Tongue Diagnosis

Question 1

The most numerous and smallest papillae on the tongue; distributed over the tongue, tip, body and sides

Answer 1

Filiform Papillae

Question 2

Papillae mostly seen on the tip of the tongue. Newborns have more of this papillae than adults.

Answer 2

Fungiform Papillae

Question 3

The e larger papillae, 7-9 in number, arranged in a V-Shaped distribution anterior to the sulcus terminalis, which separates the tongue body from the tongue root.

Answer 3

Circumvallate Papillae

Question 4

Three to six in number, these papillae are found only in a small percentage of general population and are considered a remnant of past evolutionary stages.

Answer 4

Foliate Papillae

Question 5

The posterior third of the tongue is associated most closely with which organs?

Answer 5

Kidney + Bladder
Organs of lower burner

Question 6

The middle of the tongue is analogous / associated with which organs?

Answer 6

Spleen + Stomach
The middle burner

Question 7

The anterior third of the tongue is most closely associated with which organs?

Answer 7

Lung + Heart
The upper burner organs

Question 8

The lateral portions of the tongue are most closely associated with which organs?

Answer 8

Liver + Gallbladder
The lateral aspect of the abdomen

Question 9

How does the tongue and it’s coating typical appear in the morning before the first meal?

Answer 9

The tongue coating is typically thicker and the color may appear dim (dusky) when one first awakens.

Question 10

What is the typical tongue coating in the spring?

Answer 10

Normal

Question 11

What is the typical tongue coating in the summer?

Answer 11

Slightly thick and yellow

Question 12

What is the typical tongue coating in the autumn?

Answer 12

Thin and dry

Question 13

What is the typical tongue coating in the winter?

Answer 13

Moist

Question 14

What is a common change in the tongue for a person menstruating?

Answer 14

The tip or side of the tongue may be slightly more red.

Question 15

After menstruation what is the typical color of the tongue body?

Answer 15

The tongue may be slightly pale in color

Question 16

Is a black tongues coating in a genetically female person a critical sign?

Answer 16

No. It is critical in a genetically male person

Question 17

The normal tongue is…

Answer 17

Pink with a thin white coating.

Question 18

Teeth marks, quivering tongue and small cracks on the side of the tongue could indicate…

Answer 18

Spleen Qi Deficiency

Question 19

Red only on the tip of the tongue would indicate…

Answer 19

Heart Heat

Question 20

Red only on the sides of the tongue would indicate…

Answer 20

Liver/GB fire or Liv yin def

Question 21

Red only on the center of the tongue would indicate…

Answer 21

Stomach heat or yin deficiency

Question 22

Red only on the back of the tongue would indicate…

Answer 22

UB, lower jiao heat

Question 23

Crack in the center of the tongue that does not reach the tip may indicate…

Answer 23

Stomach yin deficiency

Question 24

A red tongue indicates…

Answer 24

Heat Syndrome
Excess or deficiency heat

Question 25

a deep red tongue indicates...

Answer 25

**Extreme Heat** Exogenous excess heat or yin deficiency w/ blazing fire

Question 26

A purple tongue indicates...

Answer 26

**Blood Stagnation** Blue-purple + dry = Stagnation due to heat Pale + purple & moist = stagnation due to cold

Question 27

A pale tongue indicates...

Answer 27

Deficiency & cold syndromes **Deficiency qi and blood**

Question 28

An orange tongue indicates...

Answer 28

Severe, persistent Lier blood deficiency that has become yin deficiency

Question 29

A yellow tongue coat coloring indicates...

Answer 29

Heat Syndromes

Question 30

A white tongue coat coloring indicates...

Answer 30

Cold Syndromes

Question 31

A black tongue coat coloring indicates...

Answer 31

&dry = extreme heat damaging fluids &moist = excessive cold from yang deficiency

Question 32

A grey tongue coat coloring indicates...

Answer 32

&yellow + dry = excess heat consuming fluids &white + moist = cold damp or phlegm in interior

Question 33

What does a thin tongue coating indicate?

Answer 33

Exterior condition (not a strong antipathogen qi)

Question 34

What does a thick tongue coating indicate?

Answer 34

Interior condition Damp, phlegm, food

Question 35

What does a dry tongue coating indicate?

Answer 35

Consumption of body fluids, excess or deficiency heat

Question 36

What does a moist tongue coating indicate?

Answer 36

Moist is normal Too moist = cold damp, water accumulation

Question 37

What does a sticky/ greasy tongue coating indicate?

Answer 37

Turbid damp, phlegm, food

Question 38

What does a granular tongue coating indicate?

Answer 38

Heat bringing turbid st qi up Phlegm, food retention

Question 39

What does a peeled/geographic tongue coating indicate?

Answer 39

St yin deficiency Severe St qi damage

Question 40

What does a swollen tongue indicate?

Answer 40

& deep red = excess heat in Ht and SP &blue-purple, dark = toxicosis &pale = Sp & Kidney yang deficiency

Question 41

What does a cracked tongue indicate?

Answer 41

& deep red = heat consuming fluids & pale= blood deficiency Cracks can be normal!

Question 42

What does a thin tongue (shape) indicate?

Answer 42

**Deficiency Qi and Blood** if dry = hyperactive fire from yin deficiency

Question 43

What does a thorny/prickle tongue indicate?

Answer 43

& red = excess pathogenic heat, interior

Question 44

What does a rigid tongue indicate?

Answer 44

Exogenous febrile dx Impending stroke Turbid phlegm interior Heat consuming fluids

Question 45

What does a deviated tongue indicate?

Answer 45

windstroke

Question 46

What does a flaccid tongue indicate?

Answer 46

& deep red= yin collapse &pale = deficiency qi and blood

Question 47

A tender tongue indicates...

Answer 47

Deficiency syndrome a. Tender and dry = qi and blood deficiency b. tender and wet = yang qi deficiency

Question 48

A tough tongue indicates...

Answer 48

Excessive heat syndrome (excessive path invasion cause qi and blood to rise, consuming qi and body fluids)