I can't believe I just lost another half hour of typing!!!!! ****** machine!!!
Tongue ....... gives us a sense of taste, of texture ...... chinese medicine I believe can diagnose illness and remedies through study of the tongue. Googling brought forward the following:
Tongue Diagnosis
by Cathy Wong
Chinese medicine practitioners believe the appearance of your tongue can reveal a lot about your health.
Tongue diagnosis is an important part of the Chinese medical assessment. During an examination, the practitioner usually looks at the overall tongue coating, shape, and color. Then he or she looks at specific areas on the tongue.
Different areas of the tongue are believed to reflect the health of the different organ systems. If there is an unusual color, coating, and/or shape in a certain area, special attention is paid to the corresponding organ system.
As with any assessment method, the doctor doesn't rely on tongue diagnosis alone, but uses it to provide a complete picture of a person's health.
Below are some of the guidelines Chinese medical practitioners use to assess the tongue. This is only a selection of many different types of patterns.
What is the Tongue Color?
Normal tongue color is light red, indicating that a person's vital energy (called qi) is strong. It also reflects the health of the internal organs and blood circulation. Changes in the tongue color usually reflect chronic illness.
Tongue body color May be a sign of
Pale Excess cold, especially if thick white coating.
Spleen qi deficiency, especially if thin white coating
Blood deficiency, especially if dull, pale face and lips
Red Excess heat, especially if there is a thick yellow tongue coating.
Yin deficiency, especially if tongue body is thin and coating is thin, absent or peeled.
Purple Stagnant qi
Stagnant blood if dark purple tongue body and/or red spots on the tongue
What is the Tongue Shape?
Normal tongue shape is not too thick or thin, and the tongue body is smooth with no cracks. Changes in the tongue shape usually reflect chronic illness involving blood, qi, or body fluids.
Tongue shape May be a sign of
Swollen or puffy Spleen qi deficiency, especially if teeth marks on the sides
Damp heat
Thin Blood deficiency
Fluid deficiency
Trembling Spleen qi deficiency
Elongated Heart heat
Sides curled up Liver qi stagnation
If the sides are swollen and red, it may indicate Liver Fire
Cracks Excess heat or yin deficiency
Heart imbalance, especially if there is a crack down the middle of the tongue to the tip
What does the Tongue Coating Look Like?
Normal tongue coating is thin and white. A pale yellow and slightly thicker coating at the back of the tongue may also be normal. The tongue coating often indicates the health of the spleen and stomach. It also provides a good indication of acute illness, such as colds and digestive problems.
Tongue coating May be a sign of
Thick Excess
Yellow, thick, glossy Damp Heat
Dry, yellow Excess heat
Peeled or absent Deficient yin
Heart yin deficiency if it's on the tip of the tongue
Kidney yin deficiency if it's all over the tongue or at the back of the tongue and the tongue body is red.
Are there any Specific Problem Areas?
Each area of the tongue is connected to specific internal organs.
sides of the tongue - liver
tip of the tongue - heart
center of the tongue - spleen
back of the tongue - kidney
Other Tongue Tips
Some disorders don't show up on the tongue.
Tongue is usually examined for no longer than 15 seconds at a time. If it's extended for longer, the tension may alter the shape or color.
The tongue should be examined under natural light.
Before examination, don't eat foods that may discolor the tongue, such as coffee, beets, vitamin C, and foods made with artificial food coloring.
This article is meant for information only. An accurate tongue assessment using the Chinese medical system can only be made in person by a qualified practitioner.