Chapter 7.3.1: 'The tongue is the mirror of the heart.' The tongue proper shows the interior Blood, energy and fluid. The coating shows climatic pathogenic factors.
Tongue Diagnosis Guide
Tongue areas mapped to organs:
Tip
Heart (Lung)
Center
Spleen (Stomach)
Root
Kidney (Urinary Bladder)
Sides
Liver – Gall Bladder
Normal Tongue
Pink in colour with a thin white coating. Not too broad or narrow, not too flat or thick. Moist without mucus and not dry. No red papillae or blue colour. Protrudes directly forward without deviation or tremor.
Significance
Healthy state
A normal tongue: pink with thin white coating, moist without mucus, not dry. No red papillae or blue colour. Protrudes directly without deviation or tremor.
Tongue Proper vs. Coating
Tongue Proper (Body)
Refers to size, form, colour, and moisture. Shows the state of Blood, energy and body fluid in the organs. Reflects the interior energy situation. Does not change quickly — changes are more serious, showing fundamental tendencies of body energies.
Tongue Coating
The actual coating on the tongue that cannot be brushed off. Shows different climatic pathogenic factors attacking from the exterior. Can change rather quickly, sometimes even during a single day. Changes are not too serious — but if neglected, pathogen can move to the interior.
Key Clinical Pearls
What does your tongue look like right now — colour, coating, shape, cracks? Which organ system does it point to?