Sliminess in the mouth

A slimy or sticky feeling in the mouth. Sliminess in the mouth is often associated with bitter taste in the mouth, sweet taste in the mouth, or especially bland taste in the mouth. It is attributed to cold-damp encumbering the spleen, damp-heat obstructing the center, or phlegm-heat obstruction.

Patterns

Cold-damp encumbering the spleen (寒湿困脾 hán shī kùn pí) causes a sticky slimy sensation in the mouth, bland taste in the mouth, absence of thirst, no thought of food and drink, fullness and oppression in the stomach duct, fatigue and lack of strength, thin sloppy stool, inhibited urination, pale enlarged tongue, and a white slimy watery glossy tongue fur, and a moderate soggy pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Transform turbidity with aroma; fortify the spleen and dry dampness. Use Patchouli Qì-Righting Powder (藿香正气散 huò xiāng zhèng qì sǎn) or Stomach-Calming Powder (平胃散 píng wèi sǎn).

Damp-heat obstructing the center (湿热阻中 shī rè zǔ zhōng) causes a sticky slimy dry sensation in the mouth, foul turbid breath, inability to taste ingested food, dry mouth with no desire to drink, fullness and distension in the stomach duct and abdomen, grimy sloppy stool, reddish or yellow urine, red tongue with slimy yellow tongue fur, and a soggy rapid or stringlike rapid pulse. A sweet taste in the mouth indicates that the damp-heat is mostly in the spleen and stomach, whereas bitter taste in the mouth with rib-side pain indicates damp-heat affecting the liver and gallbladder.

Medicinal therapy: Clear heat and transform dampness. Use Three Kernels Decoction (三仁汤 sān rén tāng) or Patchouli, Pinellia, and Poria Decoction (藿朴夏苓汤 huò pò xià líng tāng). If there is a sweet taste in the mouth, apply the method of repelling foulness with aroma and arousing the spleen; use Sweet Dew Toxin-Dispersing Elixir (甘露消毒丹 gān lù xiāo dú dān) or Basil Drink (兰香饮子 lán xiāng yǐn zi). If there is a bitter taste in the mouth with rib-side pain, use Gentian Liver-Draining Decoction (龙胆泻肝汤 lóng dǎn xiè gān tāng) or variations of Coptis and Officinal Magnolia Bark Beverage (连朴饮 lián pò yǐn).

Phlegm-heat obstruction (痰热阻滞 tán rè zǔ zhì) causes a sticky slimy sensation in the mouth with thirst but no desire to drink, fullness and oppression in the chest and diaphragm, heart vexation, yellow sticky phlegm that is difficult to expectorate, torpid intake and reduced eating, red tongue with dry slimy yellow tongue, and a slippery rapid pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Clear heat and transform phlegm. Use Coptis Gallbladder-Warming Decoction (黄连温胆汤 huáng lián wēn dǎn tāng).