【From Spleen Qi Deficiency to Blood Stasis: What Stage Does Your Tongue Indicate?】
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) often states that “the spleen is the foundation of postnatal life,” but modern lifestyles characterized by prolonged sitting and irregular eating habits frequently raise red flags for spleen and stomach health. Did you know? From the initial stage of spleen deficiency to severe blood stasis, the body sends out 5 warning signals through the tongue. Stick out your tongue in front of a mirror and see which stage you are at!
▍Stage One: Spleen Qi Deficiency — Depressed Center of the Tongue
Tongue Characteristics: The center of the tongue (corresponding to the spleen and stomach area) is noticeably depressed.
Body Signals: Abdominal distension after meals, feeling heavy all over as if filled with lead, and stools that are consistently unformed.
Regulation Key: Start with Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction), with Dang Shen (Codonopsis), Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes), and Fu Ling (Poria) working together to “recharge” the spleen and stomach.
▍Stage Two: Spleen Yang Deficiency — White and Greasy Coating on the Tongue
Tongue Characteristics: The surface of the tongue appears covered with a layer of snow, and the tongue body is swollen and slippery.
Body Signals: Abdominal pain from drinking cold water, hands and feet feeling like ice, and acid reflux becoming a daily occurrence.
Regulation Focus: Use Shen Qi Li Zhong Tang (Ginseng Decoction to Regulate the Middle) to warm Yang and dispel cold, like installing a “small sun” in the spleen and stomach.
▍Stage Three: Spleen Deficiency with Dampness — Tooth Marks on the Edges of the Tongue
Tongue Characteristics: The edges of the tongue appear serrated, and the coating is slippery and greasy.
Body Signals: Waking up with a “puffy face,” legs feeling heavy as if filled with lead, and recurrent eczema outbreaks.
Dampness Elimination Plan: Use Shen Ling Bai Zhu San (Ginseng, Poria, and Atractylodes Powder) with modifications, where Fu Ling (Poria) and Yi Yi Ren (Job’s Tears) act as a “dehumidifier.”
▍Stage Four: Spleen Deficiency with Phlegm-Damp — Thick Greasy Coating with Cracks on the Tongue
Tongue Characteristics: The coating is so thick it cannot be scraped off, with a prominent crack resembling the “Great Rift Valley” in the center.
Body Signals: Persistent phlegm in the throat, feeling heavy-headed as if wrapped in a wet towel, and the face being oily enough to fry food.
Solution: Use Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang (Aromatic Sand Six Gentlemen Decoction) to clear phlegm and dampness, with Chen Pi (Dried Tangerine Peel) and Ban Xia (Pinellia) working together to “sweep away phlegm turbidity.”
▍Stage Five: Spleen Deficiency with Blood Stasis — Prominent Veins Under the Tongue
Tongue Characteristics: The veins under the tongue appear like purple earthworms, with “starry spots” of stasis on the tongue surface.
Body Signals: Sharp pain in the stomach like being pricked by needles, stools that are black like tar, and unexplained bruising.
Ultimate Alarm: Use Ba Zhen Tang (Eight Treasure Decoction) combined with Shi Xiao San (Sudden Smile Powder), with Huang Qi (Astragalus) and Dang Gui (Angelica) promoting blood circulation without harming the upright Qi.