We rely on our bodies to alert us when something is amiss. Often, we can tell just by the state of our skin, nails, and hair how healthy we may or may not be. Our tongues, which have essential connections to other parts of our bodies, can also provide us with clues to our health. Traditional Chinese medicine, especially, visually observes the tongue to indicate internal imbalance, or a person’s overall harmony. Although its use has never been scientifically confirmed, non-western medical practitioners have for thousands of years considered the tongue an important indicator in determining a person’s health.
The Tongue as a Map of the Body
The tongue can be sectioned into areas with each location determining the health of the internal organ associated with it. The very tip of the tongue corresponds to the heart and lungs. The center of the tongue channels the spleen and stomach, the base and root of the tongue to the kidneys, bladder, and intestines, and the sides of the tongue to the liver and gallbladder. When any of these areas veer from what’s deemed healthy, it is a helpful indicator for a medical practitioner to more accurately diagnose and treat a problem.
For a basic diagnosis, examine the tongue’s color and coating. According to traditional Chinese medicine, a normal tongue’s body is light reddish-pink with a very thin white coating (the coating may be more pronounced in the morning). Redness in an area means that that particular organ is overworked and overheated. For example, if there is redness, or stress, located in the region associated with the stomach, a person might be experiencing abnormal digestion. A tongue’s coating is natural, appears over the entire surface, and provides care and moisture for the tongue. But if the coating collects in certain areas, this points to problems with the associated organ.
Examine your tongue in sunlight for best results. Remember to relax and extend your tongue, but don’t hold it out for too long because this affects its color.
Color
- Pink or light red indicates normality.
- A red tongue means there is either an excess or deficiency of heat in the body. Excess body heat often relates to inflammation and possibly, infection. Deficient heat, or yin, may occur because of stress, and should be treated with foods that nourish and build up the body. A red tip may indicate heat in the area of the heart.
- Paleness indicates blood deficiency, or qi (energy).
- A bluish tongue is caused by coldness, while a purple tongue is caused by the blood failing to circulate properly.
Coating
- A thin, white tongue coating is normal.
- A yellow-ish coating indicates overheating of the organs. The darker the yellow, the more problematic, and it could mean stomach and intestinal issues.
- A white, almost butter-like, coating is a sign of bad digestion and a low immune system.
- No coating with a dry, red tongue points to a heat deficiency.
Features
- Red spots on the tongue could indicate overheating of the heart, possibly paired with chest pain.
- White spots are usually related to spleen or stomach energy deficiency.
- Teeth marks along the sides of the tongue could be due to fatigue, which causes the tongue to become slightly thicker than normal due to decreased circulation.
It’s important to remember that these are simply guidelines defined by traditional medicine, and some variations are normal. For instance the color and texture of your tongue may change based on the time of day, and depending upon what you eat. It’s only when any of these situations are continuous (say, a swollen, whitish tongue) that could indicate problems with chronic indigestion or diseases.
Nevertheless, it’s interesting to see what your tongue, which is a gauge for your internal well-being, might be saying.
