What’s your tongue saying?
What is your tongue saying?
Tongue diagnosis is a long tradition in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Analyzing the tongue is helpful because it acts as a lens into the body, allowing an interior vision of the individual's overall health. In TCM, the different regions of the tongue correspond with the five major organ groups: heart, spleen, liver, lungs, and kidneys. Below is a quick beginner's guide to help you interpret messages your tongue may send you.
Color:
A light red indicates an individual's vital energy (or "qi") is substantial. Changes in tongue color are said to signal chronic illness.
For example, a pale-colored tongue is considered an issue with the pancreas and/or digestive function, while purple coloring is said to arise from blockages and stagnation in the flow of Qi. Think of this as thick, slow-moving blood.
Shape:
A standard tongue shape is neither thick nor thin; the tongue body is smooth with no cracks. In general, changes in tongue shape can reflect chronic illness affecting the blood, bodily fluids, or qi (energy).
Changes in tongue shape may include:
A swollen or puffy tongue- can be another indicator of problems with the pancreas and/or digestive function.
Cracks in the tongue are a possible sign of imbalance in the heart organ, associated with insomnia and memory troubles.
Curling at the sides of the tongue- indicates liver qi stagnation.
Coating:
Although the tongue coating is usually thin and white, a pale yellow and slightly thicker layer at the back of the tongue may also be typical. White coatings are generally associated with dampness or coldness within the body, and yellow coatings are a sign of excess heat. Small cracks and dryness, while long cracks extend from one end to another, indicate a long-lasting problem.
Please Note:
Tongue diagnosis should not be used as a substitute for standard medical care or to diagnose potential health problems. TCM practitioners do not solely rely on tongue diagnosis in evaluating a patient's health. Please consult with your primary care physician.
“The greatest medicine of all is to teach people how not to need it.”