Tongue diagnosis
shé zhěnDiagnosis
Overview
Tongue diagnosis (she zhen) is a diagnostic method in Traditional Chinese Medicine that observes the tongue body and coating to assess pathological conditions. It is a key component of inspection (wang) in the four diagnostic methods.
Theoretical points
- The tongue body (she zhi) reflects the deficiency or excess of Qi and blood in the viscera, with emphasis on spirit, color, shape, and form.
- A pale tongue indicates deficiency or cold; a red or crimson tongue indicates heat; a purple or blue tongue indicates blood stasis.
- A swollen tongue with teeth marks suggests spleen deficiency with dampness; a thin tongue suggests yin or blood deficiency.
- The tongue coating (she tai) reflects the nature of pathogenic factors and the state of stomach Qi, assessed by color and texture.
- The tongue surface is divided into regions corresponding to organs: tip for heart and lungs, center for spleen and stomach, root for kidneys, and sides for liver and gallbladder.
Common patterns
- White coating indicates cold; yellow coating indicates heat; gray or black coating indicates extreme cold or extreme heat.
- Thick coating suggests excess or turbid pathogens; thin coating suggests normal or mild conditions.
- Moist coating indicates dampness or cold; dry coating indicates heat or fluid damage; greasy or curd-like coating indicates dampness or food stagnation; peeling coating indicates stomach Qi deficiency or yin damage.
Daily care
- Maintain a balanced diet and regular lifestyle to support healthy spleen and stomach Qi.
- Avoid excessive cold or hot foods that may alter tongue coating and affect diagnosis.
- Practice stress reduction and adequate rest to preserve Qi and blood.
Connections
Educational content on traditional medicine; not a substitute for a qualified practitioner.