All About Tongue Diagnosis

Before the invention of modern medical imaging equipment like X-Rays and MRI machines, medical practitioners had to rely on other diagnostic tools. One such diagnostic tool is through the observation of the patient’s tongue. This technique, which has been in use for literally thousands of years, is part of the array of tools used in many cultures, but especially in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It is also the topic of today’s blog! If you have any questions on this topic or any other TCM topic, please don’t hesitate to call us. We’re happy to help.

What Is Tongue Diagnosis?

So, we know that it is a diagnostic tool, but what exactly is it? Within tongue diagnosis, the doctor will ask to see the patient’s tongue and observe it closely. They are looking at its overall health and condition which are typically indicators of other ailments throughout the body. Remember, this is before medical imaging which allows us to see directly within our bodies. Before X-Rays, medical practitioners had to rely on other, more subtle indicators of health and disease. Here are some other things that are looked for or observed when performing a tongue diagnosis in integrative medicine:

  • Length and size

  • Color. Is the tongue discolored, pale, dark, white, patchy, purple, chicken breast etc.

  • Marks, cuts, bumps, or discoloration

  • Is it dry or wet? How much saliva is present?

  • Is it covered with tongue papules or cracks?

  • Coating: location, thickness and color

  • Organ Relation: tip of tongue heart, middle stomach, sides liver etc.

What Ailments Can Be Diagnosed?

Depending on the color, size, coating, and shape of the tongue, TCM integrative health practitioners can determine many health issues within the rest of the body. Some of those issues include:

  • Energy deficiencies or imbalance (fatigue, poor appetite, shortness of breath, overthinking/worrying, anxiety)

  • Energy stagnation (stress, symptoms of depression, emotional issues, constipation)

  • Yin deficiency (hot flashes, sweat at night, insomnia, irritability, ringing in ears)

  • Yang deficiency (feeling cold often, pale complexion, tendency to panic, back pain)

  • And much more!

In a general sense your tongue provides your TCM doctor confirmation to a diagnosis. It guides treatment principles and acupuncture point combinations. It will help differentiate what herbal medicines to suggest. If a tongue is deep red with a greasy, yellow tongue coating that will help us decide to help clear heat resolve phlegm in the body. Phlegm can be literal phlegm like sinus infections, digestive upset, cough and GERD with spitting up of substance when waking or throughout the day. It is one reason people can spit during exercise, the movement literally shakes loose the internal phlegm in their body. If a tongue is purple in color we often know there is a blood stagnation problem. This can be from pain, fibroids, a varicocele, varicose veins, A-fib, or MTHFR blood clotting disorder.

Patients' tongues will change over time, too. With the correct acupuncture points and herbal medicine recommendations one can restore a tongue, and therefore the overall health of the patient to normal. A healthy tongue is one that is pink, not too small or thin, not too large or puffy, with a very thin, white tongue coating that is hardly noticeable. Curious about your tongue? Ask your provider to explain what they see.

Eagle Acupuncture Provides Top Notch Traditional Chinese Medicine Services

If you’re interested in learning more about TCM services or want to undergo treatment via TCM, then Eagle Acupuncture is the place for you! Our TCM practitioners, Dr. Kristen Burris, DAcCHM, and Tony Burris, L.Ac, are extensively trained in TCM methodology and have been practicing the craft for 40 years between the two of them. In fact, Dr. Burris is a graduate of Pacific College of Health and Science, the most well respected Chinese medical school in the United States. She graduated summa cum laude among other high honors and is renowned for her understanding of TCM and being able to combine those teachings with other Western techniques.

For The Road

We hope you enjoyed learning about tongue diagnosis. If you would like to know more about this or anything else along these lines, we are happy to help. Just contact us and we can go over your options and help you find the best path for your health and fertility goals. Schedule a consultation for acupuncture, herbal medicine, functional medicine, supplements or lifestyle modifications, by reaching out to Dr. Burris or our other medical providers HERE. We offer telemedicine for those who are not within driving distance from our office.



Colin Eggleston