Tongue Diagnosis is a tool used in Chinese medicine practice to assess patients' health. Each organ in the body has a connection to the tongue, allowing practitioners to identify issues in particular organ systems. Below is a summary of the characteristics observed and their meanings.
Tongue Shape
- A swollen tongue indicates “qi deficiency,” which may manifest as fatigue or impaired digestion.
- A small or thin tongue can indicate either “blood deficiency” or “yin deficiency,” correlating to anemia, hot flashes, and insomnia.
Tongue Body The color of the tongue body indicates the body's internal temperature.
- A normal tongue color is light red or pink.
- A pale tongue suggests internal cold and may be associated with painful menstruation or cold limbs.
- A red tongue signifies heat, indicating quick anger and wearing short sleeves even when it’s cold outside.
- A purple tongue indicates blood stagnation, often accompanied by pain in the organ corresponding area of the tongue.
Tongue Coat The coating on the tongue primarily reflects the condition of the digestive system lining.
- A normal tongue has a thin white coat, reflecting a healthy digestive system and normal gut flora.
- A thick tongue coat suggests sluggish digestion (constipation, irregular bowel movements).
- A thick white coat points to an issue of “cold” in the gastrointestinal tract (overconsumption of dairy or cold foods).
- A thick yellow coat indicates “heat” or inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.
- A peeled or cracked tongue coat suggests insufficient lining or flora in the digestive system.
Take a look at your tongue and see what it reveals. Did you come up with the right diagnosis?
Ted Ray
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