What causes dry mouth and parched tongue, and how to resolve it?
May 21, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. He Haochen
Introduction
Dryness of the mouth and tongue may be related to factors such as dry climate, emotional distress, and yin deficiency of the liver and kidneys. It can be improved by adjusting the environment, talking about one's feelings, medication, and other approaches. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, a dry climate can lead to insufficient body fluids and impaired lung moisture, possibly causing symptoms such as dry mouth, sore throat, and throat dryness. It is recommended to appropriately increase water intake when in a dry climate.
Dryness of the mouth and tongue may be related to factors such as dry climate, emotional distress, or deficiency of liver and kidney yin. This condition can be improved by adjusting the environment, talking to others, medication, and other methods. Specific analysis is as follows:
1. Dry Climate
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a dry climate can lead to insufficient body fluids and impaired moistening function of the lungs, possibly causing symptoms such as dry mouth and throat, sore throat, etc. It is recommended to increase water intake appropriately in dry environments. When necessary, using a humidifier can help improve environmental conditions and prevent worsening symptoms.
2. Emotional Distress
Emotional distress may cause stagnation of qi flow, impairing the liver's ability to regulate bodily qi, leading to symptoms such as dry and bitter mouth, dry throat, and tongue. It is advisable to learn to express feelings and communicate with others in daily life to prevent symptom exacerbation due to unresolved emotions.
3. Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency
Deficiency of liver and kidney yin may result in insufficient yin fluids in the body, allowing excessive internal heat to damage the liver and kidneys. Patients commonly experience symptoms including dark, scanty urine, fatigue, dry mouth, and sore throat. Treatment may include medications such as Long Dan Xie Gan Wan (Dragon胆Liver-Draining Pills) or Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan (Anemarrhena, Phellodendron, and Rehmannia Pill), taken under medical guidance.
In addition to the above common causes, dryness of the mouth and tongue may also be associated with spleen and stomach weakness, deficiency of both qi and blood, internal retention of dampness or turbidity, or internal blood stasis. Because many different factors can cause dry mouth and tongue, treatment approaches vary depending on the underlying cause. It is recommended to promptly visit a hospital and work with a doctor to identify the specific cause and receive standardized, targeted management.
