The tongue generally helps in digestion with chewing and swallowing of food. It articulates speech and is also considered the organ of taste because the upper surface consists of taste buds which help us enjoy the taste of the food we eat.
The tongue is covered in numerous lingual papillae and hasf countless nerves and blood vessels. Saliva covers the tongue and keeps it moist so that it remains sensitive.
The tongue is often considered a mirror of the condition of the digestive system as it’s the only visible part of the digestive tract.
Read on to learn more about how practitioners analyze tongue color and other related information, including a tongue diagnosis chart.
Tongue Analysis
Nail color and health are often linked as practitioners try to identify toenail diseases by color. Likewise, practitioners often examine the tongue to determine several conditions related to digestion, internal organs, and metabolism.
It’s also considered a critical factor in determining the health of the body. Tongue abnormalities provide a hint about the possible disease.
Examination of the tongue is divided into two parts: Examining the body of the tongue and assessment of the tongue coat, also called the moss
Tongue Analysis Chart
A healthy tongue is moist and has a rough surface with a pink surface overlying the red part of the tongue underneath. If you notice any other color on your tongue or burning, numbness, swelling, and stinging, then it’s time to visit a practitioner. A
tongue can show many different signs when it’s indicating a disease. Look at the tongue diagnosis chart below; you will be surprised to know how many colors a tongue can be.
| Tongue Color | Diagnosis |
|---|---|
| Black | > Poor oral hygiene > Radiation therapy > Tobacco use |
| White | > Leukoplakia > Lichen planus > Fungal infection |
| Purple | > Poor blood circulation > Heart disease > Kawasaki disease |
| Red | > Scarlet fever > Vitamin B deficiency > Allergic reaction > Glossitis |
| Grey | > Geographic tongue > eczema |
| Yellow | > Bacterial growth > Eczema > Jaundice > Poor oral hygiene |
| Orange | > Dry mouth > Certain anti biotics > Poor oral hygiene |
| Green | > Leukoplakia > Fungal growth > Bacterial infection > Lichen planus |
| Blue | > Lack of oxygen in blood > Eczema |
Yellow: If your tongue is yellow it may be due to poor oral hygiene or jaundice.
Red: A red color may appear if you have vitamin B deficiency, eczema, scarlet fever, and Kawasaki disease.
Blue: Your tongue may turn blue because of a lack of oxygen supply to the blood. This may be caused by kidney and lung problems.
Purple: Poor blood circulation and heart problems may cause your tongue to turn purple. Kawasaki disease is also seen to change the tongue color to purple.
White: White patches growing on the tongue may make it look white. Fungal infections can be a possible cause of it. Antifungal medicines can be taken to clear the white patches off the tongue.
Brown: A brown tongue color may be caused by something you eat and drink. However, tobacco use can also cause a brown tongue.
Black: Poor oral hygiene can lead to gray to black tongue color. Using a good mouthwash and cleaning your tongue with a tongue cleaner can clean the abnormal coating on the tongue. Diabetes can also lead to a black to dark brown tongue color.
Gray: Peptic ulcers, digestive problems, and eczema may cause the tongue to turn gray.
Chinese Tongue Diagnosis.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners have been using the tongue to assess the patient’s health. TCM principles state that your tongue reflects your body’s internal health. Four main areas of the tongue which are observed in TCM are:
- Color: Tongue color is a crucial factor in indicating issues that may be faced by significant body organs such as kidneys, liver, and heart.
- Moisture: TCM also takes into account the moisture of the tongue. A dry tongue may indicate dryness in your body due to less water consumption, while too much moisture tells the opposite.
- Coating: A healthy tongue has a thin white coating above the pale pink skin. According to TCM, a thick layer may signal problems with the stomach, intestines, and bladder.
- Shape: The shape of a tongue is also considered crucial in TCM diagnosis. If you have a thin tongue, it may be because of fluid loss.
Other practitioners also use these TCM diagnosis principles in clinical studies to make health diagnoses. The tongue color is one indication widely used by practitioners globally to assess health. According to a survey, disease diagnosis through the tongue has a 92 percent accuracy rate.
Acupuncture Tongue Diagnosis.
Acupuncturists are qualified healthcare professionals who use the theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat different patients. An acupuncturist analyzes the pattern on the tongue through visual inspection.
Traditional Chinese Medicine focuses on the tongue to reflect the inner disharmony. The practitioner may examine your tongue to notice any irregular coating, color change, shape change, body features, and other notable differences compared to a regular tongue.
Different parts of the tongue represent significant organs of the body. The tip of the tongue indicates the Heart and Lungs.
The middle represents the Stomach and Spleen. The sides of the tongue represent the Liver and Gallbladder. Lastly, the back of the tongue represents any health issue with the Kidney, Intestines, and Bladder.
Ayurveda Tongue Diagnosis.
The concept relies on the belief that health and wellness depend on a balance between body, mind, and spirit. Ayurvedic practitioners aim to advise patients on maintaining good health, and treatment is targeted toward specific problems.
In Ayurveda, the primary investigative tool to determine one’s health is the tongue. Much like other beliefs, Ayurveda also states that each area of the tongue offers a road map to your digestive tract.
Differences in color, texture, taste buds, and coating can indicate a problem. Consult the Tongue diagnosis chart to determine how to analyze the tongue color.
Conclusion
Tongue self-diagnosis can help you analyze possible underlying problems in your body. You can refer to our tongue diagnosis chart to recognize the problem if you notice any abnormality. Hesiod said, “A man’s chiefest treasure is a sparing tongue.”
Undoubtedly, if you are soft-spoken, you will have many people around you as your friends and family, who will care for and love you. Let the toxicity of your health be visible on your tongue instead of your words.