TCM Tongue Diagnosis Flashcards by Evan G

Moist Coat

Damp-Phlegm
Cold-Damp
Deficiency Cold
Almost any Cold pattern
Tai Yin / Shao Yin

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Moist & Slimy Coat

Dampness due to Spleen Deficiency

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Dry Coats

Heat (generally)

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Dry & Rough Coat

Damage to fluids by Exuberant Heat
-most often occurs in externally contracted febrile disease

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Dry & Slimy Coat

Phlegm-Damp obstructing the center
-confirming sign: thurst w/o desire to drink
Dehydration

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Thicker Coats

Indicate stronger Evil
-if coat thickens in course of disease – getting worse

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Thinner Coats

Indicate weaker Evil
-if coat thins in coarse of disease – getting better

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Slimy Coats

Dampness
Phlegm
Food Stagnation

Covering whole tongue = stronger Evil
Covering only center = more chronic condition

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Grimy & Slimy Coat

Turbid Phlegm or Turbid Damp w/ Stomach Qi Deficiency
-often seen w/ Food Stagnation
-bad breath

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Peeling Coat

Insufficient Yin Humor w/ ST Qi Deficiency

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Peeling w/ Non-Transforming Slimy Coat

Phlegm Damp Failing to Transform
Damage to Yin Humor & ST Qi

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Thick Slimy Coat that Suddenly & Completely Peels Away

Major damage to Right Qi

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Chicken Heart Tongue

Stomach Yin Deficiency
(peels down middle from tip)

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White, Moist, Thin Coat

Normal tongue
W/ Exterior signs: Evil has not yet entered interior

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White & Moist Coat

Cold (generally)

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White, Moist & Thick Coat

Cold Damp
Cold-Phlegm

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White, Very Dry, & Thin Coat

Insufficiency of Fluids

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White, Thick & Dry Coat

Transformation of Cold Evil into Heat

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Mealy White Coat w/ Red Body

Dampness Trapping Hidden Heat

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White, Thick, Slimy Coat

Phlegm Damp

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Tofu Coat
(slimy/greasy w/ caked appearance)

Sweltering Damp Heat w/ ST Qi Deficiency & damage to Yin

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Yellow, Thin, Dry Coat

Damage to liquid by Heat Evil

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Slimy Yellow Coat

Damp Heat
Phlegm Damp

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Yellow Coats

Excess Heat (generally)

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Old Yellow / Burnt Yellow

Binding of Excess Heat

Mixed White & Yellow Coat

Cold transforming into Heat Shao Yang disorder

Black Coats

Extreme Heat, Cold, or Excess

Rough, Dry, Parched-Black Coat on Deep Red Tongue

Damp-Heat transforming into Dryness Damage to Yin by intense Heat

Thick, Slimy Black Coat

Phlegm-Damp

Moist & Black Coat

ST Qi Deficiency KD Yang Deficiency

Slimy Yellow mixed w/ Grayish-Black Coat

Exuberant Damp Heat Evil

Mixed Gray & White Coat or Thin, Moist Gray Coat

Cold Damp

Enlarged Tongue

Qi Deficiency Yang Deficiency (if body is pale & coat is moist white)

Enlarged w/ a Shiny Coat

Dampness Damp Heat

Red, Sore, Swollen Tongue

Intense Heat Evil Up-flaming of Heart Fire

Shrunken & Pale Tongue

Qi & Yin Deficiency Qi & Blood Deficiency

Shrunken & Red Tongue

Yin-liquid Deficiency leading to heat

Shrunken, Crimson, & Dry

Damage to Yin Humor by Exuberant Heat

Red Speckles & Prickles

Exuberant Heat Common in febrile disease

Fissures on a Red Tongue

Exuberant Heat Damaging Fluids or Yin

Fissures on a Pale Tongue

Qi & Blood Deficiency Damage to Qi and Yin

Mirror Tongues

Yin Humor Depletion

Mirror Red / Crimson Tongue

Damage to Yin by intense Heat

Mirror Pale

Damage to both Qi & Yin

Pale Tongue

Qi & Blood Deficiency

Pale, Moist, Enlarged Tongue

Yang Qi Deficiency

Red Tongue Body

Heat

Red Body w/ Yellow Coat

Excess Heat

Red w/ Thin White Coat

Damage to Yin

Crimson Tongue Body

Heat in Ying or Blood Aspects Effulgent Yin Deficiency Fire

Red Tongue Tip

Up-Flaming of Heart Fire

Red Tip + Yellow Fur

Hyperactive Heart Fire

Red Tip + Mirror Red Body

Heart-Kidney non-interaction

Red (or Crimson) Shrunken Tongue

Effulgent Yin Deficiency Fire

Bluish or Purple Tongue

Impaired flow of Qi & Blood i.e. Qi Stagnation and/or Blood Stasis

Purple Macules

Localized Blood Stasis

Stiff Tongue

Heat entering Pericardium Phlegm Confounding Orifices of Heart Phlegm Obstructing Network (Luo) Vessels Liver Wind Stirring Internally

Limp Pale Tongue

Qi & Blood Deficiency

Limp Red Tongue

Intense Heat Yin Humor Depletion

Contracted Red Tongue

Damage to Yin by Extreme Heat

Contracted Pale Tongue

Yang Qi Desertion

Deviating Tongue

Wind Strike Liver Wind Stirring Internally

Trembling Red or Deep Red Tongue

Ascending Hyperactive Liver Yang Internal Wind Stirred by Exuberant Heat

Trembling Pale Tongue

Qi Deficiency

Protrusion & Agitation of Tongue

Internal Wind About to Stir Developmental Disability due to Former Heaven Essence Insufficiency