There are several shapes such crack and fissure on the surface of tongue, which differ in depth and numbers. And if you find cracks on a red tongue, it usually means that theres heat. Subjecting your tongue to constant injuries or trauma as a result of brushing too aggressively or friction from chipped tooth can cause cracks or fissures to develop on your tongue. If the tongue body also has cracks and there is little or no tongue coat, this usually indicates deficient heat due to. We are not looking at it to show the quality of your dental hygiene. Fissured tongue has been associated with geographic tongue and pustular psoriasis. It has a look of aliveness and is supple not stiff. The stomach crack on the tongue is rather wide and it is in the central section of the tongue corresponding to middle burner. Tongue assessment in traditional chinese medicine tcm. The cornerstone classics of chinese medicine tongue diagnosis, tongue diagnosis is a relatively. The four examinations, part 2 tongue diagnosis in chinese medicine. If there are sensations of a burning tongue, or pain due to canker sores in the mouth, or you are often irritable, look for a crimson red tongue or tongue tip with reddish prickles. Examining your tongue can tell you everything about your organs and the state of your health. By analyzing the tongue s shape, body color, coating and moisture level, a practitioner of chinese medicine can accurately determine a persons predominant health disharmony.
The appearance and qualities of the tongue is a critical part of diagnosis in chinese medicine tcm. If you find cracks that are horizontal, that almost always means yin insufficiency. A misguided study to test the reliability of traditional. A chinese medicine practitioner will take a thorough lifestyle history, a medical history, and then the first element of the body that is examined is the tongue. No wonder every doctors appointment start with tongue examination. Tierra, leslie tongue diagnosis american herbalists guild. Doctor of traditional chinese medicine vancouver area. Tongue diagnosis in tcm acupuncture theory tcm acupuncture theory. Tongue diagnosis and analysis natural health techniques. Tongue diagnosis in traditional chinese medicine january 26, 2016 sarah johnson if youve ever had an acupuncture treatment, there is a pretty good chance that at some point your practitioner has asked to take a look at your tongue. If you stick your tongue out at yourself in the mirror, you can actually see the health of your organs.
The stomach crack on the tongue is rather wide and it is in the. Qibloodbody fluids patterns zang fu patterns learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. Most people dont even notice the cracks on their tongue. Most common is the longitudinal midline crack running up the centre or the tongue from back to front. This is a common tongue when people have been sitting for too long or for women just before their periods start. However it is best to see a practitioner who specialises in tongue diagnosis. Treatment for irritation include vitamin and zinc supplements, and treatment for pain include pain revilers and antiinflammatory drugs. Tongue cracks do not show any symptoms are not painful. A cracked tongue diagnosis usually involves looking at the tongue to see what else is occurring alongside the cracks. How tongue diagnosis works by transformational acupuncture. Tcm doctors rely on tongue diagnosis to differentiate one syndrome from another, and use variations in the tongue s colour, texture, shape and coating to evaluate a patients condition. Even chinese medicine agrees that the tongue can point to all diseases affecting. It is a very accurate view into the inner health of an individual. These tongue cracks might go unnoticed because of their benign effects, but they change the tongue appearance.
A part from grooved tongue, this infections may also cause white bumps or lesion, pain and swelling of different parts of your mouth. In ayurveda, one of the primary investigative tools of practitioners for determining the state of ones health is tongue diagnosis or evaluation of the tongue. The four examinations, part 2 tongue diagnosis in chinese. Dec 22, 2019 the tongue, according to ayurveda, is a strong diagnostic tool for looking at ones systemic health. Chinese medicine also known as tcm pulse diagnosis is a more detailed and subtle process. In the traditional chinese medicine tcm system, the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with a conventional medicine diagnosis of hypothyroidism depends on the history, tongue, and pulse diagnosis. The effectiveness of this has led to an integrative approach in the diagnosis of a condition. This remedy is intended to hydrate the body that often causes dry mouth and cracks in the tongue. Traditional chinese medicine tongue diagnosis carahealth. Pulse diagnosis and tongue diagnosis are widely used in traditional chinese medicine. Jun 24, 2017 cracked tongue is a condition in which the top visible surface of your tongue gets cracks or fissures.
