Why Does My Acupuncturist Look at My Tongue? [Infographic]
Has your acupuncturist ever asked to take a look at your tongue before your treatment? You might be curious about why and you might be wondering what information they could learn about you from looking at your tongue. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), your tongue can be a great diagnostic tool for your acupuncture. The color, texture, and shape of your tongue can reflect your overall health.
Map of the Tongue
According to TCM, different parts of the tongue reflect different parts of the body. Acupuncturists look at your tongue to see which parts of your body may be having issues.
- The Back (Root) of the Tongue – this area reflects your kidneys, bladder, and intestines
- The Center of the Tongue – this area reflects your stomach and spleen
- The Sides of the Tongue – this area reflects your liver and gallbladder
- The Front of the Tongue – this area reflects your lungs
- The Tip of the Tongue – this area reflects your heart
Acupuncturists will look for any discoloration, spots, color changes, and texture changes (among other indicators) to see which parts – if any – of your body are currently experiencing issues.
Color of the Tongue
Your acupuncturist will also look at the color of your tongue to determine your internal temperature, energy distribution, and overall circulation. Curious about what the color of your tongue means? Here’s a quick guide:
- Pink – a fresh pink color indicates a healthy tongue
- Pale – a pale-colored tongue indicates either a blood/qi deficiency or a yang energy deficiency
- Purple – indicates blood stasis and qi stagnation; a purple tongue could also indicate poor blood circulation or other issues like migraines or arthritis
- Red – while healthy tongues can be a light red, having a bright red tongue indicates that you have excess heat in your body; it could also indicate a yin deficiency
- Deep Red – a deep or dark crimson-colored tongue indicates an intense internal heat (like when you have a fever)
- Yellow – a yellow tongue indicates that your digestive system is sluggish; it could also indicate that your GI tract is inflamed
The Coating of Your Tongue
Aside from the color of your tongue, your acupuncturist will take note of the coating of your tongue as well. The thickness of your tongue’s coating reflects your digestive health, while the color of your tongue’s coating reflects the energy of your yang organs (specifically the stomach).
Tongue Coating Thickness
- Thin – a thin, white coating is normal and indicates a healthy tongue and body
- Thick – a thick tongue coating indicates having excess dampness in the body
- Greasy – a greasy tongue coating indicates a build-up of phlegm and dampness in the body
- None – a lack of coating on the tongue indicates that the stomach qi is deficient
Tongue Coating Color
- White – white is the normal color of a healthy tongue coating
- Powder-Like Coating – indicates the presence of pathogenic cold, which can affect the stomach and intestines
- Snow-Like Coating – indicates an exhaustion of the yang energy of the spleen
- Yellow – indicates the presence of wind-heat, which is usually accompanied by a fever, an aversion to heat, a sore throat, and/or feeling warm or agitated
- White and Yellow – indicates the presence of both heat and cold; a tongue coating that is half white and yellow indicates excess heat in the gallbladder and liver
- Gray/Black – indicates that an illness is advanced; it also indicates that the excess cold or heat in the body has become extreme
Things to Know About TCM Tongue Diagnosis
Your tongue is a very powerful diagnostic tool that can tell your acupuncturist a lot about your overall health and condition. We’ve only covered the color and coating in this article, but there are so many other factors that acupuncturists take into account.
It’s also important to note that an acupuncturist never relies solely on tongue diagnosis. While your tongue can provide a lot of insight into your physical condition, acupuncturists use tongue diagnosis in combination with pulse diagnosis, asking you questions, and sometimes a physical examination.
So the next time you have an acupuncture treatment, remember not to brush your teeth (and tongue) right before your session. You may also want to avoid eating right before your treatment as well. Brushing your tongue can alter your tongue’s coating, and certain foods and drinks can affect your tongue’s color. If you have brushed or eaten something before your treatment session, be sure to let your acupuncturist know!