Tongue diagnosis is a technique that can reveal the secrets of the body. Whether it is blood deficiency, qi deficiency, phlegm dampness, or blood stasis, one can get a general idea just by sticking out the tongue. The most enviable tongue type is the “Peach Blossom Tongue“. Generally speaking, a person with a balanced constitution has the most beautiful tongue appearance, which is a light red color resembling a peach blossom, with a thin white coating. This enviable tongue appearance is referred to as the “Peach Blossom Tongue”.
Tongue diagnosis, also known as observing the tongue, is an important method for diagnosing and understanding diseases by observing changes in the tongue’s appearance, which reflects the physiological functions and pathological changes of the body.
Tongue diagnosis is conducted in the order of tip – center – root – sides. First, observe the tongue body, then the coating, for about 30 seconds. If the initial observation is unclear, allow the patient to rest for 3-5 minutes before re-examining.
Below are commonly seen tongue coating charts in clinical practice. With these high-definition tongue diagnosis charts, you can understand health just by looking at your tongue! (There is a lot of content, please save it for slow comparison)
Tongue Shape and Surface1Red spots on the tongue – Excessive internal heat
If there are red spots or prickles on the tongue, it indicates excessive internal heat.
Red spots or prickles on the tip, center, and sides of the tongue represent excessive heart fire, gastrointestinal heat, and liver-gallbladder fire, respectively.
2Cracked tongue – Deficiency of essence and blood
Cracks on the tongue are generally uncovered by tongue coating, indicating deficiency of essence and blood.
A white tongue coating with cracks indicates essence and blood deficiency; a crimson and dry tongue with cracks indicates heat damaging body fluids.
3Teeth marks on the tongue – Yang deficiency
A pale tongue body and pale coating indicate spleen and kidney yang deficiency, with internal dampness and phlegm.
This tongue appearance is very soft, indicating a deficiency of yang energy and a decline in physical strength.
4Pale white tongue – Internal deficiency and cold
A pale and plump tongue is caused by deficiency of yang energy; a pale and thin tongue is caused by deficiency of qi and blood.
A pale tongue indicates a deficiency syndrome and cold syndrome.
5Red tongue – Presence of heat evil
A red tip with prickles indicates heart fire flaring up; a tongue that is red with a yellow and dry coating indicates internal excess heat; a red tongue body with little or no coating indicates yin deficiency and internal heat.
A red tongue indicates a heat syndrome, which may be due to excessive accumulation of heat in the body, while also observing if there are red spots on the tongue surface.
6Carmine tongue – Severe heat evil
A tongue that is red and dry with prickles or cracks indicates intense internal heat; a red and smooth tongue without coating indicates exhaustion of stomach and kidney yin.
This tongue appearance reflects the deep invasion of heat evil into the blood and nutrients, usually indicating depletion of body fluids, with deeper colors indicating more severe heat evil and more serious symptoms.
7Purple tongue – Poor blood circulation
A bluish-purple tongue indicates poor blood circulation; a purple tongue with a reddish hue may indicate excessive internal heat accumulation.
Cold syndrome, heat syndrome, or blood stasis syndrome may all present this tongue appearance, primarily caused by poor blood flow.
Tongue Size1Swollen tongue – Internal cold deficiency
Pay attention to the color of the tongue, the coating, and whether there are red spots on the surface.
A yellow coating on the tongue often indicates excessive heart and spleen heat; a swollen tongue with a dark purple color often indicates blood stasis obstructing the channels.
2Plump pale tongue – Weak yang energy
Due to weak yang energy, the warming and promoting functions are affected, leading to a weakened ability to distribute fluids, resulting in a plump and pale tongue.
A plump pale tongue indicates weak yang energy and retention of dampness.
3Thin red tongue – Lack of nutrition
A red tongue color indicates internal heat or inflammation; prolonged heat can damage body fluids, leading to depletion of nutrients.
A thin tongue is evidence of a lack of nutrition and moisture in the body.
4Thin pale tongue – Deficiency of both qi and blood
A thin pale tongue with noticeable coating often accompanies mild cold or digestive issues, indicating a weak constitution.
