Xerostomia (Dry Mouth)

How Chinese medicine differentiates dry mouth, the five patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Acupuncture only — no herbs.

This page is educational, for practitioners and students — it is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace a proper in-person assessment. Persistent dry mouth can be a medication side effect or a sign of a systemic condition (e.g. Sjögren's syndrome, diabetes) and needs medical evaluation before acupuncture is considered.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for dry mouth — 9 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
KI-3	Tonifies the Kidneys (Yin and Yang). Strengthens Essence.
BL-23	Tonifies the Kidneys and nourishes Kidney-Essence.
ST-44	Clears Heat. Regulates the Intestines and resolves Damp-Heat.
L.I.-4	Expels exterior Wind. Benefits the eyes, nose, ears and mouth.
L.I.-11	Clears Heat and cools Blood. Resolves Dampness.
KI-6	Nourishes Kidney-Yin. Benefits the throat.
Ren-12	Tonifies Stomach and Spleen. Resolves Dampness and Phlegm.
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen. Tonifies Qi and Blood.
SP-9	Regulates the Spleen. Resolves Dampness.
BL-20	Tonifies Spleen and Stomach. Resolves Dampness.
SP-6	Strengthens the Spleen. Nourishes Blood and Yin.

The Five Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Kidney-Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: A dry mouth and throat, worse at night; lower back soreness; night sweats; heat in the palms, soles and chest; dizziness; tinnitus.

Tongue: Red, thin, little or no coating, dry surface, possible cracks. Pulse: Fine, Rapid, weak at the left rear position.

Treatment principle: Nourish Kidney-Yin, supplement Liver and Spleen Yin, benefit Essence and fill the Marrow.

KI-3 ↑ BL-23 ↑

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Kidney-Yin deficiency.

2. Stomach Fire View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Intense thirst craving cold drinks; a burning stomach sensation; foul breath; red, swollen, bleeding gums; excessive hunger.

Tongue: Red with central prickles, thick dry yellow coating. Pulse: Rapid, Slippery, forceful, strong at the right middle position.

Treatment principle: Clear Stomach-Heat, cool the Blood and nourish Yin.

ST-44 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓

Note: no moxa. Matches Stomach-Heat (or Phlegm-Heat) — thirst for cold liquids, foul breath and excessive hunger are shared, near-verbatim hallmarks.

3. Kidney-Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: A dry mouth worse at night; thirst for small sips only; night sweats; five-palm heat; a red, dry tongue with cracks.

Tongue: Red, thin, dry, little or no coating, possibly cracked. Pulse: Fine, Rapid, weak at the rear position.

Treatment principle: Nourish Yin, clear deficiency-Heat and nourish Kidney-Yin specifically.

KI-3 ↑ KI-6 ↑ BL-23 ↑

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Kidney-Yin deficiency, Empty-Heat blazing.

4. Damp-Heat in Stomach and Spleen View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: A sticky, slimy mouth sensation despite dryness; thirst with little desire to drink; a bitter taste; a heavy body and limbs; loose, sticky stools; abdominal bloating.

Tongue: Red, possibly swollen, teeth marks, thick yellow greasy coating at the centre and root. Pulse: Soggy, Rapid, often Slippery.

Treatment principle: Clear Heat and drain Dampness, regulate Qi and harmonize the Middle Burner.

Resolve Damp-Heat

Ren-12 ↓ SP-9 ↓

Support Stomach

ST-36 ⊥

Note: no moxa. Matches Damp-Heat in the Stomach — \"thirst without desire to drink\" appears in both, almost verbatim.

5. Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: A dry mouth with no desire to drink; fatigue; a poor appetite with bloating; loose stools; a pale complexion.

Tongue: Pale, puffy, tooth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Weak, soft, Empty at the right middle position.

Treatment principle: Tonify the Middle and augment Qi, raising sunken Yang to lift fluids to the mouth.

ST-36 ↑ BL-20 ↑ SP-6 ↑

Note: moxa applicable. Direct match with Stomach- and Spleen-Qi deficiency.

Related conditions

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