Dry Mouth & Throat

口乾咽燥 / 口干咽燥

Dryness of the mouth and throat, frequently due to yin deficiency, residual heat or insufficient body fluids.

Quick Facts

Health Topic	Constitution Care
Also Known As	Dry mouth, Dry throat, Thirsty mouth, Parched throat, Mouth and throat dryness
Common Symptoms	A persistent dry sensation in the mouth and throat, sometimes with a desire to sip fluids. The dryness may be worse at night or on waking, and can come with a hoarse voice or sticky saliva that is hard to swallow. Lips may also feel dry or cracked.
Related TCM Patterns	Yin Deficiency · Damp-Heat · Stomach Heat · Lung Heat · Summer Heat · Wind-Heat · Blood Deficiency · Blood Stasis · Heart Fire · Qi Deficiency · Qi Stagnation · Kidney Yin Deficiency
Related Classical Formulas	Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang · Sang Xing Tang · Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang · Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang · Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang · Liu Yi San · Ge Gen Qin Lian Tang · Yi Wei Tang · Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang · Huang Lian Jie Du Tang · Qing Shu Yi Qi Tang · Bai Tou Weng Tang · Mai Men Dong Tang · Zeng Ye Tang · Xiao Ji Yin Zi · Suan Zao Ren Tang · Liang Ge San · Xin Yi Qing Fei Tang · Sheng Mai San · Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang · Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang · Yu Nv Jian · Dao Chi San · Ba Zheng San · Chai Hu Gui Zhi Gan Jiang Tang · Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan · Bai Hu Tang · Yi Guan Jian · Gan Lu Yin · Yu Quan San · Mai Wei Di Huang Wan

Dry Mouth & Throat in Traditional Chinese Medicine

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, dry mouth and throat may be associated with Lung Heat, Wind-Heat or Yin deficiency patterns. Differentiation looks at whether there is fever and sore throat, a dry cough, night heat and a red tongue with scant coating, or acute onset after wind exposure. Classical formulas are matched to these pattern features rather than to dryness alone. Accompanying signs such as tongue appearance, pulse quality and the presence of heat or cold help distinguish one presentation from another.

TCM Patterns Associated With Dry Mouth & Throat

The same presentation may be understood through more than one pattern. Pattern differentiation weighs the accompanying signs, not the symptom on its own.

Pattern	Common Features	Related Formulas
Yin Deficiency陰虛證Deficiency Patterns	Dry mouth and throat, night sweats or warm palms and soles, a thin body frame, and restlessness that is worse in the afternoon or at night. Sleep may be light, and there is often a preference for cool drinks. Symptoms feel empty rather than forceful. Tongue red with scant coating; pulse thin and rapid.	Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang Yi Wei Tang Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang Mai Men Dong Tang Zeng Ye Tang Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan Yi Guan Jian Yu Quan San
Damp-Heat濕熱證Damp Patterns	A heavy body with a sense of heat, sticky or bitter taste in the mouth, scanty dark urine, and discomfort that worsens in hot humid weather. There may be greasy skin, sticky stools, or yellowish discharge. Thirst is present but drinking may not feel satisfying. Tongue red with a yellow greasy coating; pulse slippery and rapid.	Ge Gen Qin Lian Tang Huang Lian Jie Du Tang Bai Tou Weng Tang Ba Zheng San
Stomach Heat胃熱證Heat Patterns	Burning or discomfort in the epigastrium, thirst with preference for cold drinks, bad breath, and a tendency toward constipation or dry stools. The gums may feel swollen or sore, and appetite can be strong yet unsettled. Tongue red with a yellow coating, possibly dry in the centre; pulse slippery and rapid.	Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang Liang Ge San Yu Nv Jian Bai Hu Tang Gan Lu Yin
Lung Heat肺熱證Heat Patterns	Cough with yellow or sticky phlegm, thirst, a feeling of heat in the chest, and possible shortness of breath or flaring of the nostrils in stronger presentations. Fever may be present without marked chills, and the throat can feel sore or dry. Tongue red with a yellow coating; pulse rapid, possibly slippery.	Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang Xin Yi Qing Fei Tang
Summer Heat暑熱證Exterior Patterns	Fever or a strong sense of heat after exposure to hot weather, heavy sweating, thirst, and fatigue or heaviness of the body. There may be irritability, scanty dark urine, and a preference for cool drinks. Symptoms often start in high summer. Tongue red with a dry yellow coating; pulse rapid and possibly soft or large.	Liu Yi San Qing Shu Yi Qi Tang
Wind-Heat風熱證Exterior Patterns	Fever that is more noticeable than chills, mild sweating, sore throat, thirst, and a cough that may be dry or with yellow phlegm. The onset is often abrupt after exposure to wind or heat. Nasal discharge can turn yellow, and the face may look flushed. Tongue tip red with a thin yellow coating; pulse floating and rapid.	Sang Xing Tang Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang
Blood Deficiency血虛證Deficiency Patterns	A pale or sallow complexion, dry hair or skin, light-headedness on standing, blurred vision, and easy fatigue. In women the menstrual flow is often scanty and pale. Sleep may be light, and the hands and feet can feel numb when tired. Tongue pale and thin; pulse thin and weak.	Suan Zao Ren Tang
Blood Stasis血瘀證Stagnation Patterns	Fixed, stabbing or piercing pain that does not move freely, often worse at night or with pressure. The complexion may look darker or purplish, and in women the menstrual flow can be dark with clots. Lips or nails may appear dusky. Tongue dark or with purple spots or congested veins under the tongue; pulse choppy or wiry and hesitant.	Xiao Ji Yin Zi
Heart Fire心火證Heat Patterns	Restlessness, insomnia with vivid dreams, a red tip of the tongue, and sores on the tongue or mouth in stronger cases. There may be a bitter or dry mouth, dark scanty urine, and a sense of heat in the chest. The person feels agitated rather than merely tired. Tongue red at the tip; pulse rapid, possibly forceful.	Dao Chi San
Qi Deficiency氣虛證Deficiency Patterns	Easy fatigue, shortness of breath on mild effort, a soft or low voice, and spontaneous sweating with light activity. The complexion is often pale, and recovery after exertion is slow. There may be a tendency to catch external pathogens more easily. Tongue pale with a thin white coating; pulse weak or empty.	Sheng Mai San
Qi Stagnation氣滯證Stagnation Patterns	Distension, tightness or a constrained feeling in the chest, flanks or abdomen that comes and goes with emotion or stress. Frequent sighing, a sense that emotions are hard to move, and in women premenstrual breast or lower abdominal discomfort are common. Symptoms often ease after movement, expression or belching. Tongue may be normal or slightly dusky; pulse wiry.	Chai Hu Gui Zhi Gan Jiang Tang
Kidney Yin Deficiency腎陰虛證Deficiency Patterns	Soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, tinnitus or dizziness, night sweats, warm palms and soles, and dry mouth or throat that is worse at night. Sleep may be light, and the person often prefers cool drinks. The frame may be thinner. Tongue red with little coating; pulse thin and rapid.	Mai Wei Di Huang Wan