A thick tongue coating can indicate dampness in the system. It is likely that the yin deficiency preceded the blood stasis. It will often be necessary to crossreference several or all of these aspects to establish a full picture. Tongue diagnosis is a practice long used in traditional chinese medicine a system.
Cracks on the tongue coating can indicate that your nourishing fluids are burned out, just like the earth cracks when it becomes dry. Tongue diagnosis introduction tongue is generally known as the organ of taste. Another sign of yin deficiency is a tongue with deep cracks. Diagnosis through tongue acupuncture and chinese medicine. According to tcm theory, the tongue provides a geographic map of organ systems. Possible causes include food allergy, biting the tongue, malabsorbtion of vitamin b, colon imbalance and other factors. So i am going to educate you on what i look for by observing the tongue and how the tongue is used as a gateway to your health. Tongue diagnosis plays a key role in tcm traditional chinese medicine diagnosis. Jan 25, 2017 vertical crack on the tongue usually indicates the exhaustion of your body fluids specifically yin deficiency. Chronic yin deficiency leads to emptyheat and we know in this case that the blood stasis derives from heat as the tongue is a reddishpurple colour. Tcm doctors rely on tongue diagnosis to differentiate one syndrome from another, and use variations in the tongues colour, texture, shape and coating to evaluate a patients condition. If a fissured tongue causes any symptoms, your dentist may encourage you to brush your tongue.
Understanding diagnostic reasoning in tcm practice. If you find cracks on a pale tongue, it usually means that the qi and the blood is deficient. Tongue diagnosis tongue diagnosis is part of diagnosis by looking in traditional chinese medicine tcm. The tongue, according to ayurveda, is a strong diagnostic tool for looking at ones systemic health. For our herbalists, the tongue helps us select the proper herbal formula. Tongue analysis can be used in complement with pulse, nail, and facial diagnosis in order to really see what is going on. Tongue diagnosis in traditional chinese medicine sarah. This is a common tongue when people have been sitting for too long or for women. The basics of this art can be learned in a single day or less. This suggests overabundance of pathogenic heat in the body, which could be due to. The tongue is the beginning of the digestive tract, which lumbers on for another 30 feet or so. To contrast and compare the heart and stomach cracks, the former is rather narrow and runs all along the tongue from near the root to near the tip, while the latter is rather wide and is only in the middle of the tongue. Geographic tongue usually accompany cracked tongue. However, practitioners of chinese medicine take tongue observation to an entirely different level.
Dampness can be likened to sludge, and often times may indicates issues with digestion. Discover what a tongue diagnosis of cracks on your tongue means and how to remedy a cracked tongue with ayurveda. Tongue apperance and mechanisms a quick guide tongue diagnosis is a powerful means by which a practitioner of chinese medicine can quickly locate the solution to many issues of internal medicine. Foundations of chinese medicine, practice of chinese medicine and tongue diagnosis in chinese medicine are all outstanding contributions of scholarship and clinical acumen, and this present volume obstetrics and gynaecology in chinese medicine significantly adds to his accomplishments. The tongue reflects the health of the internal organs and blood circulation. The cracks, they might be congenital, otherwise they mean something has eaten up the fluids. Cracked tongue is among the symptoms of this mouth infection.
Tongue diagnosis is a key process used in chinese medicine and there is. The art of facial diagnosis acupuncture and chinese medicine for children. Thorny eruptions of the buds on the tongue alert the doctor to heat or stagnant xue. Like any assessment method, tongue diagnosis is used in. In other cases, cancerous or precancerous growth can often result in a cracked tongue. Tongue diagnosis in tcm acupuncture theory chinese medicine. According to the principles of tcm, analyzing the appearance of an individuals tongue can provide a greater understanding of his or her overall health.
