Yesterday, we discussed the various sizes and shapes of tongues, as well as the different colors and thicknesses of the tongue coating that correspond to certain bodily symptoms. In this article, we will integrate these aspects to assess different symptoms corresponding to various constitutions and their corresponding treatment methods through comprehensive tongue diagnosis.
1. Typical Tongue Manifestations of Qi Deficiency Constitution
01
Light and Fat Tongue with Stasis Points
Tongue Quality: Dull and Fat
Tongue Coating: Thin
Tongue Surface: Noticeable stasis points on the anterior half of the tongue
This tongue manifestation is commonly seen in patients with symptoms of fatigue, easy exhaustion, cold intolerance, and abdominal distension due to weak transformation and transportation, leading to a lack of appetite.
02
Dull Tongue with Thin and Greasy Coating
Tongue Color: Dark Red
Tongue Coating: Thin and Greasy
Tongue Surface: Moist
This tongue manifestation is often associated with deficiency of righteous Qi and poor transformation in the middle burner. Patients may experience general fatigue, memory decline, poor appetite, and abnormal bowel movements.
03
Fat and Tender Tongue, Mirror-like Surface
Tongue Color: Slightly Red
Tongue Quality: Tender
Tongue Body: Fat
This tongue manifestation is typical of both Qi and Yin deficiency, and such patients may present with fatigue, shortness of breath, mental fatigue, and poor digestion.
04
Dull Tongue with Stasis Points
Tongue Quality: Dull
Tongue Coating: Sparse and Thin White
Tongue Body: Red tip with slight stasis points
This type of tongue manifestation is referred to as a dull tongue, and clinically, it is often due to complex conditions resulting in long-term deficiency of both Qi and Blood.
05
Light Fat Tongue with White Coating
Tongue Body: Light and Larger
Tongue Quality: Tender
Tongue Coating: White
This tongue manifestation is often caused by Qi deficiency, particularly in the lungs and spleen, leading to a tender and fat tongue with a white coating.
06
Light Fat Tongue with Teeth Marks
Tongue Quality: Slightly Light
Tongue Coating: White
Tongue Body: Fat with teeth marks on the edges
This type of tongue manifestation is often seen in sub-healthy individuals, and patients may experience symptoms such as indigestion, fatigue in the limbs, and unformed stools.
07
Light Red Tongue with Stasis Points
Tongue Quality: Light Red
Tongue Body: Slightly Fat
Tongue Tip: Scattered stasis points
This type of tongue manifestation is often seen in chronic consumptive diseases, resulting from long-term deficiency of righteous Qi and Qi deficiency with Blood stasis.
08
Light Red Tongue with Thin White Coating
Tongue Quality: Slightly Light
Tongue Coating: Thin and White
Tongue Body: Thin
This type of tongue manifestation is often indicative of spleen Qi deficiency, combined with weak middle Qi and inability of the spleen to control blood, leading to fatigue and weakness.
09
Light White Tongue with Tender Quality
Tongue Color: Light White
Tongue Quality: Tender
Tongue Coating: Thin
This type of tongue manifestation is commonly seen in individuals who are overworked, under mental stress, or have poor spleen and stomach function.
10
Thin Light Tongue with White Coating
Tongue Body: Slightly Thin
Tongue Quality: Light
Tongue Coating: White
This type of tongue manifestation is often caused by lung and kidney Qi deficiency, leading to improper descending and causing cough.
11
Light Red Tongue with Thin White Coating
Tongue Quality: Light Red
Tongue Coating: Thin and White
Tongue Surface: Relatively Moist
This type of tongue manifestation is often due to inherent Qi deficiency, invasion of wind-cold, failure of lung Qi to disperse, and obstruction of the upper orifices.
12
Dull Red Tongue with Yellow Greasy Coating
Tongue Quality: Dull Red
Tongue Coating: Yellow and Greasy
Tongue Body: Teeth marks on the edges
Yellow greasy coating with teeth marks indicates heavy phlegm-dampness with a tendency to transform into heat, and the teeth marks located at the back of the tongue suggest a condition in the lower burner.
13
Thin Small Tongue with Thin Greasy Coating
Tongue Quality: Thin and Small
Tongue Coating: Thin and Greasy
Tongue Surface: Moist
This tongue manifestation may also be accompanied by a pale yellow complexion, soreness in the lower back and legs, lack of appetite, dizziness, and osteoporosis.
14
Dull Red Tongue with Fat Tongue
Tongue Quality: Dull Red
Tongue Coating: Thin White, Slightly Dry
Tongue Body: Teeth marks on both sides
This tongue manifestation may indicate symptoms of mental fatigue, heat in the palms and soles, fullness in the stomach, lack of appetite, pale complexion, and irritability.
