TONGUE DIAGNOSIS

Question 1

Look for…
On body:
On coat:

Answer 1

On body: COLOUR, SHAPE, BEARING

On coat: COLOUR, TEXTURE, THICKNESS, MOISTURE, DISTRIBUTION

Question 2

TONGUE BODY - COLOUR
Pale
Red

Answer 2

Pale: QI AND BLOOD DEF (will be somewhat dry) / DEFICIENCY COLD / YANG DEF (will be wet)

Red: HEAT (excess=with coat, def=no coat)

Question 3

TONGUE BODY - COLOUR
Crimson
Blue
Blueish purple

Answer 3

Crimson: INTENSE HEAT / HEAT IN BLOOD
Blue: BLOOD STAGNATION / COLD STAG
Blueish purple: BLOOD STAGNATION

Question 4

TONGUE BODY
Pale sides
Red spots
Red points/dots

Answer 4

Pale sides: LIVER BLOOD DEF
Red spots: HEAT AND BLOOD STASIS
Red points/dots: HEAT

Question 5

Swollen tongue

Thin tongue

Answer 5

Swollen tongue: DAMP OR PHLEGM RETENTION

Thin tongue: BLOOD OR YIN DEF

Question 6

Short tongue

Long tongue

Answer 6

Short tongue: INTERNAL COLD

Long tongue: HEART FIRE

Question 7

Teeth-marked tongue

Pointed

Answer 7

Teeth-marked tongue: SPLEEN DEF OR SP/KI YANG DEF

Pointed: LIVER QI STASIS

Question 8

Prickly/thorny tongue shape
Tip
Middle
Sides

Answer 8

Tip : HEART FIRE
Middle: STOMACH HEAT
Sides: LIVER/GB HEAT

Question 9

Fissured/cracked tongue:
Vertical crack in middle
Vertical crack middle to tip
Transverse

Answer 9

Fissured/cracked tongue: YIN DEF (general) OR

Vertical crack in middle: ST YIN DEF
Vertical crack middle to tip: HT FIRE
Transverse: CHRONIC SP QI OR YANG DEF

Question 10

DEVIATED TONGUE

Answer 10

Internal/ external Wind OR

Stroke or paralysis

Question 11

Trembling tongue

Stiff tongue

Answer 11

Trembling tongue: Internal wind / SP Qi def

Stiff tongue: Internal wind/ Blood stagnation

Question 12

Absence of tongue coat

Answer 12

ST Yin deficiency

Question 13

White tongue coat

Yellow tongue coat

Answer 13

White: COLD PATTERN / EXTERNAL COLD PATHOGEN
Yellow: HEAT / DAMP HEAT / ST HEAT

Question 14

Grey tongue coat

Black tongue coat

Answer 14

Grey: LONG-TERM HEAT OR COLD PATTERN
Black: CRITICAL CASE OF COLD/HEAT PATTERN

Question 15

Peeling coat

patchy-any region

Answer 15

ST Yin def / ST Qi def

Question 16

Thick tongue coat

Thin tongue coat

Answer 16

Thick: PRESENCE OF PATHOGEN / FOOD RETENTION / DAMP OR PHLEGM

Thin: HEALTHY STATE / ONSET OF EXT PATHOGEN

Question 17

Slimy/greasy tongue coat

hard to wipe off

Answer 17

DAMP / PHLEGM

FOOD RETENTION

Question 18

Curdy (easy to wipe off)

Answer 18

ST Qi def

Question 19

Dry coat

Slippery/moist coat

Answer 19

Dry coat: HEAT (exc/def) CONSUMING FLUIDS

Slippery/moist coat: YANG DEF / DAMP

Question 20

heat