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The Tongue as a diagnostic tool

In determining health, Chinese Medicine considers the tongue a pillar of diagnosis, alongside of observation (how the patient holds themselves, speaks, looks and feels), enquiry (conversation to determine what has brought the patient for treatment) and the pulses.


A 'normal', healthy tongue is pale red in colour, slightly moist, has a thin, white coating and fits tidily inside the mouth; tongues which present outside of these 'norms' can suggest an underlying health imbalance according to the principles of Qi, Yin and Yang.


Imbalances can show up in various ways, here are just a few:

  • Thickened tongue coating - that is to say, a coating that prevents the tongue body itself from being visible; the colour of the coating (usually either very white or very yellow) is also significant, while no coating at all can also be revealing;

  • Tongue size - it should be neither too large, nor too thin. Teeth marks on the sides of the tongue might indicate a weakness in the Earth element, which relates to digestion and energy levels;

  • Moisture - it should be neither too dry, which might indicate excess heat in the body, nor too wet, which could imply dampness within;

  • Cracks - unless you are born with cracks on the tongue, oftentimes along the midline, this could indicate too much heat in the body.

  • Engorged veins under the tongue - might indicate that Blood is not flowing freely, which could impact energy levels and mood.


Along with the feet and the ears, the tongue is considered a micro-system of the body; this means that the entire body, including its organs and appendages, can be mapped on its surface. In this way, the practitioner can look for signs of imbalance in specific body parts according to how the tongue presents and along with information gathered from observation, enquiry and the pulses, this will help inform the practitioner determine how to proceed with the treatment.




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