Bitter Taste In The Mouth in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Understanding different bitter taste in the mouth patterns according to TCM theory

Educational content Consult qualified practitioners for medical advice

Condition Categories

6
TCM Patterns
34
Formulas
Overview
What causes it 6 TCM patterns documented
How to recognize Symptoms specific to each bitter taste in the mouth pattern
Classical remedies 34 herbal formulas documented

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) sees a bitter taste in the mouth as an indication of imbalance within the body’s internal landscape. According to TCM, this symptom is not isolated but connected to the state of the internal organs, especially the Heart, Pericardium, Liver and Gallbladder.

Recognizing the specific disharmony causing this taste is crucial for TCM practitioners to provide an accurate and effective treatment plan, as it reflects the health of the body’s Qi, or vital energy.

TCM Patterns for Bitter Taste In The Mouth

Heat

Causes: Bitter taste in the mouth

21 variations documented
Damp-Heat
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Fever, Neck gland swelling, Headaches, Tight feeling in chest and stomach, Sticky taste in the mouth, Absence of thirst,

Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Hypochondriac pain, Hypochondriac distention, Nausea or vomiting, Fat malabsorption, Dull yellow complexion, Scanty and dark urine,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Damp-Heat in the Liver
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Hypochondrial fullness and distention with pain alleviated by warmth, Abdominal fullness, Lower abdominal fullness, Sticky taste in the mouth, Loss of appetite, Nausea,

Damp-Heat invading the Spleen
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Loss of appetite, Feeling of heaviness, Dry mouth without desire to drink, Nausea or vomiting, Malodorous diarrhea, Anal burning,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Heat in the Blood
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Feeling of heat, Red skin eruptions, Thirst, Frequent bleeding, Bloody sputum, Hematochezia,

Gallbladder Heat
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Alternating sensation of hot and cold, Thirst, Dry throat, Hypochondriac pain, Nausea, Upper abdominal fullness

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Half Exterior Half Interior
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Chest distension, Dry cough, Anxiety, Restlessness, Vomit, Loss of appetite,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Heart Fire blazing
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Palpitations, Thirst, Mouth ulcers, Tongue ulcers, Restlessness, Anxiety,

Heat in Lessor Yang
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Fever, Abdominal pain, Diarrhea, Sticky taste in the mouth, Malodorous diarrhea, Anal irritation,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Liver Fire Blazing
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Deafness, Temporal headache, Dizziness,

Liver Fire insulting the Lungs
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Shortness of breath, Asthma, Hypochondriac pain and discomfort, Cough with yellow or blood tinged sputum, Headaches, Dizziness,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Tremors, Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Deafness, Temporal headache,

Stagnant Liver Qi turning into Fire
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Hypochondriac distention, Upper abdominal distension, Stifling sensation in the chest, Irritability, Melancholia, Depression,

Pericardium Fire
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Palpitations, Stifling sensation in the chest, Insomnia, Thirst, Mouth ulcers, Tongue ulcers,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Phlegm Fire harassing the Pericardium
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Palpitations, Flushed face, Noisy breathing, Restlessness, Insomnia, Vivid dreaming,

Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Palpitations, Flushed face, Noisy breathing, Restlessness, Insomnia, Vivid dreaming,

Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Coughing, Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Stifling sensation in the chest, Sputum, Feeling of heat,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Heat in Gall Bladder
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Mild chills with high fever, Stifling sensation in the chest, Vomiting of sour fluids, Thirst, Hypochondriac pain and discomfort, Nausea,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Liver Qi Stagnation that transforms into Heat
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Intermittent upper abdominal pain, Hernia-Related pain, Dysmenorrhea exacerbated by hot food or drinks, Irritability, Peptic ulcer, Chronic gastritis,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Heat Excess in the Liver or Gallbladder
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Hypochondriac pain, Headaches, Dizziness, Red and irritated eyes, Hearing loss, Ear swelling,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Qi Stagnation in Gallbladder and Stomach with Phlegm Heat
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Nausea or vomiting, Vertigo, Vivid dreaming, Palpitations, Anxiety, Excessive hunger,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Mind Disturbance