15
Dull Tongue with Yellow Greasy Coating
Tongue Coating: Yellow and Greasy
Tongue Quality: Dull
Tongue Body: Teeth marks on both sides
This tongue manifestation may be accompanied by a dull complexion, cold hands and feet, fatigue, poor appetite, loose stools, cough, shortness of breath, and excessive phlegm.
16
Light Red Tongue with Thin White Greasy Coating
Tongue Quality: Light Red
Tongue Body: Fat
Tongue Surface: Has fine cracks
This tongue manifestation may indicate symptoms of fatigue, dry mouth, lack of appetite, palpitations, shortness of breath, pale complexion, and irritability.
17
Fat Tongue with Thin White Coating
Tongue Body: Fat
Tongue Surface: Noticeable teeth marks on both sides
Tongue Coating: Thin White
This tongue manifestation may indicate symptoms of cold intolerance, loose stools, clear and prolonged urination, cold limbs, easy fatigue, and low immunity.
Patients with Qi deficiency constitution can benefit from moxibustion at the following two acupoints:Shenque (Ren 8), Qihai (Ren 6)
It is recommended to useFire Moxibustion Cake
Additionally, consuming foods that have a Qi-invigorating and Spleen-strengthening effect, such as mung beans, white lentils, and chicken, is advised; while avoiding foods like water spinach and raw radishes.
2. Typical Tongue Manifestations of Yang Deficiency Constitution
1Fat and Tender Tongue, Light White Quality
Tongue Quality: Light White
Tongue Body: Fat and Tender
Tongue Coating: White
This tongue manifestation is often due to spleen and stomach cold deficiency, leading to insufficient Qi and Blood.
2Light Fat Tongue with Teeth Marks
Tongue Color: Light
Tongue Coating: White
Tongue Body: Fat with teeth marks on the edges
This type of tongue manifestation is often seen in patients with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.
3Light Tongue with White Greasy Coating
Tongue Color: Lighter
Tongue Coating: White and Greasy
Tongue Body: Fat
This type of tongue manifestation is often due to cold dampness stagnating internally, obstructing the meridians. The invasion of cold dampness can lead to cold pain in the lower back.
4Fat Light Tongue with Light White Coating
Tongue Color: Lighter
Tongue Body: Tender
Tongue Quality: Fat and Light
This tongue manifestation may indicate symptoms of cold limbs, lower back pain, dizziness, blurred vision, shortness of breath, weakness in the limbs, fatigue, loose stools, and clear urination.
5Fat and Tender Tongue with Thin White Coating
Tongue Quality: Tender
Tongue Body: Soft
Tongue Surface: Smooth and Moist
This type of tongue manifestation is often associated with deficiency of Yang, cold, and dampness.
Patients with Yang deficiency constitution can benefit from moxibustion at the following three acupoints:Mingmen (Ren 4), Shenque (Ren 8), Guanyuan (Ren 4)
It is recommended to useFire Moxibustion Cake
In daily life, it is advisable to consume beef, lamb, and other Yang-warming foods, while avoiding foods like pears, watermelon, and water chestnuts that are cold and raw, and limiting green tea intake.
3. Typical Tongue Manifestations of Yin Deficiency Constitution
1Cracked Tongue with Dry Coating
Tongue Quality: Cracked
Tongue Color: Lighter Red
Tongue Coating: Yellow, slightly thick and dry
This type of tongue manifestation is primarily seen in cases of phlegm-heat disturbing the body, damaging Yin fluids.
2Thin Red Tongue with Thin White Coating
Tongue Quality: Dark Red
Tongue Coating: Thin White, slightly dry
Tongue Body: Teeth marks on the edges
A thin red tongue is often due to liver and kidney Yin deficiency, with internal accumulation of toxins, and may be accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness, dry eyes, and easy fatigue.
3Red Tongue with Sparse Coating
Tongue Coating: Sparse
Tongue Quality: Lighter Red
Tongue Body: Noticeable papillae
This tongue manifestation suggests liver and kidney insufficiency, leading to heat transformation, and may be accompanied by symptoms such as dry throat, insomnia, and vivid dreams.
4Cracked Tongue with Sparse Coating
Tongue Quality: Tender, Light Color
Tongue Body: Fat
Tongue Surface: Cracked
Patients with this tongue manifestation often indicate Qi and Blood deficiency, as well as liver and kidney Yin deficiency; if the tongue coating is thin white and slippery, it suggests internal fluid accumulation.
5Dull Red Tongue with Thin Yellow Greasy Coating
Tongue Quality: Dark Red
Tongue Body: Fat
Tongue Coating: Yellow, Thin and Greasy
This tongue manifestation may indicate symptoms such as red cheeks, weight loss, tidal fever, night sweats, five hearts heat, unstable sleep, dizziness, and dry stools.
6Bright Red Tongue with Sparse Coating
Tongue Quality: Bright Red
Tongue Coating: Sparse
Tongue Body: Slightly Thin
This tongue manifestation is often seen in patients with kidney Yin deficiency, leading to excess heart fire, resulting in a red tongue with stasis points on the tip.
