I will gradually organize my tongue diagnosis lessons into a written version. This written version will be restructured to eliminate unnecessary content, highlight key points, and include images and audio. The text is all manually typed by me, so I appreciate everyone’s support in sharing and liking it. Thank you all!
Learning Tongue Diagnosis from Scratch 0 – Preface
Learning Tongue Diagnosis from Scratch 1 – Principles of Tongue Diagnosis
Learning Tongue Diagnosis from Scratch 2 – Overview of Tongue Diagnosis Methods (Part 1)
Learning Tongue Diagnosis from Scratch 2 – Overview of Tongue Diagnosis Methods (Part 2)
Next, we will enter the formal content of tongue diagnosis.
Before we begin, I will summarize the general organizational framework of the books available on tongue diagnosis in the market. Traditionally, popular books on tongue diagnosis are generally divided into two frameworks: one is based on the morphology of the tongue. For example, they provide photos of the tongue, tell you this is called the XX tongue, and then explain what diseases it mainly represents. Some books also discuss what herbs or dietary therapies are needed for these diseases and constitutions, which is one perspective; the other is based on constitution or disease as the main framework, discussing what the tongues corresponding to Yang deficiency and Yin deficiency look like, for instance. We can refer to these two frameworks as horizontal and vertical. I believe our course will also follow this approach: first, we will use a horizontal method, connecting various tongue appearances, and then vertically link the previously discussed tongue quality, tongue coating, etc., with diseases and constitutions. This way, we will first approach it horizontally and then vertically, which will help us master tongue diagnosis more proficiently. Additionally, we need to attach images of the tongues below the audio explanations, so each lesson will be a bit shorter; otherwise, there would be too many images. Each session will generally be controlled to about ten minutes.
We will first discuss the observation of tongue quality. In the previous lesson, we mentioned an important concept: you should at least know that observing tongue appearances can be divided into two main parts: one is tongue quality, which is the original color of the tongue, not the color covered by the tongue coating; the other is the morphology, color, coverage area, thickness, etc., of the tongue coating. Therefore, we will first discuss the issue of tongue quality and then the issue of tongue coating; these are the two main parts.
Under the topic of tongue quality, we will first discuss a fundamental yet crucial aspect: observing tongue color. The color of the tongue quality, simply put, refers to the depth of the tongue color, which reflects our Qi, blood, Yin, Yang, or the attributes of pathogenic factors.
The first type is called the pale red tongue. The reason this is placed first is that it represents a relatively normal tongue appearance, which is: pale red tongue with thin white coating. These two phrases describe the tongue quality and tongue coating; we will discuss the tongue coating later. The tongue quality reflected in color is the pale red tongue. We have previously explained that the pale red tongue can be understood as a tongue quality that is slightly pink. To be more specific, the tongue color should not be too red or too white, presenting a natural pale pinkish-red state. Moreover, this refers to the overall tongue, not just one part being significantly different from others. Therefore, the pale red color should be a pale red that is moist and translucent, mainly reflecting a person’s sufficient heart Qi, strong stomach Qi, and harmonious Qi and blood. Generally, this indicates a normal person or a person with a mild illness at an early stage, where the condition is very superficial, which will also be reflected on the tongue.
Pale red tongue with thin white coating
Today we discussed tongue quality, including the color of the tongue quality, in this first lesson. We will not delve into more content within ten minutes. Instead, I will add a very important point: if the illness has just begun, it may be difficult to discern through the tongue. Tongue diagnosis can sometimes be lagging. This is in contrast to pulse diagnosis; whether it is tongue diagnosis or facial diagnosis, for example, in observation, if the glabella is dark or the eye bags are dark, these require time to manifest. Tongue diagnosis is the same. Especially when we observe the tongue coating, we previously discussed what tongue coating is: it is the microorganisms that grow on the surface of the tongue. Since our mouths are mostly closed, it provides a growing environment for the microorganisms on the tongue surface. If one keeps their mouth open, it would be similar to the skin on the body, right? In that case, it would not develop coating. However, keeping the mouth closed creates a relatively warm and humid environment, which may lead to the growth of microorganisms, resulting in tongue coating. But the growth of tongue coating requires a process. Therefore, observing tongue coating, especially in the early stages of illness, may not be accurate. Sometimes when we check a child’s tongue coating at home to see if they have overeaten, the tongue coating for overeating is not thick and greasy, but it may seem fine at first. However, if you check again after 24 hours, the thick and greasy condition may appear, which is a typical verification. Thus, tongue diagnosis is relatively lagging compared to pulse diagnosis; after running a circle or climbing a flight of stairs, if you check the pulse again, it will change. We also know that after catching a cold, the pulse becomes floating and tight. Therefore, the response of pulse diagnosis is very immediate, while tongue diagnosis is somewhat delayed, and tongue coating is even more so. Tongue quality is slightly better. In other words, tongue diagnosis may be more helpful in distinguishing chronic diseases or discussing constitution, as it has already formed a constitutional issue. However, for conditions that have just begun within a day, tongue diagnosis may not be as precise.
Alright, this concludes today’s lesson.