Causes: Bitter taste in the mouth

4 variations documented
Heart Fire blazing
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Palpitations, Thirst, Mouth ulcers, Tongue ulcers, Restlessness, Anxiety,

Pericardium Fire
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Palpitations, Stifling sensation in the chest, Insomnia, Thirst, Mouth ulcers, Tongue ulcers,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Phlegm Fire harassing the Pericardium
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Palpitations, Flushed face, Noisy breathing, Restlessness, Insomnia, Vivid dreaming,

Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Palpitations, Flushed face, Noisy breathing, Restlessness, Insomnia, Vivid dreaming,

Phlegm

Causes: Bitter taste in the mouth

4 variations documented
Phlegm Fire harassing the Pericardium
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Palpitations, Flushed face, Noisy breathing, Restlessness, Insomnia, Vivid dreaming,

Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Palpitations, Flushed face, Noisy breathing, Restlessness, Insomnia, Vivid dreaming,

Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Coughing, Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Stifling sensation in the chest, Sputum, Feeling of heat,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Qi Stagnation in Gallbladder and Stomach with Phlegm Heat
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Nausea or vomiting, Vertigo, Vivid dreaming, Palpitations, Anxiety, Excessive hunger,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Dampness

Causes: Bitter taste in the mouth

4 variations documented
Damp-Heat
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Fever, Neck gland swelling, Headaches, Tight feeling in chest and stomach, Sticky taste in the mouth, Absence of thirst,

Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Hypochondriac pain, Hypochondriac distention, Nausea or vomiting, Fat malabsorption, Dull yellow complexion, Scanty and dark urine,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Damp-Heat in the Liver
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Hypochondrial fullness and distention with pain alleviated by warmth, Abdominal fullness, Lower abdominal fullness, Sticky taste in the mouth, Loss of appetite, Nausea,

Damp-Heat invading the Spleen
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Loss of appetite, Feeling of heaviness, Dry mouth without desire to drink, Nausea or vomiting, Malodorous diarrhea, Anal burning,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Qi Stagnation

Causes: Bitter taste in the mouth

3 variations documented
Stagnant Liver Qi turning into Fire
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Hypochondriac distention, Upper abdominal distension, Stifling sensation in the chest, Irritability, Melancholia, Depression,

Liver Qi Stagnation that transforms into Heat
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Intermittent upper abdominal pain, Hernia-Related pain, Dysmenorrhea exacerbated by hot food or drinks, Irritability, Peptic ulcer, Chronic gastritis,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Qi Stagnation in Gallbladder and Stomach with Phlegm Heat
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Nausea or vomiting, Vertigo, Vivid dreaming, Palpitations, Anxiety, Excessive hunger,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Wind

Causes: Bitter taste in the mouth

1 variation documented
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
How it presents with bitter taste in the mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth

Along with: Tremors, Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Deafness, Temporal headache,

Herbal Formulas for Bitter Taste In The Mouth

Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address bitter taste in the mouth

Wen Dan Tang

Addresses these bitter taste in the mouth patterns:

Heat Mind Disturbance Phlegm Qi Stagnation

Long Dan Xie Gan Tang

Addresses these bitter taste in the mouth patterns:

Heat Dampness Qi Stagnation

Zi Xue Dan

Addresses these bitter taste in the mouth patterns:

Heat Mind Disturbance Wind

Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang

Addresses these bitter taste in the mouth patterns:

Heat Mind Disturbance Phlegm

Zhi Bao Dan

Addresses these bitter taste in the mouth patterns:

Heat Mind Disturbance Phlegm

Hui Chun Dan

Addresses these bitter taste in the mouth patterns:

Heat Mind Disturbance Phlegm

Sheng Tie Luo Yin

Addresses these bitter taste in the mouth patterns:

Heat Mind Disturbance Phlegm

Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San

Addresses these bitter taste in the mouth patterns:

Heat Dampness

Lian Po Yin

Addresses these bitter taste in the mouth patterns:

Heat Dampness