Behold, the tongue. Pent up (most of the time) in our mouths, it’s easy to take for granted, but why not stick it out and give it a gander? For thousands of years, checking the condition of the tongue has been an important diagnosis tool in Chinese medicine.
Because the tongue is always covered in saliva, and saliva contains electrolytes, mucus and enzymes, any imbalance in the saliva (signaling an imbalance in other parts of the body) can change the tongue’s appearance.
Medical practitioners who look at the tongue’s condition check out things like the size, color and the coating. Open up and say “aaaaaah” and see what you find on yours.
Swollen tongue: This is a sign of edema (fluid retention) in other parts of the body.
Pale tongue: This could be an indicator of anemia.
Red tongue: Hyperactivity in certain systems of the body.
Purplish tongue: There may be congestion and blockages in the body.
Thick coating: Digestive problems.
Thick, clumpy coating: Your immune system may be fighting off a Candida (yeast) infection.
Peeling coat: Weakness or damage in your body’s systems.
Yellow coating: Inflammation or infection in your body.
In Chinese medicine, different areas of the tongue point are said to represent different systems in the body, such as the adrenals, the digestive, nervous and immune systems and more.
It’s a good idea to pay attention to your tongue and take note if you see any sudden changes. The interconnection of the various systems of the body is a fascinating thing. This post is only a very basic overview, so in order to get a truly accurate diagnosis, see a Chinese medical practitioner.
Image: Michael