Avipattikara churna 1/2-0-1/2 tsp before meals Trikatu churna - pinch with honey Vidangasava -10-0-10 ml with water
HELLO HARI,
A persistent soil like taste in mouth (geophagy-like sensation) can happen in elderly due to digestion issues, oral/gum infections, sinus problems, or sometimes due to deficiencies like zinc, iron, or B12. Since your mother is 81, gentle, supportive Ayurvedic measures are best.
AYURVEDIC APPROACH
1) DEEPAN-PACHAN (improving digestion and clearing Ama) -give TRIKATU CHURNA= just a pinch with honey after meals twice daily -Or hingwastaka churna= 1/4 tsp with warm water before meals
2) ORAL CLEANSING -OIL PULLING= swish coconut oil in the mouth for 2-3 min in morning, then spit out -Grgle with triphala decoction daily
3) REJUVINATION FOR AGE AND TASTE -GUDUCHI GHAN VATI =2 tabs in moring
-AMALAKI CHURNA= 1 tsp with warm water for taste improvement
4) FOR METALLLIC/EARTHY TASTE BALANCE -Chew cardamom or clove after meals -warm water sipping throughout the day
THANK YOU
DR. HEMANSHU MEHTA
Soil like taste is due to imbalance in digestion along with pitta Dosha Start her on Avipattikara churna- half spoon before meals with water Giloyghan vati 1 tab twice daily after food With lukewarm water Amla juice - 10 ml with water at morning Triphala churna-1 tsp with warm water at night
Understanding that a persistent soil-like taste in the mouth can be discomforting, it often suggests an underlying imbalance. In Ayurveda, this could relate to an imbalance of the Kapha dosha or a weakened Agni (digestive fire). Given her age and marginally high sugar levels, let’s approach this gently and holistically.
Firstly, encourage detoxification. She might benefit from sipping warm water with a pinch of ginger powder in the morning. This assists in balancing Kapha and enhancing Agni without causing drastic changes. Ayurveda suggests Triphala churna, known to cleanse and rejuvenate, as a night-time remedy. Dissolve half a teaspoon in warm water before bed.
Diet also plays a crucial role. Let her meals be light, warm, and easy to digest. Incorporate spices like cumin, turmeric, and asafetida, which stimulate Agni and aid digestion. Avoid heavy, oily, or cold foods that can aggravate Kapha. A simple mung dal soup with vegetables could be soothing yet nutritious.
As for lifestyle adjustments, ensure adequate hydration throughout the day, but avoid excessive fluid intake with meals, which might dilute digestive enzymes. Gentle yoga or breathing exercises like Pranayama can help improve energy flow and balance doshas.
Regular oral hygiene is essential. She can rinse her mouth with a pinch of salt in warm water or try oil pulling with sesame oil for a few minutes in the morning. These methods can help clear any oral residue affecting taste perception.
Should symptoms persist, or if the situation worsens, consulting a healthcare professional is recommended. This approach respects her current health status and employs Ayurveda’s wisdom gently, targeting potential imbalances causing this unique symptom.
From an Ayurvedic point of view, the sense of taste (rasa) is closely related to the doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha). A change in taste can indicate an imbalance in one or more of these doshas. The sensation of a “soil-like” taste could be associated with an imbalance in the Kapha and Vata doshas.
Kapha Imbalance: An excess of Kapha can lead to a heavy, earthy, or sticky sensation in the mouth. This is often associated with poor digestion (ama) and a sluggish metabolism.
Vata Imbalance: Vata is responsible for the nervous system and sensory perception. An imbalance in Vata can lead to altered sensations, including a distorted sense of taste. The feeling of tastelessness (no rasa) could be linked to this.
The timing of the symptoms (increasing in the afternoon) could also be a clue. The late afternoon and early evening are considered the Vata time of day. This suggests that the Vata dosha may be a significant factor.
Potential Ayurvedic Remedies (for general information only, not medical advice):
Dietary Adjustments:
Focus on warm, cooked, and easily digestible foods. Avoid cold, raw, or heavy foods, as these can increase Kapha and ama.
Incorporate pungent, bitter, and astringent tastes. Spices like ginger, black pepper, and turmeric can help stimulate digestion and balance Kapha. Bitter herbs like neem or triphala can help cleanse the system.
Hydration is key. Encourage your mother to drink warm water throughout the day.
Herbal Support:
Triphala: This is a classic Ayurvedic formula for cleansing the digestive system and balancing all three doshas.
Ginger: Chewing on a small piece of fresh ginger with a pinch of salt before meals can help stimulate taste buds and improve digestion.
Trikatu: A combination of ginger, black pepper, and long pepper, this blend is excellent for improving digestion and metabolism.
Lifestyle Changes:
Daily routine (Dinacharya): Establishing a regular routine for meals and sleep can help balance the doshas.
Gentle exercise: Simple activities like a daily walk can help improve circulation and digestion.
Important Note: The fact that your mother’s sugar levels are “just above normal” is an important piece of information. Elevated blood sugar levels can be a sign of prediabetes or diabetes, which can also affect taste and sensation. This is another reason why it happens . They can rule out any underlying medical conditions and provide a comprehensive treatment plan that takes all aspects of her health into account.
