Ancient Chinese Secrets: Body Odors That Are Trying To Tell You Something

Jun 01, 2018 by apost team

Chinese Medicinal practices have been able to decipher what actually causes unusual body odors. Most often, they can tell us quite a lot about our body’s makeup and overall health. 

How Can Eastern Medicine Do This? 

The traditions inherent in Chinese Medicine focus on the healing of the body and mind or as it is referred to in the Chinese culture, yin and yang. These are defined as opposing factors that co-exist to create a healthy life energy balance. From this foundation, Chinese herbalist, acupuncturists, and medicinal experts hone in on bodily smells that may be emanating from a patient. This gives them the information they need to pinpoint the source. Beyond seeing a medical professional on your own, there are 7 types of body odor that you can pay attention to for signs of unhealthy bodily functions: 

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According to the nutritionist, Dr. Arnold Susser, the main job of our digestive system is to fend off body toxins that could wreak havoc in our intestinal walls leading to adverse absorption of nutrients and your “gut bacteria” is off. When you have an unhealthy digestive function, symptoms such as halitosis and chronic gas will occur. Introducing food such as miso soup, Greek yogurt, and sauerkraut will replenish necessary probiotics. 

Practitioners of Chinese medicine believe our heart is central to our brain activity and consciousness. If there is activity that leads to a disproportionate amount of stress in our lives, then it will manifest itself in an obvious body odor. Cortisol, known as the “stress hormone” is overly produced in our body when we feel great stress or anxiety. This can manifest as a smoky or burning smell emanating from a person’s skin related to the fire element represented in Chinese culture. Finding a way to manage stress and eliminate this smell could be to develop healthier emotions toward social relationships

Chinese medicine relates these two body organs to the element of wood in nature. Wood in ancient Chinese culture represents the flow of the body’s functions as well as the activity of planning and making decisions. There are physical symptoms associated with specific body smells as well as emotional symptoms that are related to this issue. First, a person could be giving off a rancid odor that even may appear as oilier skin. At the same time, they could be chronically irritable and angrier than usual. Eliminating alcohol and greasier foods from your diet can curb the symptoms and balance these organs.

If you appear to have a sweet smell, then it could be associated with an imbalance of the fluids within your spleen. In Chinese medicine, this organ represents the earth as a natural element, and is directly related to keeping thoughts and intentions intact and flowing smoothly. The earth element is one that is supposed to keep a person linked to the earth. Foods that are considered “damp” like dairy, soy, pork, and low-fat foods should be avoided in order to alleviate the unwanted smell associated with spleen imbalance. 

This can be a particularly pungent smell associated with the lungs and large intestines, and one that is identified with the element of metal in Chinese medicine. It is also directly associated with not letting go of one’s negative emotions. These emotions ‘fester” and manifest as a rotting smell. In order to renew the balance in both of these areas of the body, a person must let go of negative feelings. This means being mindful of participating in activities such as taking long walks to clear your mind and soul. 

These organs are represented in the water element related to regeneration and birth. These are activities that take up an enormous amount of energy, so they are associated with being extremely tired and emotionally fearful and giving up. This is exhibited as a putrid smell like ammonia or even the smell of salt/sea water. To regain balance, practice energy-inducing things like running to eliminate the smell. 

A rancid or even a sweet smell can be the result of not dealing with feelings in a healthy manner. If you “eat” your emotions instead of letting them out, they will not be properly processed and may come out as body odor. Talking with a therapist or a trusted friend/family member, or even meditating could help resolve this. 


Being mindful of these symptoms and making a few lifestyle changes can lead to a healthier life for you. If a loved one exhibits tell-tale signs of body odor related to these issues, telling them about this may lead to making a huge difference in their life as well. 

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!