Dry mouth in Grenoble: understanding xerostomia with Chinese medicine

A pasty mouth on waking, a constant need to drink, cracked lips, difficulty swallowing dry food: dry mouth (xerostomia) is common and often dismissed. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is a direct indicator of the state of the body's Fluids.

Why dry mouth? The view of Chinese medicine

In TCM, the organic fluids (Jin Ye) are produced and distributed by the Spleen, the Lung and the Kidney. When Heat consumes them — summer, fever, stress, heating foods — or when Yin is depleted, the mouth dries out. Xerostomia is therefore rarely a local problem: it is a thermometer of the body's deep water reserves.

Two pictures frequently seen in practice

Heat consuming the fluids (dry mouth with intense thirst)

Thirst for cool drinks, dry mouth and throat, dark urine, a sensation of heat. Worse in summer or after rich meals.

**Tongue**: red, dry coating · **Pulse**: rapid

Yin or Blood deficiency (chronic dryness)

Dry mouth especially at night, without much thirst, dry lips and skin, dry eyes, fatigue, light sleep.

**Tongue**: pale red, no coating · **Pulse**: fine, rapid

What traditional Chinese medicine offers

Acupuncture

Points of the mouth and throat; points that nourish Yin (Kidney, Spleen).

Dietetics

Hydrate regularly, favour moistening foods (pear, honey, millet, tofu, broths) and limit dry and spicy foods, alcohol and excess coffee.

Lifestyle

Breathe through the nose, avoid drying air conditioning, sleep enough — Yin is recharged at night.

Acupuncture points most often used for this complaint: RM23, RM24, R3, E36, GI4.

The combined approach of sophrology and Chinese medicine in Grenoble

Traditional Chinese medicine and sophrology complement each other: the former acts on the body's energetic balance, the latter on the nervous system and stress management. Combining the two makes it possible to treat the terrain — the one that maintains the symptom — and the emotional state that accompanies it. In Grenoble, at the Centre Équilibre, this combined approach is built session after session, according to your profile.

Frequently asked questions

Is dry mouth always harmless?

No. Lasting dryness may point to a salivary problem, a medication effect or an autoimmune disease: medical advice is necessary.

Why is it worse at night?

In TCM, night is the time of Yin: when it is weak, dryness expresses itself more.

Is drinking more enough?

Drinking helps, but if the Spleen and the Kidney do not retain the fluids, dryness returns. It is the terrain that we work on.

Learn more

→ [TCM practitioner in Grenoble](/praticien-en-medecine-traditionnelle-chinoise-a-grenoble)

→ [Chinese medicine and sleep in Grenoble](/medecine-chinoise-et-sommeil-a-grenoble)

→ [Acupuncture in Grenoble](/l-acupuncture-a-grenoble)

**Ghislaine Morin**, traditional Chinese medicine practitioner and sophrologist, welcomes you at 29 Quai Claude Bernard, 38000 Grenoble. Book on 06 24 90 04 98 or online at https://calendly.com/centre-equilibre-sophrologie

Discover the practice in Grenoble : www.sophrologue-grenoble.fr/medecine-chinoise-a-grenoble-38000-38100