Heavy sweating: What supplements and medicines can and cannot do

Excessive sweating can be frustrating and uncomfortable.

There is not enough reliable evidence to recommend a general supplement routine as a treatment for hyperhidrosis.

A nutrient's role in normal body function does not mean that taking extra will reduce sweating. Likewise, research suggests that a substance may affect stress or sleep, but it does not automatically follow that it will treat excessive perspiration.

If a clinician identifies a nutritional deficiency, treating it may be appropriate for your health. That is a different decision from taking supplements specifically to stop sweating.

What about sage?

Sage has been studied for menopausal hot flashes, but those findings should not be generalized to all forms of excessive sweating.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes the research as limited. A few small studies suggest possible benefits for hot flashes, but firm conclusions about its health effects cannot yet be drawn.