What diseases do the five flavors in the mouth indicate?
As the saying goes, the nose smells fragrances and stenches, and the tongue tastes the five flavors. If one day everything tastes like chewing wax, life loses its meaning. Conversely, if you often have a strange taste in your mouth, such as sourness, bitterness, or sweetness, you should not take it lightly, as this is often a sign of certain diseases.
Sweetness in the mouth: Generally, a sweet taste is caused by "spleen heat," so it is mostly due to dysfunction of the spleen and stomach. Because digestive system disorders can lead to abnormal secretion of various enzymes, the increase of amylase in saliva stimulates the taste buds on the tongue, causing a sweet sensation. In addition, diabetic patients with elevated blood sugar also have increased sugar in their saliva, which often leads to a sweet taste in the mouth.
Sourness in the mouth: Traditional Chinese medicine believes that a sour taste is caused by "liver heat," mostly formed after the heat of the liver and gallbladder invades the spleen. Many people may also have symptoms such as a thin, yellow coating on the tongue, abdominal bloating after eating, nausea, and even chest tightness and rib pain. This indicates that you may have gastritis or digestive ulcers, and it is best to have a further stomach examination immediately.
Bitterness in the mouth: People with a bitter mouth are mostly caused by "damp-heat," common in "liver-gallbladder damp-heat" and "stomach heat." It is generally caused by bile reflux, so the stomach and gallbladder should be checked first. Some people who like late-night snacks or eat too much spicy food may also experience bile reflux causing a bitter taste. The elderly, due to poor gastric motility, are also prone to a bitter taste. Cancer patients often have symptoms of a bitter taste. Furthermore, some mental workers, due to high stress and irregular life and diet, lead to stagnant gastrointestinal function, and food stays in the stomach and intestines for too long, which can also easily cause a bitter taste.
Spiciness in the mouth: People with a spicy taste in the mouth or a numb, spicy sensation on the tongue are mostly caused by "lung heat congestion" or "stomach fire flaring upward." It is common in patients with high blood pressure, neurosis, menopausal syndrome, and long-term low fever, and is often accompanied by symptoms such as coughing and expectoration of thick, yellow phlegm, and a thin, yellow coating on the tongue.
Saltiness in the mouth: Saltiness is related to the kidneys, mostly caused by insufficient kidney yin and "deficiency fire rising." Some may also have symptoms such as soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, dizziness, tinnitus, "five-heart烦热" (heat sensation in the palms, soles, and chest), aversion to cold with cold limbs, mental fatigue, and frequent urination at night. It is common in chronic nephritis, neurosis, chronic pharyngitis, or oral ulcers.
It is especially important to emphasize that abnormal tastes are also related to many factors such as age, gender, emotions, environment, diet, and oral hygiene. Those who smoke, drink excessively, or have insufficient sleep may also experience taste abnormalities. Therefore, once you have an abnormal taste, it is best to see a doctor promptly for a diagnosis.