Reading health from our tongues...

Tongue Diagnosis

Tongue diagnosis has been an actual diagnostic tool for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Many people in their middle ages and senior years actually can remember going to the doctor and the first thing they asked you was to stick out your tongue.

Chinese medicine also uses the principles of Yin and Yang, two of the body's forms of life energies. Keeping these two in bal

ance is also part of the daily therapeutic principles.

Everyone's life energies ebb and flow back and forth depending on the multitudes of forces which we are bombarded with on a continuous basis. Your diet, exercise, stress levels, work environment, your physical health and even the choices you make each day during the daily circumstances all vary the balance of emotions, health and well-being on a minute by minute basis. Keeping a good balance therefore through your daily environment yields proper health.

How To Utilize Tongue Diagnosis
No two tongues in this whole world are exactly alike. Your own changes daily also as circumstances arise which dictates a change in your body's perceptions. The size, shape, color, moisture level and the texture will show a continuous change as different events unfold in your life each day.

A perfect tongue is smooth in texture, it fits comfortably in your mouth between your teeth. It is not too thick or too thin, should have a pretty pink color with a thin white transparent coating.

This description means you are in perfect health. All variations from this means you are having some kind of reaction. Reading and understanding these signs is the art of tongue diagnosis.

Follow the chart below to see some of the common characteristics of a tongue in varying degrees of poor health. Most of these can be deciphered right from your own home.

1.
-Tongue Appearance-:
Too thick with scalloped edges

-Accompanying Symptoms-:
Lethargy, feeling of heaviness in limbs, lack of motivation

-What It Means-:
flow of fluids in body off-balanced

-What You Can Do-:
Cut down on dairy products and sugar.Eat more of the following: beef and chicken(proteins),fruits such as coconut, figs grapes, cherries and dates
vegetables such as shitake mushrooms, potatoes, squash and sweet potatoes
lentils and rice for grains
the herb ginseng

2.
-Tongue Appearance-:
Tongue appears too wet

-Accompanying Symptoms-:
excessive perspiration and phlegm

-What It Means-:
inbalance of fluids such as too much phlegm or water in the body

-What You Can Do-:
Eat more foods which will help you dry the excess fluids:
barley and rye for grains
proteins such as aduki beans, kidney beans, mackerel and sardines
vegetables include corn, mushrooms, celery, onions, turnips, pumpkin, lettuce, radishes, watercress and seaweed
lemons and plums for fruits
herbs to include pepper, garlic and horseradish

3.
-Tongue Appearance-:
Tongue is too thin and very dry

-Accompanying Symptoms-:
insomnia, dry skin, constipation and stress

-What It Means-:
dehydrated, body feels over-taxed

-What You Can Do-:
Reduce caffeinated products, get more rest. Increase your intake of water. Eat more root vegetables, asparagus and seafood.

4.
-Tongue Appearance-:
Blue/purple areas on tongue

-Accompanying Symptoms-:
stress, sedentary lifestyle

-What It Means-:
Liver problems, your blood and energy are not flowing properly

-What You Can Do-:
Get moving and stretching everyday. Eat more foods that help promote the movement of qi. Crab for protein
onions, chili peppers, radishes, scallions and carrots for vegetables
herbs and spices include mint, safflower oil, basil, cloves, garlic, cayenne, coriander, marjoram and dill

5.
-Tongue Appearance-:
Tongue too pale/ orange color

-Accompanying Symptoms-:
fatigue, frequent illness

-What It Means-:
blood deficiencies, anemia

-What You Can Do-:
Eat foods that build your blood and maximize its function: lamb, red meats, sardines, oysters, eggs, kidney beans and liver
add grapes, apricots, dates and figs
green leafy vegetables and spinach

6.
-Tongue Appearance-:
Tongue is swollen and pale

-Accompanying Symptoms-:
you always feel cold, back aches and knee discomfort

-What It Means-:
excess of yang

-What You Can Do-:
Eat more warming food to increase your yang:
proteins like lamb, lobster and shrimp
raspberries for fruit
walnuts and pistachios
herbs and spices such as basil, chives, dill, garlic, cinnamon, ginger and cloves

7.
-Tongue Appearance-:
no coating or a yellowish coating on tongue

-Tongue Appearance-:
Recent illness, smoking

-What It Means-:
too much heat in the body, possible infection, too much coffee, not enough rest. A tongue with no coat or a yellowish coat designates a yin deficiency.

-What You Can Do-:
Stop smoking. Cut back on caffeine. Eliminate artificial sugar substitutes. Eat cooling foods that nourish your yin:
vegetables like spinach, asparagus and lettuce
fruits like bananas, grapefruit, lemons and watermelon
protein from seafood and egg whites

Many times to obtain a better tongue diagnosis, a change in diet, sleep habits, exercise or dropping a few bad habits (alcohol, drugs and smoking) can lead to a dramatic increase in general health within just a couple of weeks.

But if you are worried about the look or feel of your tongue diagnosis, make an appointment with an experienced practitioner for a more in-depth and detailed report.

Giving a professional the opportunity to check and treat can often lead to better health rewards in your own life.

(source:allergiesandalternativemedicine.com)