Traditional Chinese medicine believes that changes in taste and taste are closely related to health. It is not only a tool for tasting food but also a clue to diagnosing diseases. “San Yin Fang” mentions: “The mouth is the gateway of the whole body, the way through which nourishment enters and exits.” Shen Jiyuan, a tongue diagnosis expert in the Ming Dynasty, emphasized the connection between the tongue and internal organs, pointing out that internal organ diseases can be manifested through taste abnormalities.
When there is a sour taste in the mouth, it may be due to the excessive heat of the liver and gallbladder affecting the spleen, with accompanying symptoms including slightly yellow tongue coating, postprandial abdominal distention, nausea, and even chest tightness and rib pain. This may be a precursor to gastritis or digestive tract ulcers, and a comprehensive examination of the stomach is recommended.
If there is a sweet taste in the mouth, it is usually related to an imbalance in spleen and stomach function, especially when digestive system disorders lead to abnormal enzyme secretion, resulting in increased amylase in saliva, stimulating the taste buds to produce a sweet taste. Diabetics may also experience a similar sweet sensation due to elevated blood sugar.
Bitter taste in the mouth is often related to liver-gallbladder damp-heat or stomach heat, often caused by bile reflux, requiring attention to the health of the stomach and gallbladder. Cravings for late-night snacks, spicy foods, and insufficient gastric motility in the elderly can all lead to a bitter taste in the mouth.
If there is a spicy taste in the mouth, it indicates heat in the lungs or rising stomach fire, commonly seen in patients with hypertension, neurosis, and menopausal syndrome, accompanied by symptoms such as coughing, yellow phlegm, and others.
A salty taste in the mouth may indicate insufficient kidney yin, with various symptoms such as soreness and weakness in the lower back and legs, dizziness, tinnitus, etc., associated with conditions like chronic nephritis and neurosis.
As for a bland taste in the mouth, it is often related to weakness in the spleen and stomach and may occasionally occur during colds. As the condition improves, taste perception gradually returns.
If the mouth feels sticky, it is usually related to dampness obstructing the spleen or overeating greasy foods. Consuming Job’s tears porridge can help alleviate this condition.
A salty taste, a fishy taste (specific to lung diseases), sudden loss of taste (possibly a precursor to stroke), and other abnormal taste perceptions such as bad breath, good breath, dryness in the mouth, may all reflect different health issues, such as diabetes, indigestion, oral diseases, and even severe late-stage diseases.
A decrease in taste sensitivity naturally occurs with age, closely related to factors such as taste bud degeneration, reduced saliva secretion, and poor dental conditions. Therefore, paying attention to changes in taste is not only a detail of enjoying life but also a window to monitor health, aiding in early detection and prevention of diseases.
