wk5 - tongue shape Flashcards
T or F: fluid pathologies are reflected in the tongue after a long time, as they develop.
true
what pathologies are generally associated with a thin tongue?
deficiencies:
- fluid, blood & yin deficiency
- qi deficiency
what does a thin tongue with blood deficiency look like?
- thin
- pale or orange body (orange = long term)
- dry
what does a thin tongue with yin deficiency look like?
- thin
- red body
- dry
what does a thin tongue with early stage qi deficiency look like? (color & moisture)
- thin
- pale
- normal moisture (bc early stage)
what pathologies are generally associated with a thick tongue?
- excess damp or phlegm
- could also be long term vacuity:
> late stage SP qi vacuity
> late stage KD or SP yang vacuity
what does a late stage SP qi deficiency tongue look like? (thickness & moisture)
thick & wet
what does a late stage SP or KD yang deficiency tongue look like? (thickness & moisture)
thick & wet
T or F: swelling alone does not indicate whether it’s an excess or vacuity condition
true
what does swelling in the upper jiao area indicate?
- exterior invasion that has moved internally after a couple days (e.g. cold)
- will most likely see it in the LU position; not the HT position
what does swelling in the middle jiao area indicate?
- longer term ST/SP vacuity with beginning of damp accumulation (very organ-specific)
- sides of tongue may seem very thin
what does swelling in the lower jiao area indicate?
- damp heat in the lower jiao (e.g. damp heat in the LI or UB)
- happens to women more frequently (e.g. UTI’s)
what does swelling along the sides (or one side) indicate?
- if both sides swollen = damp accumulation
- if left side swollen = damp heat, intense LV fire
what does “false swelling” look like?
- looks double-mounded
- either center crack is so deep it that it looks like both sides are swollen (but it ‘s really just one swelling with a crack in the middle)
- or, it’s not swollen at all but the center crack is so deep that it appears swollen
what does swelling of both sides indicate?
- first, assess origin by looking at color & moisture
- if red & damp = damp heat
- if scarlet & dry = fire
what does overall swelling with scallops indicate?
- late stage qi vacuity
- scallops bc tongue is too big, and is pressing up against teeth
- scallops help us assess how long term the situation is
T or F: hammerhead shape of tongue is NOT considered swelling.
true
what pathology is associated with a hammerhead shaped tongue?
- psychiatric disorder (bc HT is being distorted)
- usually a significant disorder
what pathology is generally associated with a long tongue?
- excess conditions, which could over time lengthen tongue
- generally excess heat
what pathologies are generally associated with a short tongue?
- usu. nutrient deficiency (mostly qi or blood xu) bc reflects lack of nourishment
- cold (bc tongue is a myo & contracts when cold), in which case it would be short and pale or blue in color
what does a flaccid tongue look like?
- lacks tone
- just sort of hangs
- is spiritless
what pathology is generally associated with a flaccid tongue?
always associated with a vacuity bc reflects lack of nourishment:
- qi or yang vacuity
- blood or yin vacuity
what does a stiff tongue look like?
- lacks flexibility, not pliable
- looks like a board
- speech is likely to be impaired
what pathology is generally associated with a stiff tongue?
- long term lack of nourishment
- if more on dry side, indicates blood & yin vacuity (due to failure of nourishment drying out tongue over time)
what pathology is generally associated with tongue that’s curled?
heat (usually Heart heat)
what pathology is generally associated with tongue that’s curled DOWN?
vacuity heat
what pathology is generally associated with tongue that’s curled UP?
excess heat
what is a geographic tongue?
has cracks or tire treads in specific areas of the tongue map
what pathology is associated with horizontal cracks?
always yin vacuity (may be location-specific or not)
what do horizontal cracks throughout tongue indicate?
KD yin vacuity (KD is the root of all yin)
what do horizontal cracks at the center of tongue indicate?
ST yin vacuity
what do horizontal cracks at the sides of tongue indicate?
SP qi vacuity (throws the map aside)
what pathology is associated with tire treads (deep cracks / gouges)?
long term severe yin deficiency (may be constitutional or congenital)
what pathology is associated with cross-shaped (x) cracks?
yin vacuity (location is biggest factor in diagnosis)
what pathologies are associated with a longitudinal center crack?
- ST yin vacuity
- ST heat
- SP / ST heat
(look at tongue coat to distinguish between conditions)
what pathology is associated with a center crack that extends to tip?
- HT problem (usu. a weakness)
- if redness at tip, may be HT fire
- there may be psycho emotional stress (Shen is disturbed)
what pathology is associate with a longitudinal center crack with horizontal cracks coming off of it?
- really long term KD yin vacuity
- chronic; seen in elderly
what pathologies are associated with a deviated tongue?
- excess / wind (e.g. LV yang rising, or hyperactivity of Lv yang)
- blood vacuity (bc vessels are not full, and wind fills the space)
- yin vacuity (bc not enough yin to anchor yang, which becomes hyperactive)
- may indicate stroke
what pathologies are associated with numbness of the tongue?
- deficiency (e.g. qi, blood, or yang deficiency bc failure to nourish)
- excess bc vacuity often gives rise to excess (e.g. qi or blood stagnation, phlegm, or damp bc it blocks circulation of nourishment)
- note: lack of nourishment leads to deficiency and block of nourishment leads to excess
what pathology is associated with a moving tongue (that makes large, slow, undulating, involuntary movements)?
internal wind
what pathologies are associated with a quivering tongue (that makes rapid small movements)?
either excess or vacuity:
- extreme qi & blood vacuity (possibly yin vacuity)
- excess heat
what pathology is associated with ulcerations on the tongue tip?
HT fire (can be excess or vacuity)
what pathology is associated with open sores on the tongue tip?
HT toxin (e.g. poison or Ebola – always an excess heat)
T or F: fire can be excess or vacuity.
true
e.g. yin vacuity heat/fire, or excess fire
