What medication can treat a thick white coating on the tongue with scalloped edges?

Nov 10, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
A thick white coating on the tongue and scalloped edges are often associated with spleen and stomach deficiency and internal retention of dampness. Commonly used medications include Shen Ling Bai Zhu San, Ren Shen Jian Pi Wan, Xiang Sha Liu Jun Wan, Ping Wei Wan, and Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Shui. The primary effects of Shen Ling Bai Zhu San are strengthening the spleen and stomach, benefiting lung qi, and eliminating dampness. It enhances the digestive and transforming functions of the spleen and stomach, resolves internal dampness, and improves symptoms such as a thick white tongue coating, swollen tongue body, and scalloped tongue edges.

White and thick tongue coating with scalloped edges (also known as "scalloped tongue") is often associated with spleen-stomach deficiency and internal accumulation of dampness. Commonly used medications include Shenling Baizhu Powder, Renshen Jianpi Pills, Xiangsha Liujun Pills, Pingwei Pills, and Huoxiang Zhengqi Water. However, medication should be taken under the guidance of a physician. Specific details are as follows:

1. **Shenling Baizhu Powder**: Its primary functions are strengthening the spleen and stomach, benefiting lung qi, and eliminating dampness. It enhances digestive function, resolves internal dampness, improves symptoms such as white and thick tongue coating and an enlarged tongue with scalloped edges, and also relieves accompanying symptoms like poor appetite and loose stools.

2. **Renshen Jianpi Pills**: These focus on tonifying the spleen, boosting qi, harmonizing the stomach, and stopping diarrhea. They target internal dampness caused by spleen qi deficiency, nourish the body's vital energy, reduce dampness that affects the tongue coating, improve scalloped tongue, and alleviate symptoms such as fatigue, abdominal distension, and fullness.

3. **Xiangsha Liujun Pills**: These have combined effects of invigorating the spleen, enhancing qi, harmonizing the stomach, and removing dampness. They regulate the flow of qi in the spleen and stomach, promote metabolism of dampness, reduce white and thick tongue coating and tooth marks on the tongue edges, and are especially suitable for individuals with spleen-stomach deficiency accompanied by qi stagnation. They can also relieve belching and indigestion.

4. **Pingwei Pills**: Their main actions are drying dampness, invigorating the spleen, regulating qi, and harmonizing the stomach. They are effective in resolving dampness and turbidity in the spleen and stomach, improving thick, greasy white tongue coating and an enlarged tongue, and relieving discomfort such as abdominal fullness, nausea, and vomiting caused by dampness obstructing the spleen and stomach.

5. **Huoxiang Zhengqi Water**: This formula dispels exterior pathogens, resolves dampness, regulates qi, and harmonizes the middle burner. It is suitable for cases where white and thick tongue coating and scalloped tongue result from external contraction of wind-cold and internal retention of dampness. It rapidly eliminates dampness and relieves gastrointestinal discomfort, particularly appropriate for patients experiencing chills and diarrhea.

Medication should be based on accurate pattern differentiation; blind self-medication should be avoided. It is recommended to select appropriate medicines under the guidance of a licensed TCM practitioner, with dosage and treatment duration adjusted according to individual constitution. If symptoms do not improve after taking the medicine, timely follow-up consultation is necessary to adjust the treatment plan.