A thin pale tongue primarily reflects a pathological state of deficiency of both qi and blood, and malnutrition.
5Old tongue – Stalemate of righteous and evil
The tongue coating is yellowish-white or gray-black, often indicating a pattern of excess syndrome or heat syndrome.
An old tongue is commonly seen in the stage where the righteous and evil forces are at a stalemate, meaning the pathogenic qi is strong, but the body’s resistance is also robust.
6Delicate tongue – Low metabolic function
Often indicates deficiency syndrome, cold syndrome, or damp syndrome.
This tongue appearance is often seen in individuals with weakened internal organ function, low metabolic function, and poor resistance or weak constitution.
Thickness of Tongue Coating
1Thin coating – Mild condition
A thin white coating and a light red tongue are normal tongue appearances; a thin yellow coating primarily reflects the pathological characteristics of an initial heat syndrome.
2Thick coating – Gastrointestinal accumulation
If the tongue is red with a yellow, thick, and dry coating, it indicates heat in the qi level damaging yin; if it is a light red tongue with a thick, white, greasy coating, it indicates phlegm dampness, turbid dampness, or food stagnation.
3Dry coating – Damage to body fluids from vomiting and diarrhea
If the coating is merely dry and white, it indicates poor circulation of body fluids; if the coating is dry and yellow, it indicates intense stomach heat damaging body fluids; if the coating is dry and black, it indicates extreme heat damaging yin.
Dry coating generally indicates high fever, vomiting, and diarrhea damaging body fluids, and attention should also be paid to the color of the tongue itself.
4Rough coating – Deficiency of body fluids
If the dryness in the body becomes severe, one should be concerned about whether they have a chronic disease, such as hyperlipidemia or diabetes; additionally, individuals with asthma may experience difficulty breathing.
Rough coating indicates severe deficiency of body fluids.
5Slippery coating – Lack of energy
If the body experiences fatigue, lack of energy, and weakness, it indicates a state of various functional declines and reduced immunity.
Slippery coating indicates deficiency syndrome and cold syndrome, and attention should also be paid to the size of the tongue and the teeth marks on the edges.
6Greasy coating – Accumulation of dampness and turbidity
A white coating that adheres to the surface of the tongue indicates internal cold and dampness; if the coating is yellow, it indicates the presence of damp evil or phlegm turbidity transforming into heat.
Greasy coating indicates accumulation of dampness and turbidity, with yang energy being restrained, primarily indicating phlegm dampness and food stagnation.
7Putrid coating – Excessive internal heat
Be cautious of discomfort and infections caused by overeating.
Putrid coating is often associated with heat syndrome, primarily indicating food stagnation and phlegm dampness.
Color of Tongue Coating1White coating – Dampness and phlegm accumulation
A thin white coating is a normal tongue coating or indicates the initial stage of an exterior syndrome. A thin white and moist coating indicates internal cold syndrome; a thin white and greasy coating indicates dampness and phlegm.
Based on the moisture level and thickness of the tongue coating, it can be categorized into thin white coating, white slippery coating, white dry coating, and white powdery coating.
2Yellow coating – Transformation of cold into heat
A thin yellow coating indicates mild heat; a yellow coating indicates severe heat; a焦黄 coating indicates extreme heat; a yellow greasy coating indicates damp-heat syndrome.
A yellow coating indicates disease, primarily indicating spleen and stomach issues, internal syndrome, and heat syndrome.
3Gray coating – Dampness and turbidity obstruction
Once the tongue coating turns gray, it indicates that the disease has taken root in the body, and the condition has become serious.
A gray-white coating indicates cold dampness or dampness and turbidity obstruction; a gray-yellow and dry coating indicates internal heat, damaging body fluids.
4Black coating – Severe evil heat
A black dry coating indicates the influence of chronic diseases or inflammation; a black greasy coating indicates excessive accumulation of heat evil and dampness in the body.
Black coating indicates a more serious condition or a tendency for the condition to become chronic.
For specific conditioning methods, please pay attention to tomorrow’s article for detailed explanations!
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