Glossitis according to Chinese Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Glossitis factsheet
Possible causes and remedies:
Recommended formula: Qing Wei San and one other formula
Symptoms: Anxiety Vertigo Sweating and twenty nine other symptoms
Recommended formula: Liu Wei Di Huang Wan and five other formulas
In Chinese Medicine, glossitis can be associated with two so-called "patterns of disharmony". Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted. It is not equivalent to the Western concept of "disease", as a matter of fact here glossitis can be caused by two different patterns.
To understand whether someone's glossitis might be caused by a given pattern, one needs to look for signs and symptoms associated with the pattern beyond what one might typically experience from glossitis alone. For instance when glossitis is caused by the pattern Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat, patients also experience symptoms such as toothache, headaches, breast distention and breast lumps. Similarly, patients with Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat typically exhibit floating (Fu) or slippery (Hua) pulses as well as a red tongue with yellow coating.
We've listed below a description of the two patterns associated with glossitis so that you can start to get an understanding of the various possibilities according to Chinese Medicine.
Once identified, patterns are often treated using herbal formulas. Drinking herbal infusions is the most common remedy in Chinese Medicine, together with acupuncture. Here we detail below four formulas that can help treat the various patterns associated with glossitis, depending on which pattern fits your profile.
The two "patterns of disharmony" associated with glossitis
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat
Pulse type(s): Floating (Fu), Slippery (Hua)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red
Recommended herbal formulas: Qing Wei San, Yu Nu Jian
Glossitis might be due to Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as toothache, headaches, breast distention and breast lumps. Similarly, patients with Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat typically exhibit floating (Fu) or slippery (Hua) pulses as well as a red tongue with yellow coating.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Tongue shape: Cracked
Recommended herbal formulas: Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, Zuo Gui Wan, Zhi Bo Di Huang Wan, Bai Zi Yang Xin Tang, Qi Bao Mei Ran Dan, Yu Nu Jian
Symptoms: Anxiety Vertigo Sweating Tinnitus Insomnia Back pain Tiredness Lassitude Dizziness Bone ache Depression Infertility Malar flush Poor memory Constipation Night sweats Little sperm Restlnessness Five palm heat Lower back pain Evening anxiety Poor constitution Diminished hearing Nocturnal emissions Scanty dark urination Premature ejaculation Menopausal hot flushes Excessive sexual desire Dry mouth and throat at night Feeling of heat in the evening Low-grade fever in the afternoon Thirst with desire to drink in small sips
This pattern often accompanies Kidney Essence Deficiency, as Kidney Yin includes Essence. When both element are depleted in the Kidneys, not enough Marrow is generated to fill the Brain, thus the symptoms of dizziness, tinnitus, vertigo and poor memory. The dizziness is mild and the tinnitus is often gradual and slow, like a rushing water sound. Marrow is also essential for nourishing the bones, thus the pattern also leads to symptoms like back and bone pain.
Essence Deficiency also gives rise to symptoms like nocturnal emissions, infertility or little sperm.
Body Fluids is also a form of Yin, therefore Yin Deficiency causes some degree of Dryness, resulting constipation, scanty dark urine as well as a dry mouth and throat, especially at night.
When Kidney Yin Deficiency proceed for a long time without being treated properly, it can develop some Empty Heat symptoms such as night sweats, five palm heat, feeling of heat or fever in the afternoon or evening, malar flush, thirst but only with desire to drink in small sips and anxiety in the evening.
The four herbal formulas that might help with glossitis
Yu Nu Jian
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Drains Heat from the Stomach. Nourishes Yin.
Why might Yu Nu Jian help with glossitis?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help with the patterns Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat and Kidney Yin Deficiency which are sometimes associated with glossitis. If any of these patterns look like something you might suffer from, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Qing Wei San
Source date: 1336 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Drains Stomach Fire. Cools the Blood. Nourishes the Yin.
Why might Qing Wei San help with glossitis?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat, a pattern sometimes associated with glossitis. If it looks like you might suffer from Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Zhi Zi Chi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 2 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat. Alleviates restlessness and irritability.
Why might Zhi Zi Chi Tang help with glossitis?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with glossitis. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Yu Nu Tang
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Drains heat from the Stomach. Nourishes the Yin.
Why might Yu Nu Tang help with glossitis?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with glossitis. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Symptoms related to glossitis
Toothache Headaches Sweating Back pain Diminished hearing Dry mouth and throat at night Lower back pain Constipation Scanty dark urination Infertility
