bubble_chart Concept

The sweet taste in the mouth, also known as "kou gan," was first mentioned in Suwen. Qibing Lun states: "There are those who suffer from a sweet taste in the mouth... This is an overflow of the five qi, known as spleen heat disease." However, "spleen heat disease" is the name of the disease, while "sweet taste in the mouth" is merely one of the symptoms of "spleen heat disease." It should not be assumed that a sweet taste in the mouth is equivalent to "spleen heat disease."

bubble_chart Pattern Analysis

1. Spleen-stomach Heat Steaming︰Sweetness in the mouth, dry mouth with desire to drink, increased appetite with frequent hunger, or sores on the lips and tongue, dry stools, yellow urine, red tongue with yellow and dry coating, rapid and forceful pulse. This condition often arises from excessive consumption of spicy, greasy, or sweet foods, which generate internal heat, as stated: "Greasy foods cause internal heat, sweet foods lead to fullness in the philtrum, hence the rising of qi overflows," resulting in sweetness in the mouth. Alternatively, it may be due to exposure to external dampness-heat, which accumulates in the spleen and stomach, clashes with grain qi, and rises to cause sweetness in the mouth. Clinically, it is accompanied by symptoms such as thirst with a desire to drink, increased appetite with frequent hunger, or sores on the lips and tongue, dry stools, red tongue with dry coating, and rapid, forceful pulse. The treatment principle focuses on {|###|}clearing heat and purging fire{|###|}. For mild cases, Yellow-Draining Powder can be used. For cases with bowel excess, Rhubarb and Coptis Heart-Draining Decoction may be modified and applied.
2. Deficiency of Both Qi and Yin in the Spleen and St︰Sweet taste in mouth, poor appetite, dry mouth with little desire to drink, mental fatigue and lack of strength, distension in the epigastric and abdominal regions, irregular bowel movements, dry and slightly red tongue with scant coating, and thin weak pulse. This condition often arises in the elderly or those with prolonged illness, damaging the spleen and stomach, leading to deficiency of both qi and yin, internal generation of deficient heat, and scorching of spleen fluids, resulting in a sweet taste in the mouth. Clinically, it manifests as dry mouth with little desire to drink, accompanied by shortness of breath and lack of strength, poor appetite, distension in the epigastric and abdominal regions, and either loose or dry stools. Treatment should focus on tonifying qi, invigorating the spleen, harmonizing the stomach, and nourishing yin. Zhang Shi-wan used tonifying the middle and replenishing qi, removing Bupleurum and Cimicifuga, and adding Basil Herb and roasted Pueraria Root for treatment. Alternatively, Seven-Ingredient White Atractylodes Powder can be used with additions such as Chinese Yam, Dendrobium, and Lotus Seed.

Spleen stomach heat steaming and spleen stomach qi yin deficiency: a sweet taste in the mouth is a symptom of spleen heat. The former condition is characterized by excessive heat, while the latter is characterized by deficient heat. The former is mainly manifested by dry mouth and a desire to drink, constipation, dark yellow urine, a red tongue with yellow coating, and a rapid and forceful pulse. The latter is mainly manifested by poor appetite, mental fatigue and lack of strength, a red tongue with little coating, and a thin and rapid pulse. In treatment, the former can be addressed by direct repulsion with bitter cold, while the latter should be treated by tonifying qi and enriching yin for gradual regulation.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Shiyi Dexiao Fang: "Spleen cold with a sweet taste in the mouth."
2. Zhangshi Yitong: "Sweet taste in the mouth, ... if the pulse is wiry and slippery accompanied by epigastric upset, it belongs to phlegm-fire, Rolling Phlegm Pill, this refers to excess fire."