Painful blisters on the tongue
What is the cause of little blisters all over my tongue and how can I treat it?
What are the blisters on my tongue?
Small painful blisters/ pimples which appear on the tongue can be very uncomfortable as well as painful. They resemble small pimples or ulcers. Generally these can be attributed to a diet which is too acidic. The mouth is essentially part of the digestive tract and another possible cause may be inadequate digestive function. Other causes are Reflux, candida, digestive/ bowel stagnation, stress, poor mouth hygeine, and low levels of healthy digestive bacteria. In Chinese Medicine these inflammatory digestive complaints where there is heat and redness are associated with a decrease in liver function and an excess heat condition.
Natural therapies to soothe the digestive system and decrease acidity:
- Reduce acid forming foods such as tea, coffee, alcohol, soft drinks, dairy, wheat, sugar, preserved, processed, refined and tinned foods.
- Increase alkalising foods such as plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, water, lemon juice, vegetable juices, green barley powder, grains, nuts, seeds and green leafy vegetables.
- Eat cooling foods such as watermelon, cucumber, papaya, banana, grapefruit, brown rice, zucchini, yoghurt, pears and apples.
- Take a digestive enzyme supplement or eat more foods which contain naturally occuring digestive enzymes such as pineapple, papaya, beetroots, green leafy vegetables or lemon juice.
- Make a warm lemon and Manuka honey drink as these will not only improve digestion but Manuka honey contains anti-bacterial properties to improve mouth hygiene.
- Consider doing a liver detoxification diet to cleanse the blood and ensure that your liver and digestive functions are optimal.
- Make a paste out of a small amount of slippery elm powder and apply it to the areas of the tongue which are affected or alternatively add some to a small glass of water and swish it around the mouth before swallowing.
- Drink herbal teas to help increase water consumption and to also improve digestion and reduce acid. Some tasty teas are Peppermint, Chamomile, Ginger, Burdock, Dandelion and Lemon.
- Clear excessive wastes from the kidneys by ensuring that you are properly hydrated by drinking at least 2 litres of water/ day.
- Take 5ml of apple cider vinegar before meals as this helps to reduce digestive acidity.