There are many causes of bad breath, so different treatment methods should be adopted for different reasons. The following can be summarized for treatment:
1. Lung and stomach heat: External pathogens obstruct the lung and stomach, causing upward movement of lung and stomach heat, resulting in bad breath, dry nose, red and swollen throat, yellow nasal discharge, thin and rapid pulse, red tongue, and little coating.
Treatment principle: Clear heat and eliminate fire.
Prescription: Modified Aloe Vera Decoction: Aloe vera 10g, licorice 5g, Ophiopogon japonicus 10g, mulberry twig 10g, red peony 10g, balloon flower root 6g, peppermint 5g, schizonepeta 10g, and rhododendron 10g.
2. Stomach fire: Symptoms include bad breath, dry mouth, red and swollen gums, good appetite but always hungry, red tongue with yellow coating and little saliva, and slippery and rapid pulse.
Treatment principle: Clear heat and eliminate fire.
Prescription: Modified Clear Stomach Powder: Coptis chinensis 6g, Rehmannia glutinosa 20g, Paeonia suffruticosa, Agastache rugosa 10g, and Perilla stem 10g (pre-decocted).
3. Intestinal heat and constipation: Symptoms include constipation, bad breath, short red urine, restlessness, red tongue with yellow or dry coating, and slippery and rapid pulse.
Treatment principle: Nourish yin, clear heat, and promote bowel movement.
Prescription: Modified Minor Coptis Decoction: Rheum palmatum 15g, Paeonia lactiflora 10g, Fructus aurantii 10g, Magnolia officinalis 10g, Agastache rugosa 10g, Rehmannia glutinosa 20g, and Areca catechu 10g.
4. Kidney yang deficiency: Symptoms include bad breath, thin body, weak waist and knees, dry mouth, and dry throat.
Treatment principle: Nourish yin and tonify kidney.
Prescription: Modified Left Returning Decoction: Rehmannia glutinosa 10g, Dioscorea opposita 20g, Lycium barbarum 10g, Dioscorea opposita 10g, Paeonia suffruticosa 10g, Ophiopogon japonicus 10g, and Eucommia bark 10g.
In addition, systemic diseases can also cause bad breath, such as rhinitis, pulmonary abscess, hemoptysis, pulmonary tuberculosis, diabetes, and uremia, which can all cause different types of bad breath.
Physiological factors such as alcohol consumption, hunger, smoking, excessive talking, and stress can also cause simple bad breath. The most common cause is the consumption of stimulating foods such as garlic, leeks, onions, curry, and alcoholic beverages, which can circulate through the blood and be exhaled as an unpleasant odor.
For patients with mild bad breath, a mixture of 3g of Agastache rugosa, 1.5g of peppermint, 6g of white chrysanthemum flower, a small amount of green tea, and boiling water can be used as a tea. This can help freshen breath by providing a pleasant aroma, promoting digestion, moistening the mouth, quenching thirst, and eliminating turbidity.
Taboos: Especially during medication, avoid eating large amounts of onions, leeks, garlic sprouts, tea eggs, egg yolks, oily fried foods such as fried dough sticks and fried pork ribs, oranges, chocolate ice cream water, etc.
It is worth mentioning that dieting can also cause bad breath due to the consumption of body fat reserves, resulting in the production of acetone odor. Another cause is genetic, and some women may experience or worsen bad breath during menstruation. Some medications can also cause bad breath. Therefore, when treating bad breath, it is important to first identify the cause, remove the focus of the disease, eliminate inflammation, and use appropriate medication based on the different causes.