Tongue diagnosis gillian mckeith healthy eating, weight. During an examination, the overall tongue coating, shape, and color is taken into account. Tongue diagnosis is a primary method in chinese medicine for. What follows on this page are the various tongue body and coating appearances, how they came to look that way mechanisms and what they indicate. Tongue image segmentation lays a solid foundation for quantitative tongue analysis and diagnosis. A misguided study to test the reliability of traditional chinese medicine pulse diagnosis. It is considered a pillar of diagnosis because it provides clearly visible clues to a patients pattern of disease. The symptoms of a fissured tongue are cracks on top surface of the tongue. The demarcations that you look for are cracks or raised areas. Quite a number of individuals suffer from this condition.
In chinese medicine, the tongue is considered to be the window to total body health. Fissured tongues from cancerous growth are characterized by severe pain and swelling, and it is recommendable to consult a physician immediately you notice the symptoms for quick diagnosis and treatment. They include having weak immune system, suffering from diabetes, iron and. A healthy tongue looks like a piece of freshly killed meat. The upper surface contains the taste buds that act as the primary organ of taste. There is no movement quivering, trembling, sidetoside motion, curling or shifting to one side. This may help remove debris that has built up in deep fissures, causing irritation. The fissures on the dorsal portion of the tongue could entrap food and debris, providing a space for microorganisms to grow and multiply, resulting in tenderness to hot, acidic, or spicy foods and a burning sensation.
Since the tongue always reflects the basic, underlying pattern, it is extremely reliable, especially whenever there are. It can present strong visual indicators of a persons overall harmony or disharmony. In chinese medicine, pulse diagnosis is also a very important diagnostic tool that provides your practitioner with information about the state of your health but in different ways. Cracked tongue pictures, causes, diagnosis, treatment. Given its simple and noninvasive nature, tongue diagnosis is becoming a. In some cases, the cracks may cause burning sensation while consuming specific food type or may leave you tasteless too.
Now they have a bright red tongue with cracks and its peeled. When we look at your tongue, it tells us a lot about your health. May 29, 2012 another sign of yin deficiency is a tongue with deep cracks. Chinese medicine considers the tongue to be the window to total body health. The cracks mostly occur in the middle of the tongue and they may come in various sizessmall and largebig. We call this purplish color dusky and it shows stagnation of some kind, either qi or blood stagnation. If there is no tongue fur over the crack or fissure, the fissure belongs to pathologic changes.
In chinese medicine, each type of tongue quality relates to a chinese diagnosis, as well as particular physical and mentalemotional symptoms. Changes in the tongue color usually reflect chronic illness. In this simplified guide, we have selected some major tongue characteristics for you to perform your own examination. This method involves examination of the shape, size, color, and texture of the tongue body and coat and helps reveal the state of organ functions and progression of conditions. You may feel hot at night, or notice dryness in your skin or eyes. Cracks in a red tongue indicate deficient yin or heat injuring the fluids. Cracked tongue is a condition in which the top visible surface of your tongue gets cracks or fissures these tongue cracks might go unnoticed because of their benign effects, but they change the tongue appearance. Hypothyroidism is generally considered to be a deficiency of spleen andor kidney yang energy, especially. A tongue without cracks is frequently soft and supple. What your tongue says about your health eu yan sang. Diy ayurvedic tongue diagnosis john douillards lifespa. A central short crack in the middle of the tongue often indicates stomach yin.
When you get acupuncture, your acupuncturist will look at your tongue. Cracks in or on your tongue is for sure a scary condition. Tongue diagnosis in chinese medicine by giovanni maciocia. Since we cannot see much beyond the mouth without some invasive. Vertical crack on the tongue usually indicates the exhaustion of your body fluids specifically yin deficiency. Also a habit of grinding the teeth while a sleep can subject the tongue to a friction that causes cracks over a long time. Tcm tongue diagnosis is considered a pillar of tcm diagnosis because it provides clearly visible clues to a patients pattern of disharmony. Doctor of traditional chinese medicine vancouver area canada. Chinese medicine to treat anger reading between the lines. In fact, im surprised when acupuncturists dont use it. They are based on imagination, not on anatomical and physiologic reality.
