Bland taste in the mouth

Lack of taste in the mouth. Patients suffering from bland taste in the mouth differ from normal individuals with harmony of mouth in that food lacks flavor and eating leaves no pleasant taste in the mouth. It is attributed to spleen-stomach vacuity or to dampness obstructing the center burner. It may also be observed in patients suffering from aversion to cold with heat effusion due to external contraction of wind-cold.

Spleen-stomach vacuity (脾胃虚 pí wèi xū) causes bland taste in the mouth with no desire for food and drink, lassitude of spirit, shortness of breath, lack of strength, stomach duct glomus and abdominal distension, sloppy stool, a pale tongue with thin fur, and a weak moderate pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Boost qì, fortify the spleen, and harmonize the stomach. Use Costusroot and Amomum Six Gentlemen Decoction (香砂六君子汤 xiāng shā liù jūn zǐ tāng) plus scorch-fried millet sprout (Setariae Fructus Germinatus, 谷芽 gǔ yá) or barley sprout (Hordei Fructus Germinatus, 麦芽 mài yá).

Dampness obstructing the center burner (湿阻中焦 shī zǔ zhōng jiāo) causes inability to taste food, bland taste in the mouth associated with stickiness and sliminess, torpid intake, glomus and oppression in the chest and stomach duct, nausea and vomiting, sloppy stool, white slimy or yellow slimy tongue fur and a soggy pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Repel turbidity with aroma; transform dampness and awaken the stomach. Use Patchouli, Officinal Magnolia Bark, Pinellia, and Poria Decoction (藿朴夏苓汤 huò pò xià líng tāng) and Three Kernels Decoction (三仁汤 sān rén tāng).