Speaker: David Hoffmann. Causes of xerostomia include medications, systemic diseases, depression and irradiation of the salivary glands.  Information on differential diagnosis of  salivary hypofunction is included and clinical effects are described.  Salivary function can be stimulated by physiological or pharmacological means.  Plant alkaloids are described which enliven and stimulate the salivary glands.  A list of sialogogues (plants which stimulate salivation) is included.  An active compound from Heliopsis has been found to be beneficial.