Feb 03, 2014 we specialize in using acupuncture, chinese herbal medicine, diet, and lifestyle changes to create health and alleviate or eliminate uncomfortable symptoms and conditions. Taking into account swelling of the tongue body your teeth marks it confirms the yin deficiency in the spleen and accumulation of damp. Chinese tongue diagnosis is an essential tool used by tcm practitioners. It is therefore very useful and important during inspection for confirming tcm diagnosis. Generally speaking, a heart crack indicates a constitutional propensity to heart patterns and to emotional problems. Tongue diagnosis is used all the time by acupuncturists and practitioners trained in chinese medicine it is an important way to diagnose a patients health and sometimes can be crucial in deciding what to do first. Jun 14, 2016 the tongue is a map of the body in chinese medicine. Tongue diagnosis can be complicated but there are a few easy to look for signs that may give you an indication of whats going on. The tongue is totally peeled without coating and with many cracks, both signs of chronic yin deficiency. It can be a strong indicator of a persons overall harmony or disharmony. Many cracks on tongue fissured tongue ayurvedic diet. A peeled or cracked tongue coat indicates insufficient lining or flora in the. It is especially important in confirming the tcm diagnosis. When a chinese practitioner carries our his diagnosis through tongue session, he would take notes of the following.
One of the principal diagnostic methods in traditional chinese medicine tcm is the inspection of the tongue. A normal tongue is relatively flat across its length. But in ayurveda, cracks on your tongue tell an important story. But if the tongue is pale and cracked, deficient qi or xue is present. A cracked tongue is a benign condition with multiple small but furrows, fissures or grooves visible on the dorsal of the tongue. Tongue diagnosis is an important part of the chinese medical assessment. Shape of the tongue fissures cracks in the tongue movement of the tongue. A normal tongue is pink in color, medium thickness, no cracks, ulcers, no teeth marks and with a light white moist coat with root on it.
In traditional chinese medicine, its an ancient practice to read the tongue. You might be self conscious of this, you do not need to be. Sep 27, 2018 art of ayurveda tongue diagnosis 5 of 9. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The tongue is a map of the body in chinese medicine. Chinese tongue diagnosis poster 18 x 24 laminated or heavy weight paper chinese tongue examination is much, much easier to master than chinese pulse examination.
In the case of the absence of symptoms, using remedies for a cracked tongue is all that one. Tongue diagnosis is a practice long used in traditional chinese medicine a system of alternative medicine that originated in china. Fissured tongue is a benign condition affecting the top surface of the tongue. A physician will observe multiple characteristics of the tongue such as the tongues colour, coating and movement. The best prevention an explanation for how acupuncture works how to boost energy with acupuncture in winter the chinese heart diagnosis of the tongue summertime.
Home our blog the four examinations, part 2 tongue diagnosis in chinese medicine the four examinations, part 2 tongue diagnosis in chinese medicine share this with your friends 0 0 0 0. A physician will observe multiple characteristics of the tongue such as the tongue s colour, coating and movement. These 9 changes on your tongue reveal almost all your diseases. Tongue diagnosis is a primary method in chinese medicine for understanding whats happening inside the bodyits the other mri of traditional medical systems. Finally, a fissured or cracked tongue is not a serious disease, and rarely causes the symptoms of discomfort.
Tongue diagnosis has been used for thousands of years in traditional chinese medicine. Yin and yang in tongue, swollen tongue, tcm theory, channels in tongue, byung. The normal tongue in traditional chinese medicine has a light red or pinkish body with a thin white coating. Tongue analysis can be used in complement with pulse, nail, and facial diagnosis in. Most causes of a cracked tongue have distinctive and telltale symptoms, so a visual inspection followed by a medical history can accurately determine most culprits. In tcm, the tongue is known as an internal organ that you can see from the outside. In ayurveda, one of the primary investigative tools of practitioners for determining the state of ones health is tongue diagnosis or evaluation of the tongue the tongue is the beginning of the digestive tract, which lumbers on for another 30 feet or so. Therefore, it is a great diagnostic tool to understand the health of the internal. For our herbalists, the tongue helps us select the proper. Tongue cracks are hereditary, and rarely cause and problem. The secondary functions of the tongue are to help swallowing and chewing the food.