Sweating is a common physiological and pathological phenomenon in the human body. Pathological sweating is most likely to occur when the balance of Yin and Yang is disturbed and the heart and lungs are out of order. There are many phrases describing sweating in the

Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic

which can be divided into three categories

indicating the state of profuse sweating

the time or cause of sweating

the degree and the prognosis of sweating

all with brief and concise concepts. However

the meaning of "Corporeal Soul (Po) Sweat" has been interpreted differently by medical practitioners throughout the ages

and a unified understanding of its meaning has yet to emerge.The meaning and clinical significance of "Corporeal Soul(Po) Sweat" is discussed in relation to the original text of the

Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic

and its understanding and clinical practice by later medical practitioners. "Corporeal Soul Sweat" should be interpreted as a severe degree of sweating

emphasizing the depletion of essence with a poor prognosis. In cases of prolonged sweating or profuse sweating

or even abnormalities of the corporeal soul (Po) such as abnormal limb movements

dulled perception and dysfunction of the organs

the major treatment should be to tonify the essence.