Bad breath 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.

What is bad breath?

Bad breath, medically called halitosis, is when noticeably unpleasant odour emanates from the breath.

What causes bad breath according to TCM?

There are 4 patterns of disharmony in our database that are associated with bad breath. TCM sees our body (and mind) as a holistic system in which health issues stem from imbalances, known as "patterns of disharmony". These patterns can manifest in a wide range of symptoms and illnesses, such as bad breath here.

Most of the patterns associated with bad breath are "Full" (also called "Excess") in nature. This means that according to TCM bad breath is more likely to be an acute condition, caused by an excess of pathological factors or substances that overwhelm the body's defensive capabilities.

For more details on the underlying causes and patterns behind bad breath, refer to this comprehensive page on the subject.

Herbal formulas used in TCM for bad breath

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Individual herbs used in TCM for bad breath

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Acupuncture and acupressure points for bad breath

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TCM dietary and lifestyle recommendations that might help with bad breath

Section coming soon...