid hot drinks to avoid sweating at night
In order to stop or at least reduce the risk of night sweats, avoid hot drinks that would increase your body temperature. Are you a fan of a good cup of tea or herbal tea before going to sleep?
Instead, opt for an ice cold version of your favorite hot drink! You will still benefit from the effects of your drink, while refreshing yourself.
Avoid stimulants to reduce night sweats
Just like hot drinks, certain beverages and foods are not recommended when you suffer from night sweats. Indeed, stimulants such as coffee, alcohol, spices and others, increase body temperature.
Instead, drink cool water before going to bed.
While it may be tempting to take a warm bath to relax before sleeping, if you’re prone to night sweats, take a cool or lukewarm shower instead.
Or, if you prefer, follow your hot bath with a lukewarm shower to lower your body temperature before going to bed. This is also very good for the skin!
5. Sage, a grandmother’s remedy for night sweats
Sage officinalis can help you fight against night sweats, but also if you suffer from excessive sweating during the day. To make an infusion,
- Macerate a handful of sage leaves in 1 liter of boiling water.
- Let the sage leaves infuse for 15 minutes before straining.
- Drink 3 cups a day, remembering to let it cool before drinking it at bedtime.
6. Relax to avoid night sweats
If you are stressed when going to bed, you are likely to see night sweats appear. To sleep better and stay dry, get into the habit of doing a short relaxation session before bed. It can be breathing exercises, meditation, yoga or whatever.
However, it would be better not to do physical or aerobic exercise right before going to sleep. While it may help some of us relax, strenuous exercise will raise your body temperature, putting you at risk for night sweats.
7. Baking soda to fight night sweats
To help you stay dry overnight, mix together:
- baking soda
- talc
- powdered dried sage leaves
Sprinkle your body with this mixture and massage well. You can also sprinkle it on your sheets, to absorb excess sweat and humidity..
8. Lose weight to reduce night sweats
Wondering what to do about night sweats? If you are overweight, it would be wise to change your diet in order to lose weight.
Indeed, losing weight and changing your diet is often the best way to make night sweats disappear when you are overweight!
9. A natural remedy for night sweats
Are you entering menopause and suffering from hot flashes, especially at night? Hawthorn* will be your best natural ally! Here’s how to make hawthorn flower tea to relieve symptoms of menopause, including irritability and night sweats:
- 1 liter of water
- 15 grams of hawthorn flowers
Boil the water, then add the hawthorn blossoms. Leave to infuse for 10 minutes. Drink 2 cups a day of this herbal tea, and you can make a cure of it for 20 days to overcome the symptoms of menopause.
*Warning: hawthorn is contraindicated for people with heart problems and should never be consumed by pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor before starting any form of treatment.
10. Reduce night sweats naturally
Menopause comes with its share of inconveniences, including night sweats, among others. Fortunately, there are some natural products to help you feel and sleep better.
One of these products is evening primrose oil*, a plant that helps regulate female hormones. Available in liquid or capsule form, you can take 1 teaspoon or 4 capsules, 3 times a day with meals.
*Warning: as evening primrose oil is often suggested to women at the end of pregnancy to help soften the cervix, it is strongly advised not to consume it before the 37th week of pregnancy.
If you also have a problem with sweaty hands, quickly read our advice here: How to stop having sweaty palms?