Pulse and tongue

Question 1

Why do we examine the pulse and tongue in TCM?

Answer 1

• observation of them both is a pillar of diagnosis.
• tongue diagnosis is remarkably reliable; it is a reflection of the true condition of the body.
• the tongue’s appearance is useful in monitoring the improvement of the condition of the body over time.
• the pulse is also able to assess what is happening internally.

Question 2

What 5 things do we look for when examining the tongue?

Answer 2

1. body colour.
2. body shape.
3. tongue coating.
4. tongue moisture.
5. spirit/shen.

Question 3

What does tongue colour represent?

Answer 3

• it is the colour of the tongue itself undercoating.
• reflects the condition of the yin organs, Blood and Nutritive Qi.
• Reflects the true condition of the body irrespective of temporary conditions (physical exertion or emotions).

Question 4

What does tongue body shape distinguish?

Answer 4

• not just the physical contours of the tongue.
• consistency, texture and mobility.
• Observe whether the tongue is thin or swollen, long/short and whether specific parts of the tongue are swollen.
• features of the tongue.

Question 5

What does tongue coating distinguish?

Answer 5

• AKA: fur/moss.
• consists of the tips of the papillae.
• a physiological by-product of the stomach’s digestion.
• tongue coating can provide information about a variety of internal conditions

Question 6

what does tongue moisture distinguish?

Answer 6

• an indication of the body’s fluids.
• A tongue can be dry, moist or wet.

Question 7

What are the characteristics of a normal tongue?

Answer 7

• Colour: pale red and fresh looking.
• shape: supple; neither too flabby nor too stiff. Not cracked, does not tremble or quiver when extended and is neither swollen nor thin.
• coating; thin and white.
• moisture; slightly moist neither too dry nor too wet.
• spirit/shen: Radiant and brilliant.

Question 8

what does pulse diagnosis represent?

Answer 8

• The state of balance of the body as a whole.
• the state of Qi, blood, yin and yang and even constitution.
• the state of individual organs (especially yin).

Question 9

What do we look for with the width of the pulse?

Answer 9

• TCM practitioners feel the pulse and note the rate.
• Feel for width or amplitude, length, how close it is to the surface, how deep and close to the bone it is, the strength and other qualities.

Question 10

How do we take the pulse?

Answer 10

• three fingers on the radial pulse of the patient.
• the patient should be; relaxed neither tense nor flaccid.
• middle finger at the level of the styloid process.

Question 11

What 4 things are we looking for with the pulse?

Answer 11

1. Rate (how fast or slow)
2. strength; how strong/weak.
3. fullness (how thick or thin).
4. location.

Question 12

What is yin deficiency in the tongue?

Answer 12

• the absence of a coat.
• signs of empty heat; all dependent on relativity.

Question 13

what is yang deficiency in the tongue?

Answer 13

• pale tongue and body colour.
• coating dependent on the accumulation of dampness.

Question 14

what is the pulse of yin deficiency?

Answer 14

• Fast and thin pulse.

Question 15

what is the pulse like with yang deficiency?

Answer 15

• deep, slow, weak.

Question 16

what are the 6 pathogenic factors of the tongue?

Answer 16

• cold.
• heat.
• wind.
• dampness.
• dryness.
• summer-heat.

Question 17

how does the tongue look with the cold pathogen?

Answer 17

• white coat; can also be thin if other clinical symptoms are present.
• bluish-purple; can also be indicative of a cold.

Question 18

what does a heat pathogenic tongue look like?

Answer 18

• yellow coat and red tongue.

Question 19

What does a wind pathogenic tongue look like?

Answer 19

• quiver, stiffness and deviation of the tongue.

Question 20

What does a damp pathogenic tongue look like?

Answer 20

• very wet tongue?

Question 21

what does a dry pathogenic tongue look like?

Answer 21

• very dry tongue.

Question 22

How do blood deficiency and stasis affect the tongue?

Answer 22

Blood deficiency; pale tongue.
blood stasis; dark red to purple.