Is excessive salivation a sign of spleen deficiency and dampness?
Aug 11, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
In general, whether excessive salivation is caused by spleen deficiency with dampness accumulation can be determined by accompanying symptoms. If excessive salivation is accompanied by poor appetite, abdominal distension, and sticky bowel movements, it is often indicative of spleen deficiency with dampness accumulation. However, if there is only excessive salivation without other discomforts, and it is related to sleeping posture, it is usually not due to spleen deficiency with dampness accumulation. For daily management, it is recommended to consume more spleen-strengthening foods such as millet and lotus seeds, while avoiding raw, cold, sweet, or greasy foods to prevent exacerbation of dampness.
Generally, whether excessive salivation is due to spleen deficiency with dampness accumulation can be determined by accompanying symptoms. If excessive salivation is accompanied by poor appetite, abdominal distension, and sticky bowel movements, it is often indicative of spleen deficiency with dampness accumulation. However, if there is only excessive salivation without other discomforts, and it is related to sleeping posture, then it is usually not caused by spleen deficiency with dampness accumulation. Detailed analysis is as follows:
Spleen deficiency with dampness accumulation weakens the spleen and stomach's ability to transform and transport body fluids, leading to internal retention of dampness and affecting the normal distribution of fluids by the spleen and stomach, thereby causing abnormal increase in saliva secretion. In such cases, in addition to excessive salivation, symptoms such as significant post-meal abdominal distension, loss of appetite, and unformed, sticky stools that adhere to the toilet bowl often occur. Management should focus on strengthening the spleen and eliminating dampness.
When excessive salivation is caused by improper sleeping postures, such as sleeping on the stomach, which compresses the salivary glands, or by physiological stages such as teething, there are usually no symptoms like poor appetite or abdominal distension. The condition typically improves after adjusting sleeping posture or passing through the specific physiological stage, and it is unrelated to spleen deficiency with dampness accumulation.
Daily care may include consuming more spleen-strengthening foods such as millet and lotus seeds, while reducing intake of raw, cold, and sweet greasy foods to avoid worsening dampness. Maintaining good sleeping posture and engaging in moderate exercise, such as brisk walking or practicing Baduanjin (Eight Pieces of Brocade), can also promote spleen and stomach function and reduce abnormal excessive salivation.
