In ancient times, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has used the four diagnostic methods of “observation, smell, inquiry, and palpation” to assess health, with “observation” encompassing aspects like examining complexion, body shape, and importantly, tongue appearance (tongue diagnosis). Changes reflected in the tongue often occur before we feel any symptoms, serving as a valuable early warning system for our health.
In ancient times, tongue diagnosis was known as “tongue mirror,” likening the tongue to a mirror of the body’s health. By observing the tongue’s color, shape, and other characteristics, TCM practitioners can preliminary assess a person’s health. The tongue acts as a barometer for health, as many illnesses in the body arise from imbalances in qi, blood, and yin-yang, which can manifest in the tongue.
Why can examining the tongue diagnose illness? And how does TCM use tongue observation for diagnosis?
Traditional Diagnostic Methods in TCM
During the process of TCM diagnosis, four unique techniques are traditionally used to address underlying health issues. They are:
- Making observations (望)
- Listening to breathing (闻)
- Asking about the individual’s symptoms (问)
- Taking their pulse (切)
Tongue diagnosis in TMC
In TCM, tongue diagnosis (observing the condition of the tongue) is a distinctive diagnostic method and a crucial basis for identifying health conditions. TCM believes that the tongue is connected to all the internal organs through meridians, thus studying the tongue provides valuable insights into a person’s health and bodily balance.
The following diagram illustrates how different areas of the tongue correspond to our organs.
TCM practitioners use three basic tongue observations to assess an individual’s health:
The color of the tongue
– Red tongue: Excessive heat in the body. Common symptoms include inflammation, fever, and headaches.
– Pale tongue: Coldness in the body. Common symptoms include weakness, fatigue, and anemia.
– Purple or dark tongue: Blood stagnation or poor circulation. Common symptoms include body aches.
- The shape and size of the tongue
– Swollen tongue: A swollen tongue with teeth marks indicates dampness and spleen deficiency, a common symptom of stomach issues.
– Small or thin tongue: Indicates qi and blood deficiency. Common symptoms are dizziness and fatigue.
- The coating on the Tongue
– Thick white coating: Indicates damp-cold phlegm in the body.
– Thick yellow coating: Indicates damp-heat phlegm.
– No coating: Indicates yin deficiency. Patients may experience night sweats.
The tongue can show various combinations of mapping, color, shape, and coating. For example, a pale tongue with thick white coating in the center may indicate stomach issues, suggesting damp-cold or digestive system yang deficiency.
To optimize your tongue diagnosis, consider the following before the check-up:
– Avoid removing tongue coating while brushing in the morning.
– Refrain from eating sweets, coffee, and tea before the check.
– Avoid sticking your tongue out for more than 10 seconds during the examination, as it may change its color.
At Shanghai Medical Clinic, our experienced team of TCM practitioners in dubai can develop a personalized treatment plan for you based on your specific symptoms through TCM’s unique diagnostic methods. Contact us now to schedule an appointment with our doctors.
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