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Guan Fang
Editor-in-Chief of CCTV-1 “Life Circle” New Media
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The tongue is not only an important organ for taste
but also a “barometer” of human health
to some extent, it can reflect the health status of the body
Many people know that a thick and greasy tongue coating is not good
But is a cleaner tongue always better?
This is not necessarily true!
If the tongue has lost its coating, it may also indicate “illness”!
How can we distinguish health through tongue coating?
Let’s explore this together!
Xu Yamei
Chief Physician, Department of Hematology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
Why Does the Tongue Surface Lack Coating?
The tongue surface is not smooth; it has papillae protruding. Therefore, under normal circumstances, there is a thin layer of white coating on the tongue, which consists of filiform papillae and fungiform papillae, with larger papillae at the root of the tongue, known as circumvallate papillae.
The filiform papillae are naturally white and velvety. Chronic inflammation due to disease can lead to atrophy of the filiform papillae, resulting in a lack of tongue coating, known as a “smooth tongue”. A smooth tongue appears red and is also referred to as papillary inflammation or atrophic glossitis.
What Diseases Can Cause a Lack of Tongue Coating?
Many diseases in daily life can lead to a smooth tongue, such as vitamin B deficiency, anemia, candidiasis, Sjögren’s syndrome, atrophic gastritis, etc.
These diseases can easily cause atrophy of the tongue papillae. In severe cases, the tongue surface may appear smooth and red without coating, and may even have a burning or painful sensation, or experience dryness and stickiness, making it sensitive to external stimuli, leading to small ulcers or sores.
Experts recommend: If you notice a smooth tongue, you should seek a comprehensive examination at the hospital as soon as possible and receive targeted treatment.
Patients with a lack of coating should maintain a light diet, avoiding overeating and the consumption of raw, cold, hot, and hard-to-digest foods. It is advisable to eat more vegetables and fruits that benefit the spleen and stomach, such as yam (Shan Yao), taro (Yuan Yao), and meat floss.
Changes in Tongue Coating May Indicate Underlying Diseases
Normal tongue coating is light red in color, moist in texture, of moderate size, soft and flexible, with even coating that is thin, white, and moist.
1. Yellow Tongue Coating
Characteristics: Commonly seen in heat-related diseases, indicating damp-heat, primarily affecting the liver and spleen. Symptoms include thirst, indicating excessive liver fire, and irritability. Liver issues can affect spleen and stomach function and bile secretion, leading to bad breath due to spleen-stomach disharmony, excessive stomach fire, and indigestion; bitterness in the mouth is due to bile secretion disorders.
Experts recommend: Choose foods that clear heat and dampness, such as white radish (Bai Luobo), loofah (Si Gua), lotus root powder (Ou Fen), mung beans (Lv Dou), and coix seeds (Yi Yi Ren); fruits like hawthorn (Shan Zha) and pears (Li) are also recommended.
2. Excessively White Tongue Coating
Characteristics: White coating can appear in overweight individuals or those with water-damp retention or phlegm. Clinically, it is common in patients with pleural effusion, ascites, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, and asthma, often seen in cold syndromes.
Experts recommend: Choose foods that are slightly warm in nature, such as red date (Hong Zao) glutinous rice porridge, and prefer soft or soup-like foods. For side dishes, opt for light and warm beef or lamb soup, seasoned with vinegar and ginger. Fruits like apples (Ping Guo) and honey tangerines (Mi Ju) are suitable. Avoid cool foods like cold dishes, cucumbers (Huang Gua), winter melons (Dong Gua), mung bean sprouts (Lv Dou Ya), crabs (Xie), and duck eggs (Ya Dan), and refrain from consuming cold drinks.
3. Black Tongue Coating
Characteristics: In TCM, black coating is caused by extreme heat transforming into fire, excluding dyed coatings. Individuals with gastrointestinal issues are prone to cold-dampness, leading to thick and greasy tongue coating, which starts as white and gradually turns yellow or black. Clinically, some chronic diseases like uremia and malignant tumors may also present with black coating during exacerbation, indicating a critical condition that requires immediate medical attention. Additionally, high stress, frequent late nights, and excessive smoking can also lead to black coating.
Experts recommend: Many diseases can cause black coating, so if it appears, seek medical attention promptly and follow medical advice for treatment.
Should You Brush Your Tongue Regularly?
Brushing your tongue, in addition to proper brushing and flossing, can help maintain overall oral health, freshen breath, and eliminate bad breath.
When brushing your tongue, do not apply too much pressure. If it is not clean, you can gently brush it a few more times.
The color and condition of the tongue coating can reflect the body’s status. Therefore, it is best not to deliberately brush or scrape the tongue before seeing a TCM practitioner.
Reminder
While observing tongue coating can provide a simple self-assessment of health, relying solely on the tongue’s symptoms cannot determine the overall health status of the body. If any abnormalities or discomfort occur, it is advisable to seek medical attention promptly and consult a professional doctor for a comprehensive diagnosis to avoid delaying treatment.
Previous Articles and Comments from Friends
Want to see the original article? Click the link below↓
Excess Dampness Leads to Numerous Illnesses! Many People Have Already Been Affected
3 Tips to Help You Determine If You Have Excess Dampness! (Includes Methods to Eliminate Dampness)
Editor-in-Chief｜Guan Fang
Editor｜Zhao Kaokao
Director｜Zhang Xiaocheng
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