Tongue Inspection Generalities

Question 0

In general, if a tongue body is red it is caused by…?

Answer 0

heat

Question 1

In general, a pale tongue body can be caused by…?

Answer 1

Qi and Blood deficiency

Question 2

In heat syndromes, a red tip on a tongue can indicate…?

Answer 2

flaming up of heart fire

Question 3

In heat syndromes, red on the lateral sides of the tongue can indicate…?

Answer 3

LV-GB fire

Question 4

In heat syndromes, red in the center of the tongue can indicate…?

Answer 4

damage of ST yin

Question 5

In heat syndromes, red with blood spots indicate…?

Answer 5

PC heat

Question 6

In heat syndromes, red tongue with petachia (sp?) indicate…?

Answer 6

blood stasis

Question 7

In heat syndromes, a bright red tongue might indicate one of two things…?

Answer 7

• extreme heat in epidemic febrile disease
  or
  -deficiency of yin in consumptive disease

Question 8

In heat syndromes, a crimson tongue might indicate…?

Answer 8

an exuberance of heat
or
nutrient system being invaded

Question 9

If the appearance of the tongue is solid this shows…?

Answer 9

excess pattern

Question 10

If the appearance of the tongue is tender, this shows…?

Answer 10

deficiency pattern

Question 11

If the appearance of the tongue is stiff, this indicates…?

Answer 11

fluid deficiency or high fever

Question 12

If the appearance of the tongue is puffy with teeth marks, this shows…?

Answer 12

phlegm damp accumulation
or
phlegm from SP def

Question 13

If the appearance of the tongue is plump with no teeth marks, this indicates…?

Answer 13

Qi deficiency

Question 14

If the appearance of the tongue is thin and shriveled, this can show one of three things…?

Answer 14

HT def
Blood def
internal heat damaged Yin

Question 15

If the appearance of the tongue is swollen, stiff and purple with no pain, this can indicate…?

Answer 15

hyperactivity of HT fire
or
accumulation of heat in the HT and SP

Question 16

If the appearance of the tongue is shortened or contracted, this can indicate….?

Answer 16

cold, heat, damp or phlegm

also indicates a poor shen

Question 17

If the appearance of the tongue is curled with ascended sides, this can indicate…? (3 things)

Answer 17

complete exhaustion of LV meridian energy
or
terminal stage of febrile disease
or
severe cerebral vascular accident

Question 18

If the appearance of the tongue is glossy without coating or mirror like, this can indicate…?

Answer 18

exhaustion of ST Yin

Question 19

If the appearance of the tongue has sores, this can indicate…?

Answer 19

upward attack of HT fire

Question 20

If the motility of the tongue is deviated, this can indicate…? (3 things)

Answer 20

apoplexy
meningitis
encephalitis B

Question 21

If the motility of the tongue includes tremors, this could indicate…? (2 things)

Answer 21

internal wind

alcoholism

Question 22

If the motility of the tongue is sluggish or retracted, this could indicate…? (2 things)

Answer 22

obstruction of HT aperture by phlegm
or
depletion of Yin by heat

Question 23

What are the four aspects of tongue body to inspect?

Answer 23

vitallity
color
shape
motility

Question 24

What are the seven aspects of the tongue coating to inspect?

Answer 24

color
thickness
humidity
property 
distribution
peeling 
rooted