Observing the tongue is an important part of TCM diagnosis and treatment because the changes reflected in the tongue

often precede our own feelings of discomfort.

The tongue can serve as a prompt or warning

and is therefore referred to as the “mirror of disease”.

In daily life, how can we self-monitor our health status through tongue observation to achieve the goals of preventing disease before it occurs and treating diseases early? Let’s follow along!

Method 1: Observe SizeEnlarged Tongue: Indicates excess moisture or phlegm-dampness in the body;

Thin Tongue: Indicates deficiency of body fluids and qi-blood deficiency.

Method 2: Observe Color

By looking at the color of the tongue body beneath the coating, a normal healthy tongue is generally light red.

Pale or White Color: Indicates a cold and deficient constitution, with insufficient qi and blood;

Red Color: Indicates possible heat in the body;

Purple or Dark Color: Indicates qi stagnation and blood stasis, possibly related to conditions such as hyperplasia, cysts, fibroids, or tumors.

Method 3: Observe Coating

In TCM, the tongue coating is formed by the upward steaming of stomach qi, and a normal tongue has a thin white coating that is evenly distributed.

No Coating: Indicates insufficient body fluids and poor spleen-stomach function, commonly seen in diabetes patients and those who often stay up late;

Thick White Coating: Indicates internal dampness and cold, with poor spleen-stomach transformation function;

Yellow Greasy Coating: Indicates internal damp-heat.

Furred Coating: The tongue coating is mostly peeled off, leaving only a small amount remaining, indicating insufficient stomach yin and loss of body fluids;

Cracked Tongue: Indicates depletion of body fluids and poor spleen-stomach transformation function.

Method 4: Observe Location

The different areas of the tongue: tip, middle, root, and sides correspond to different organs. When a certain organ has issues, corresponding changes may appear in the related area of the tongue.

Tip of the Tongue: Corresponds to the upper jiao, reflecting the condition of the heart, lungs, throat, and thyroid;

Middle of the Tongue: Corresponds to the middle jiao, reflecting the condition of the spleen and stomach;

Root of the Tongue: Corresponds to the lower jiao, reflecting the condition of the kidneys;

Sides of the Tongue: Correspond to the positions of the liver and gallbladder, reflecting diseases in these areas.

Based on the above correspondences, we can timely understand the conditions of our internal organs. Below are some common tongue appearances.

Red Tip of the Tongue—— Indicates excess heart fire;Red Middle of the Tongue—— Indicates disharmony of the spleen and stomach, with stomach fire;Red Sides of the Tongue—— Indicates excess liver and gallbladder fire;Yellow Thick Coating at the Root—— Indicates damp-heat in the lower jiao;Sunken Tip of the Tongue—— Indicates heart and lung qi deficiency, may present with symptoms like chest tightness and shortness of breath;Obvious Cracks in the Middle of the Tongue—— Indicates insufficient stomach yin;White Greasy Coating in the Middle of the Tongue—— Indicates spleen deficiency with excess dampness, commonly seen in children with food accumulation;Sunken Middle of the Tongue with Raised Sides—— Indicates liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency, commonly seen in women with breast hyperplasia, depression, and emotional instability.

Doctor’s Reminder: Each person’s tongue appearance is often not a singular manifestation; it requires comprehensive analysis, overall assessment, and reference to other symptoms to make an accurate judgment.

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