Why Does My Tongue Feel Numb and My Mouth Taste Bitter?

In daily life, although people rarely observe their tongues, the color of the tongue and even the amount of tongue coating can indicate whether there are problems with the body. Sometimes, if our tongues feel numb and the mouth tastes bitter, it could very likely be caused by illness. For instance, some patients with cerebral infarction may experience inflexibility of the tongue due to blocked blood vessels. It is advisable to take note of such symptoms as numbness and bitterness in the tongue.

Firstly, Western medicine suggests that a bitter taste in the mouth is often due to poor gallbladder function, especially in patients with gallbladder diseases such as cholecystitis and gallstones. Other factors include poor gastric motility and the presence of inflammation in the esophagus, which can lead to bile reflux into the stomach, also causing a bitter taste. Additionally, people with irregular lifestyles, insufficient sleep and rest, and oral inflammation may also experience a bitter taste.

Secondly, traditional Chinese medicine attributes these symptoms mainly to damp-heat, which can be further categorized into damp-heat in the liver and gallbladder and stomach heat. Damp-heat in the liver and gallbladder can cause a bitter taste due to inflammation in these areas, while stomach heat can also produce a bitter taste.

Thirdly, some mental workers may experience these symptoms due to high work stress, improper and irregular diet, and lack of exercise. This can lead to sluggish gastrointestinal function, causing food to stay in the stomach and intestines for too long, which can easily produce damp-heat and cause a bitter taste.

It is important to avoid excessive fatigue and ensure adequate sleep. Maintain a good mood and avoid excessive stress and low mood. Additionally, it is essential to strengthen physical exercise and enhance the body's resistance.

1. Excessive Heat: If the tongue feels numb and accompanied by dry mouth, reduced saliva, and a dark purple tongue, it is mainly due to excessive heat toxicity. If the tongue appears light purple and moist, it indicates internal coldness.

2. Ischemic Cerebrovascular Disease: This type of disease can cause tongue numbness, with transient ischemic attacks being the main symptom. The primary cause is atherosclerotic narrowing of the arteries supplying blood to the brain. When thrombosis occurs in the carotid arteries, it can lead to narrowing of the lumen and decreased blood flow to the brain. In addition to tongue numbness, ischemic cerebrovascular disease may also manifest as tongue pain, local swelling, reduced tongue flexibility, numbness in one side of the body, difficulty speaking, weakness in limb movements, headache, dizziness, elevated blood pressure, and blurred vision.