Name: Li.

Sex: Male.

Age: 58 years.

Occupation: A teacher.

Chief Complaint: Salt taste of mouth for 1 month.

History of Present Illness: One month ago, the patient got a salt taste in his mouth without any obvious causes. Especially in every morning, when he got up, the salt taste became more obvious, as if keeping salt in his mouth. But it couldn't be swallowed down and spat out. In addition, it couldn't be relieved by eating or drinking. Then he went to the stomatological department of a hospital for treatment. He was treated with some common drugs such as "VitC,VitB（1） ,VitB（12） and so on. After 30 days' treatment, the salt taste was as same as before. Then he came to our hospital for treatment on November 28,1999. After the  illness  came  on, his  appetite, urination, defecation  and sleeping were all normal. There wasn't other complaint.

Physical Examination:  The patient was conscious with a normal general condition. The pulse was thready and soggy. The tongue was red with a thick layer of white fur. The mucous membrane of the oral cavity was normal. The teeth were all normal too. There wasn't other abnormal sign.

Diagnosis: Allotriogeustia in oral Cavity.

Differentiation:  It's deficiency of heart and kidney. The deficient heart-qi couldn't promote blood circulation effectively, then the blood circulation became unsmooth. As a result of it, the essential substance in the blood could not be normally trans ported. Furthermore, as a granary of the five internal organs, the deficient kidney couldn't normally gather the essential substance in it. As a result of it, some parts of the essential substance were washed away from the blood circulation and gathered in the oral cavity. Then the patient got the abnormal taste in his oral cavity.

Therapeutic Principle:  Invigorating qi and nourishing the heart ,warming kidney and restraining the excessive consumption of kidney-qi; invigorating spleen-qi and promoting the functional activities  of  middle Jiao  in  order  to  restore  the  normal coordination  between  the  heart  and  kidney.  If  there  was interpromotion between the fire and the water, Yin will be even and well during Yang being firm. The abnormal taste woulddisappear with ease.

Recipe :

    DangShen,Pilose Asiabell Root 30g

    BaiZhu,Bighead Atractylodes Rhizome 15g

    FuLing, Tuckahoe 20g

    TuSiZi,Dodder Seed 20g

    ShanYuRou,Dogwood Fruit 18g

    BuGuZhi, Psoralea Fruit 18g

    HuangI.ian,Coptis Root 8g

    ShanZhi,Capeiasmine Fruit 8g

    RouCongRong,Desertliving Cistanche 15g

    ShiChangPu,Grassleaved Sweetflag Rhizome 12g

    YuanZhi, Polygala Root 15 g

    ShanYao,Chinese Yam Rhizome 18g

    YiYiRen,Coix Seed 25g

    ZeXie,Oriental Water Plantain Rhizome 18g

    GanCao,Liquorice Root 6g

    All the above drugs were to be decocted in water for oral taking. 7  doses were prescribed. Hot and greasy food was forbidden. He should take the decoction in morning, afternoon and evening separately.