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Tongue Diagnosis
Observation of the tongue is an important part of
diagnosis in Chinese Medicine. It clearly provides
visible clues to a person's disharmony. Tongue
diagnosis is remarkably reliable in reflecting the
basic and underlying pattern of disorders.
diagnosis in Chinese Medicine. It clearly provides
visible clues to a person's disharmony. Tongue
diagnosis is remarkably reliable in reflecting the
basic and underlying pattern of disorders.
Correspondence of tongue
areas to organs.
areas to organs.
Pink Tongue with a thin white coat-
Congratulations, you have a normal,
healthy tongue.
Congratulations, you have a normal,
healthy tongue.
No Coating- Usually indicates yin
deficiency or dryness. May be
symptoms of night sweats, hot
flashes, irritability, insomnia, dry
mouth at night, low back pain.
deficiency or dryness. May be
symptoms of night sweats, hot
flashes, irritability, insomnia, dry
mouth at night, low back pain.
Deep red tongue- Indicates an
extreme heat condition or deficiency of
fluids.
extreme heat condition or deficiency of
fluids.
Thin coating- Could be normal or may
indicates an exterior wind attack-
common cold, allergies.
indicates an exterior wind attack-
common cold, allergies.
Thick White Coating- Indicates cold
dampness in the body. May have
fatigue, edema, inability to
concentrate, heavy, full aches in the
body caused by damp weather. Thin
white coat may be normal.
dampness in the body. May have
fatigue, edema, inability to
concentrate, heavy, full aches in the
body caused by damp weather. Thin
white coat may be normal.
Pale or White Body- Indicates a
deficiency of qi or blood. Qi deficiency
symptoms are dizziness, blurred
vision, tiredness. Blood deficiency
symptoms are pale lips, insomnia,
dull/pale complexion.
deficiency of qi or blood. Qi deficiency
symptoms are dizziness, blurred
vision, tiredness. Blood deficiency
symptoms are pale lips, insomnia,
dull/pale complexion.
Yellow Coating- Indicates interior and
heat syndromes. The deeper the
yellow the more severe the heat. May
be caused by smoking, coffee, tea,
fried, greasy foods.
heat syndromes. The deeper the
yellow the more severe the heat. May
be caused by smoking, coffee, tea,
fried, greasy foods.
Slightly Red Body- Heat due to
infection or fever or deficiency of yin
fluids. Yin body fluids keep the body
cool.
infection or fever or deficiency of yin
fluids. Yin body fluids keep the body
cool.
Dry White Coating- If course and
feels lacking in moisture- consumption
of body fluids due to excessive heat or
deficiency.
feels lacking in moisture- consumption
of body fluids due to excessive heat or
deficiency.
Purple Body- Always indicates
stagnation of blood in the body,
circulatory problems.
stagnation of blood in the body,
circulatory problems.
Geographic Tongue- Peeled coating-
indicates consumption of qi and yin in
the stomach. Symptoms include
constipation, hunger with no appetite,
thirst with no desire to drink.
indicates consumption of qi and yin in
the stomach. Symptoms include
constipation, hunger with no appetite,
thirst with no desire to drink.
Slight teethmarks on the sides of the
tongue- Indicates qi deficiency or poor
energy. Suggests that your digestion
is not strong or you have not had
enough sleep.
tongue- Indicates qi deficiency or poor
energy. Suggests that your digestion
is not strong or you have not had
enough sleep.
Coating in the Center- Suggests
phlegm and dampness in the stomach.
May have nausea, lack of appetite,
fatigue, intestinal gurgling.
phlegm and dampness in the stomach.
May have nausea, lack of appetite,
fatigue, intestinal gurgling.
Severe teethmarks on the sides of
your tongue- More severe qi
deficiency. Poor digestion.
your tongue- More severe qi
deficiency. Poor digestion.
Coating Rear- Indicates damp heat in
the intestines. This is a condition of
clogging the intestines due to a diet
with lots of meaty, greasy, fatty,
sweet, and dairy foods. May have
diarrhea, vaginal discharge, feeling of
heaviness in limbs.
the intestines. This is a condition of
clogging the intestines due to a diet
with lots of meaty, greasy, fatty,
sweet, and dairy foods. May have
diarrhea, vaginal discharge, feeling of
heaviness in limbs.
Spots on the lateral edge- May
suggest heat or blood stagnation of
the Liver. Does not mean anything
wrong with liver in Western terms.
Red dots indicated Liver heat- mood
swings, irritability, red eyes, migraines.
Purple dots- blood stagnation- painful
periods.
suggest heat or blood stagnation of
the Liver. Does not mean anything
wrong with liver in Western terms.
Red dots indicated Liver heat- mood
swings, irritability, red eyes, migraines.
Purple dots- blood stagnation- painful
periods.
Brown Coating- Suggests internal
heat damaging the yin fluids. May
indicate high fever, heavy smoking, or
dehydration.
heat damaging the yin fluids. May
indicate high fever, heavy smoking, or
dehydration.
Spots in the rear- Heat or blood
stagnation below your belly button.
Could be heat in the intestines caused
by excessive diet.
stagnation below your belly button.
Could be heat in the intestines caused
by excessive diet.
Thick Coating- Indicates accumulation
of dampness and phlegm. Can be
aggravated by dietary problems, in
particular cold raw foods in excess,
dairy, deep fried or fatty food.
of dampness and phlegm. Can be
aggravated by dietary problems, in
particular cold raw foods in excess,
dairy, deep fried or fatty food.
Multiple Cracks- Indicates a deficiency
of yin- If overweight and have a
tongue of this type, keep an eye out
for symptoms of diabetes. May have
excessive thirst, hunger that does not
go away with eating, excessive
urination.
of yin- If overweight and have a
tongue of this type, keep an eye out
for symptoms of diabetes. May have
excessive thirst, hunger that does not
go away with eating, excessive
urination.
Central Crack- Indicates a normal
tongue or a deficiency of fluids.
tongue or a deficiency of fluids.
Coating Everywhere- Dampness and
phlegm throughout the body.
Dampness arises from weak digestion
or damp producing diet. May have
foggy or heavy feeling in the limbs,
headache. Dampness can clog up
meridians causing arthritis aggravated
by damp weather.
Phlegm comes after damp and is
heavier and stickier. It can literally be
phlegm that you cough up or phlegm
clogging the meridians causing
numbness and tingling or even mental
disturbances.
phlegm throughout the body.
Dampness arises from weak digestion
or damp producing diet. May have
foggy or heavy feeling in the limbs,
headache. Dampness can clog up
meridians causing arthritis aggravated
by damp weather.
Phlegm comes after damp and is
heavier and stickier. It can literally be
phlegm that you cough up or phlegm
clogging the meridians causing
numbness and tingling or even mental
disturbances.
