The tongue, as one of the most flexible and multifunctional organs in the human body, allows us to express varied tones and helps us taste the sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy flavors of food. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), tongue diagnosis is a common diagnostic method within the “observational diagnosis” category;
“The tongue is the sprout of the heart, the external sign of the spleen, and the coating is produced by the stomach qi.”
According to TCM, observing the tongue color can reveal the nature of diseases and the balance of righteous qi; examining the tongue coating can differentiate the depth of pathogenic factors and the existence of stomach qi; further assessing its moisture and dryness can verify the changes of the six excess pathogenic factors and the consumption of body fluids.
By observing the color, shape, prickles, cracks, and flexibility of the tongue, one can uncover many hidden diseases within the body and understand one’s health status!
Tongue diagnosis primarily examines the tip, middle, root, and sides of the tongue,
What does a normal tongue look like?
A normal tongue should appear as follows: the tongue body is soft and flexible, with a light red color, and the surface is covered with a thin, evenly distributed, moderately moist white coating, often described as “light red tongue with thin white coating.”
What are the abnormal manifestations of the tongue?
Tongue shape
1. Enlarged tongue with tooth marks
An enlarged tongue is a common tongue shape that appears swollen and is often referred to as a “jade tongue”. Due to its size, the edges frequently rub against the teeth, leading to the appearance of tooth marks.
This tongue appearance is often associated with the retention of dampness, commonly indicating issues such as spleen and stomach deficiency or kidney yang deficiency.
Spleen and stomach deficiency often manifests as poor digestive function, weak gastrointestinal motility, and poor absorption;
Kidney yang deficiency is characterized by cold limbs, fear of cold, weakness in the lower back and knees, and abnormal excretion. This is commonly seen in individuals around 30 years old who are busy with work, have irregular lifestyles, and often stay up late or drink alcohol, leading to the retention of waste in the body;
Recommended foods: Individuals with this condition can consume more foods that strengthen the spleen and eliminate dampness, such as Fu Ling (Poria), Shan Yao (Chinese Yam), Da Zao (Jujube), and Shan Zha (Hawthorn).
Tongue color
1. White tongue body
A white tongue body is relatively common, presenting as a pale white tongue with little blood color, primarily indicating a deficiency of qi and blood, with spleen deficiency being the most common, often manifesting as general weakness, a feeling of fullness in the stomach, and anemia, especially in women during menstruation;
Recommended foods: Dang Gui (Angelica) chicken soup or red date black chicken soup.
2. Red tongue body
Red on both sides of the tongue: If there is not only dryness in the mouth but also bitterness and redness in the eyes, this indicates excessive liver fire. When liver fire is present, the tongue body appears red, with the sides being more pronounced.
Recommended remedies include herbal teas, such as using Ku Ding Cha (Bitter Tea) with Chrysanthemum and Vitex.
Red tip of the tongue: A red tongue, especially at the tip, primarily indicates heart fire rising, which may present with symptoms such as dryness of the mouth, irritability, sores on the tongue, poor sleep, yellow urine, and dry stools. Remedies include drinking water boiled with corn silk or using Calendula and Maogeng (Reed Root).
If the front half of the tongue is red, accompanied by coughing, dryness in the nose, and throat, it generally indicates lung fire, requiring treatment to clear lung heat and relieve abdominal gas;
3. Purple tongue body
A tongue that appears dark purple, dull, and lacking luster, with a slight grayish tint.
This primarily indicates blood stasis and damp-heat in the spleen and stomach, often accompanied by symptoms such as dry mouth, bad breath, dry stools, short and red urine, irritability, and insomnia. Treatment should focus on clearing heat and resolving dampness;
Recommended foods include winter melon, cabbage, bitter melon, fresh vegetables, and mung bean soup, which are cooling and help eliminate dampness;
If the tongue body appears light yellow-purple or greenish-purple and smooth, it indicates a cold yin condition; if the tip of the tongue shows cyanotic spots, it suggests the accumulation of blood stasis in the body.
Tongue coating
1. Yellow tongue coating
A yellow and greasy tongue coating indicates damp-heat in the liver and spleen, which can affect the ascending and descending functions of the spleen and stomach and the secretion of bile, often manifesting as irritability, thirst, and bad breath;
Bad breath is caused by disharmony in the spleen and stomach, excessive stomach fire, and poor digestion; while bitterness in the mouth is due to disordered bile secretion.
Additionally, since the liver opens to the eyes, liver diseases often lead to dryness and reduced vision. It is advisable to consume herbs that nourish yin, strengthen the spleen, and support the liver.
2. Thick yellow tongue coating
This is also quite common, with a thick yellow coating indicating internal damp-heat, primarily seen in individuals who consume alcohol; it may also indicate a heat syndrome, such as a wind-heat cold.
If the tongue is red with a yellow coating and bad breath, it is often due to stomach heat, with symptoms such as stomach pain, bitterness in the mouth, and a preference for cold water.
3. Overly white, thick tongue coating
A healthy tongue surface should only have a thin white coating, allowing the tongue to be slightly visible underneath. However, if the coating is overly white and completely covers the tongue, this often indicates poor spleen and stomach function, leading to digestive issues, frequent diarrhea, and stomach pain;
Recommended foods include winter melon, Job’s tears, and Huai yam.
4. Black tongue coating
Ranging from brownish-black, grayish-black, to pitch black, TCM believes that a black tongue coating is caused by extreme heat transforming into fire;
Individuals with gastrointestinal issues are prone to cold dampness, leading to a thick coating that starts white and gradually turns yellow or black.
High emotional stress, frequent late nights, and excessive smoking can also lead to a black coating; some chronic diseases, such as uremia and malignant tumors, may also present with a black coating during disease progression.
Additionally, consuming foods like mulberries, black plums, and black currants can also cause the tongue coating to turn black.
Tongue diagnosis, one of the most practical health skills
Tongue diagnosis is a highly effective diagnostic method:
Tongue diagnosis is very sensitive, providing a direct reflection of our bodily condition. Through the semi-transparent mucosa of the tongue, one can assess whether the blood in the body is abundant; by observing the thickness and color changes of the tongue coating, one can determine the internal state of dampness, cold, heat, and dryness. Tongue diagnosis can sometimes reveal bodily changes more clearly than pulse diagnosis.
Infant health check:
Young children often cannot express their discomfort well, so checking the child’s tongue is a good way to promptly understand their health status!
Complementing regular health check-ups:
Regular health check-ups are limited in frequency, and many indicators may not be detectable in the early stages of illness. However, every change in the body can be reflected on the tongue, learning tongue diagnosis allows for timely problem detection and prevention!
Timely detection of health risks:
We cannot run to the hospital for every minor ailment, but we may worry about whether it is a “warning” of a health issue. By learning tongue diagnosis, you can check your health status anytime with a mirror, identifying imbalances in yin and yang, cold and heat, and addressing unhealthy dietary and lifestyle habits to ensure good health!
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