What causes dry mouth, bitter taste, and body itching?
Nov 28, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Wenmin
Introduction
In general, symptoms such as dry mouth, bitter taste, and body itching may be caused by insufficient water intake leading to "internal heat," consumption of spicy or irritating foods, bile reflux gastritis, diabetes, or damp-heat in the liver and gallbladder. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and receive appropriate treatment under a doctor's guidance. Maintain a regular daily routine and avoid staying up late to prevent加重 metabolic stress on the body.
Generally, dry mouth, bitter taste, and body itching may be caused by insufficient water intake leading to internal heat, consumption of spicy and irritating foods, bile reflux gastritis, diabetes, or damp-heat in the liver and gallbladder. It is recommended to seek timely medical attention, identify the underlying cause, and receive symptomatic treatment under a doctor's guidance. Specific analyses are as follows:
1. Insufficient water intake causing internal heat: Prolonged inadequate water intake leads to deficiency of body fluids, which can easily trigger internal heat, resulting in dry and bitter mouth, as well as dry, itchy skin. It is recommended to maintain a daily water intake of 1500–2000 mL, drinking small amounts of warm water frequently to avoid overburdening the kidneys with excessive single-time hydration.
2. Spicy and irritating diet: Long-term consumption of spicy foods such as chili peppers and garlic can irritate gastrointestinal mucosa and skin nerves, causing dry and bitter mouth and body itching. Adjust dietary habits to focus on light foods, increase intake of hydrating and heat-clearing fruits and vegetables like pears and watermelon, and discontinue eating spicy and irritating foods.
3. Bile reflux gastritis: Poor gastrointestinal motility causes bile reflux, leading to dry and bitter mouth; refluxed substances may also stimulate the body and cause skin itching. Patients may follow medical advice to take medications such as domperidone tablets, hydrotalcite chewable tablets, and omeprazole enteric-coated capsules to enhance gastrointestinal motility and reduce reflux.
4. Diabetes: Elevated blood glucose alters osmotic pressure, causing dry and bitter mouth; a high-sugar environment stimulates skin nerve endings, resulting in itching. Patients should follow medical instructions to use medications such as metformin sustained-release tablets, glimepiride tablets, and insulin injection solution to strictly control blood glucose levels.
5. Damp-heat in the liver and gallbladder: Metabolic abnormalities in the liver and gallbladder lead to accumulation of damp-heat, obstructed bile excretion causing dry and bitter mouth, and overflow of damp-heat along meridians resulting in skin itching. Patients may follow medical advice to take Yinzhihuang oral liquid, Longdan Xiegan pills, or anti-inflammatory and cholagogic tablets to eliminate internal damp-heat.
Maintain regular daily routines and avoid staying up late, which may worsen metabolic stress. When experiencing body itching, clean the skin with lukewarm water and apply a gentle moisturizer, avoiding scratching to prevent skin damage and infection. Take a light walk after meals to promote gastrointestinal motility and improve digestive function.