The sensation of a soil-like taste may often relate to imbalances within the body’s natural elements and energies. In the Siddha-Ayurvedic tradition, this can be an indication of disturbances in the Pitta dosha or imbalances in Agni, your digestive fire. A soil-like taste can sometimes be linked to digestive issues or mineral absorption problems. Let’s focus on restoring balance and improving your mother’s taste sensation.
First, adjusting her diet can bring relief. Encourage her to include flavors like sweet, bitter, and astringent, which balance Pitta. Cooling, hydrating foods like cucumber, coriander water, and aloe vera juice can be soothing. Avoid overly spicy, sour, or salty foods that may aggravate the Pitta dosha further.
Triphalia is a renowned herbal formulation known for its benefits in correcting digestive disorders and improving taste sensation, as it enhances Agni without overheating. One teaspoon of Triphala powder can be taken with warm water before bed, unless there’s any digestive discomfort.
Practicing oil pulling using sesame or coconut oil can help cleanse the mouth and enhance taste. Each morning, guide her to swish a tablespoon of oil for about 10-15 minutes before spitting it out and rinsing thoroughly.
Ensuring adequate hydration is key too, as Pitta imbalances can be aggravated by dehydration; aim for good-quality water intake throughout the day.
Consider incorporating pranayama practices like Shitali Pranayama, which can literally cool the system and bring balance to Pitta.
If symptoms persist despite these measures, it may be worthwhile to conduct a broader evaluation by consulting an Ayurvedic practitioner for personalized assessment, as they can provide insights into specific requirements rooted in her unique prakriti. Ensuring she isn’t experiencing any signs of underlying health concerns that need conventional treatment also remains important.
HELLO HARI,
Your mother feels as if her mouth tastes like soil or mud. This is called altered taste (medical term= dysgeusia) . Because of this, she cannot enjoy food properly.
WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN? -In elderly age, saliva production decreases -> mouth feels dry, taste buds do not work properly. -Nutritional deficiencies- zinc, vitamin b12, iron= can disturb taste sensation -Stomach or digestion issues- low digestive fire, acidity, gas, constipation -Dental or oral problems- gum disease, infection, tongue coating -Sinus or throat condition may drip mucus into the mouth , giving a bad taste -Sometimes medications or aging changes in nerves can alter taste.
AYURVEDIC UNDERSTANDING -Taste is controlled by rasendriya (sense of taste) which depends on Agni (digestive fire) -A soil/earthy taste meals Kapha dosha dominance with weak agni -old age itself is a Vata-predominant stage of life, but here kapha and ama (toxins) seem to be affecting the taste buds -So, treatment aims at Agni deepana (digestive fire stimulation), Ama pachana (removing toxins), kapha balancing, and rasayana (rejuvination)
TREATMENT GOALS -remove the cause -improve digestion and metabolism -restore natural taste and appetite -correct deficiencies if present -rejuvenate body and mind for long term wellness
INTERNAL MEDICINES
1) TRIKATU CHURNA= 2gm with honey, twice daily before meals for 6 weeks =improves digestion, burns ama, reduces kapha
2) AVIPATTIKAR CHURNA= 1 tsp with warm water at bedtime if acidity/constipation present =balances pitta, clears bowel, reduces sour/bad taste
3) DRAKSHARISHTA= 15ml with equal water after meals for 2 months =improves digestion, strengthens liver, improves appetite
4) CHYAWANPRASHA= 1 tsp daily with warm milk =rasayana, improves immunity, rejuvinate taste buds
5) YASHTIMADHU POWDER= 1 gm with honey if mouth feels dry =soothes mucosa, improves salivation
EXTERNAL CARE
1) OIL PULLING- swish 1 tbsp sesame or coconut oil in mouth for 5-10 minutes every morning, then spit =cleans mouth, removes bad taste, strengthens gum
2) GARGLE= with warm water + turmeric + pinch of rock salt, once daily =antibacterial, reduces coating and soil taste
3) TONGUE CLEANING= gently scrape tongue daily with copper or stainless steel scraper
LIFESTYLE AND DAILY ROUTINE -wake up early, drink a glass of warm water -do mild walking in sunlight for 15-20 minutes daily -avoid afternoon sleep, as it increases kapha -ensure 7-8 hours of night sleep -keep stress low-> taste disturbances can worsen with stress
YOGA ASANAS -vajrasana after meals -trikonasana -tadasana -bhujangasana =improves digestion
PRANAYAM -Kapalbhati - 100 strokes -Anulom vilom= 10-15 min daily -bhramari for relaxation
MEDITATION OR CHANTING -to reduce stress and improve mental clariy
DIET AND HOME REMEDIES -prefer light, warm ,freshly cooked meals -use spices like ginger, cumin, black pepper, turmeric, ajwain - to kindle agni -Avoid heavy foods : curd at night, fried, oily, sweets, stale food -drink cumin - fennel- coriander water - boiled and cooled slightly through the day -chew a small piece of fresh ginger with rock salt before meals -tulsi leaves or clove chewing occasionally for taste improvement -include zinc and iron rich foods pumpkin seeds, sesame , jaggery, dates, leafy greens
-This condition is not dangerous but affects quality of life -With proper care, taste can improve within 4-6 weks -The key is to correct digestion clean oral cavity and rejuvinate taste buds -Ayurveda provides both symptomatic relief and root correction through Agni improvement , kapha balance, and Rasayana support
DO FOLLOW
HOPE THIS MIGHT BE HELPFUL
THANK YOU
DR. MAITRI ACHARYA
