Tongue Flashcards by C. Thames

What does the tongue body indicate?

The state of blood, nutritive qi and yin organs

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Pale, Wet tongue

Yang deficiency

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Pale, Dry tongue

Blood deficiency

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Pale sides, or slightly orange

LV Blood Def

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Red tongue

Heat

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Red with coat

Full- Heat

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Red without coat

Empty Heat

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Red tip with coat

Heart Fire

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Red tip without coat

Heart Empty Heat

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Red sides with coat

Liver Fire or Gall bladder heat

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Red side without coat

Liver Yin Def with Empty Heat

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Red centre

Heat or Empty Heat of the stomach (depends on coat)

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Red points on the tip

Heart Fire

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Red points on the sides

Liver Fire

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Red spots on the root

Heat in the lower burner

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Red points around the centre

Stomach Heat

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Purple tongue

Blood stasis

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Reddish Purple

Blood stasis from heat

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Bluish Purple

Blood stasis from cold

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Reddish purple sides

Liver blood stasis

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Bluish purple sides in women

blood stasis in uterus

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Purple in the center

Blood stasis in the stomach

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Tongue-body shape indicates what…

The State of Blood and Nutritive Qi and whether it is Full or Empty

Pale, thin tongue

Blood deficiency

Red, thin tongue

Yin deficiency

Swollen tongue

Dampness or phlegm

Partially swollen

Heat

Stiff tongue

Interior wind or blood stasis

Flaccid

Def of body fluids

Long tongue

Heat, in particular Heart heat

Short tongue that is pale and wet

Interior cold

Short tongue that is red and peeled

Extreme Yin Def

Cracked tongue

Full-heat or Yin Def

Short horizontal or vertical cracks

Stomach Yin Def

Long deep midline crack reaching the tip

Heart pattern

Shallow, wide crack in the center not reaching the tip

Stomach Yin def

Short transverse cracks on the sides or in the middle

Spleen Qi or Spleen Yin Def

Quivering tongue

Spleen Qi Def

Deviated tongue

Interior Wind

Tooth-marked tongue

Spleen Qi Def

Tongue coating reflects what...

State of the Yang Organs, in particular the Stomach

Thick coat

Pathogenic factor, the thicker the stronger

Absence of coat

Stomach Yin Def

Total absence of coat, red tongue body

Stomach and KD Yin Def with Empty Heat

White Coat

Cold pattern

Yellow Coat

Full Heat pattern

Grey or Black coat

Extreme cold or extreme heat

Tongue Moisture indicates what...

State of body fluids

Too Wet

Yang Def

Too Dry

Heat or Yin Def

Sticky or slippery coat

Damp or phlegm

What medication is indicated by a tongue peeled in patches?

Antibiotics (injures ST yin)

What medication causes the tongue to be red and swollen?

Corticosteroids (up to one month after administration)

What medication causes the tongue tip to become red?

Bronchodiatlators (after prolonged use)

What medication causes a peeled tongue?

Diuretics (causes Yin deficiency)

What medication causes red points or makes the tongue body thinner and peeled?

Anti-inflammatories

What medications can cause the thick brown or black and dry coat?

Anti-neoplastics (cytotoxic drugs)