7Cracked Tongue with Bright Red Color
Tongue Quality: Bright Red
Tongue Surface: Cracked
Tongue Coating: Sparse
This type of cracked bright red tongue is often due to Yin deficiency and excess heat, leading to long-term damage to Yin fluids, resulting in a dry tongue.
8Light Red Tongue with Mirror-like Surface
Tongue Quality: Dark Red
Tongue Coating: Thin White, Slightly Dry
Tongue Body: Teeth marks on both sides
This tongue manifestation is commonly seen in chronic consumptive diseases, often presenting with symptoms such as thirst, mental fatigue, tiredness, low energy, and a soft voice.
9Cracked Tongue with White Greasy Coating
Tongue Coating: White, Greasy, and Thick
Tongue Quality: Dark Red
Tongue Body: Cracked with teeth marks on the edges
This tongue manifestation may indicate symptoms such as dryness, irritability, insomnia, abdominal distension, poor digestion, and dry mouth.
10Geographic Tongue with Red Quality
Tongue Coating: Peeling, presenting a geographic pattern
Tongue Quality: Thin
Tongue Surface: Purple stasis spots
This type of tongue manifestation is often seen in patients with internal heat due to Yin deficiency, leading to symptoms such as five hearts heat, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and fatigue.
11Red Tongue with Thin Yellow Coating
Tongue Coating: Thin and Yellow
Tongue Quality: Red
Tongue Color: Darker on the sides and center
This tongue manifestation may indicate symptoms such as dizziness, tinnitus, dry eyes, facial flushing, dry mouth, and five hearts heat.
12Red Tongue with Mirror-like Surface
Tongue Surface: Dry with cracks
Tongue Quality: Red
Tongue Surface: Smooth with sparse coating
This tongue manifestation is often due to inherent Yin deficiency or excessive consumption of spicy foods, damaging Yin fluids; or it may be due to heat patterns injuring stomach Yin.
13Thin Red Tongue with Yellow Greasy Coating
Tongue Body: Thin and Small
Tongue Quality: Dark Red
Tongue Coating: Yellow, Greasy, and Dry
This tongue manifestation may indicate symptoms of excess liver fire, stomach heat, often presenting with heat in the palms and soles, tidal fever, irritability, insomnia, and blurred vision.
14Cracked Tongue with Yellow Greasy Coating
Tongue Coating: Sparse or absent
Tongue Quality: Lighter Red
Tongue Surface: Small cracks
This tongue manifestation suggests liver and kidney Yin deficiency, Qi and Blood stagnation, often presenting with heat in the palms and soles, dry mouth, preference for cold foods, and dry stools.
15Light Red Tongue with Thin White Coating
Tongue Body: Cracked
Tongue Quality: Light Red
Tongue Coating: Slightly thick white in the middle and back
This tongue manifestation suggests liver and kidney deficiency, often presenting with symptoms such as forgetfulness, dizziness, tinnitus, flank pain, weakness in the lower back and knees, dry mouth, and insomnia.
16Red Quality with Rough Coating
Tongue Coating: Dry, thick, and white
Tongue Quality: Red
Tongue Surface: Deep crack with teeth marks on the edges
This tongue manifestation suggests Yin deficiency with internal heat, spleen and kidney Yin deficiency, often presenting with fatigue, dry mouth, irritability, dizziness, and tinnitus.
17Deep Red Tongue with Thin Coating
Tongue Quality: Slightly Dry
Tongue Coating: Thin
Tongue Color: Deep Red
This tongue manifestation suggests phlegm obstruction and blood stasis, lung and kidney Yin deficiency, and excess internal heat, often presenting with symptoms such as bitter mouth, dry mouth, dry stools, and frequent dreams at night.
Patients with Yin deficiency constitution can benefit from moxibustion at the following acupoints:Qihai (Ren 6), Guanyuan (Ren 4), Hegu (LI 4), Zusanli (ST 36)
It is recommended to useFire Moxibustion Cake
Daily Precautions:
1. Diet: Consume more lean pork, duck, mung beans, winter melon, and other sweet, cool, and moistening foods, while avoiding lamb, leeks, chili peppers, sunflower seeds, and other warming and drying foods.
2. Exercise: Suitable activities include Tai Chi, Tai Chi sword, and Qigong.
The valuable images in this article are sourced from “Learning Tongue Diagnosis from Scratch.” Please do not store them privately; kindly share them with love to raise awareness about health.
Previous Highlights:
High-definition tongue diagnosis analysis: Understand health through tongue appearance, easy to grasp! (Part 1)
There is an inconspicuous acupoint in the body; moxibustion can resolve cholecystitis, gallstones, and gallbladder polyps!
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Winter cold cannot be ignored; here’s how to expel chronic cold through moxibustion.
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—— Thank you for sharing, helping more families understand life better.——
