Recurrent mouth ulcers, what causes them?
Disease description:
I often experience symptoms of oral ulcers due to excessive internal heat (fire), accompanied by sore throat and swelling. I would like to understand what commonly causes frequent excessive heat (fire) leading to oral ulcers?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. He Haochen
The main causes of frequent heatiness and oral ulcers include the following factors:
1. **Constitutional factors**: Individual body constitution may predispose one to heatiness, particularly those with a yin deficiency and yang excess constitution, who are more prone to symptoms of heatiness.
2. **Dietary irritation**: Long-term consumption of spicy, greasy, or irritating foods, such as chili peppers, ginger, and fatty meats, may irritate the oral mucosa and lead to oral ulcers.
3. **Emotional factors**: Prolonged stress, depression, or anxiety may impair liver function, particularly the liver's ability to regulate the smooth flow of qi, leading to excessive liver fire and subsequent oral ulcers.
4. **Lifestyle habits**: Irregular作息 (作息 should be translated as作息 here means "rest and work patterns" or "sleep patterns") such as frequent late nights and insomnia with excessive dreams may cause endocrine imbalances, increasing the risk of heatiness and oral ulcers.
The causes of frequent heatiness and oral ulcers are complex and varied, requiring comprehensive consideration of factors such as body constitution, diet, emotional state, and lifestyle habits. Patients with concerns are advised to seek timely medical consultation.
