The tongue, to the Chinese Medicine practitioner, acupuncturist revels what is going on internally with the organ systems and body fluids such as blood.
The tongue is highly vascular and is richly supplied by both the nervous system and the circulatory system. It is also constantly nourished by or "bathed in" saliva. Saliva is secreted by salivary glands which are controlled by our autonomic system. Saliva contains water, electrolytes, mucus, and enzymes. Saliva can change the appearance of the tongue. Therefore, the tongue is an highly sensitive organ and its appearance can change mirroring the many physiological changes occurring inside the body.
By observing the tongue we can observe the functioning of the body as a whole and determine imbalances within different organ systems in the body. When an acupuncturist asks you to stick out your tongue we are observing the tongue in three distinct areas.
The first area is the area of the tongue proper
We evaluate the size of tongue compared to the opening of the mouth. If teeth marks are present along the sides of the tongue this may indicate edema or swelling in your body, a water metabolism issue. We search for any ulcerations or lacerations of the tongue, this indicates that the body is prone to or currently having some form of inflammation. The colour of the tongue indicates the strength of one's health. A normal tongue presents as pinkish red with a certain shine. When the tongue is pale it indicates deficiency or weakened body. When it is red, it means the body is in an excess state within in one or multiple organ systems. When the colour is purple, this is an indication of pain or congestion or blockages within the body.
In general, the tongue size, shape and colours provides an indication of the strength of your body's immunity and functioning.
The second area is the tongue coating.
The tongue coating gives an indication of the Stomach function of the body. A normal tongue coat is one that is very thin and clear. This type of coating indicates proper enzymatic content and salivary secretions. A thick coat is a sign of imbalance in the digestive system. A thick and cruddy coat is a sign of decreased immune system with Candida presentation. A 'peeled' coat indicates a sign of damage or weakening of certain systems within the body. A yellow coat is a sign of infection or inflammation in the body.
The third area is regional analysis.
Different areas of the tongue are represented by the functioning state of different organ systems of the body.
And based on the colour, shape and size of these areas indicates the health of that particular organ systems within the body and the overall health of the individual.
So which Tongue are you, below is a small sample of the many possible tongue combinations observed in Traditional Chinese Medicine:
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