What are acupuncturists looking for on your tongue?

What are acupuncturists looking for on your tongue?

Acupuncturists check your tongue for color, texture and coating. In addition, the shape of your tongue can be an indicator of poor health. When considering acupuncture therapy in El Segundo, be ready to be fully examined by your practitioner, including inside your mouth.

What does a damp tongue mean in Chinese medicine?

Based on the location of this white coating, the tongue map shows that the problem is related to the stomach. It is likely that the patient suffers from dampness-cold or a yang (阳) deficiency in their digestive system.

What does a white tongue mean acupuncture?

In TCM, a normal tongue is one that is light red or pinkish, with a thin, white and moist coating. A pale tongue indicates insufficient qi and blood or “coldness”, while a purplish tongue means poor blood circulation.

What does a red tipped tongue mean?

The front and tip of the tongue reflect the nature of the Heart and Lung. A scarlet red tip may indicate restlessness in the Heart meridian manifesting as insomnia, anxiety or generalized mental agitation.

Why do you not brush your tongue before acupuncture?

NOTE – Don’t scrape your tongue for approximately 24 hours before your Acupuncture appointment. The tongue tends to harbor microbes and food particles, so wait until after your Acupuncture appointment to scrape your tongue.

What is the white thing in my tongue?

White tongue is the result of an overgrowth and swelling of the fingerlike projections (papillae) on the surface of your tongue. The appearance of a white coating is caused by debris, bacteria and dead cells getting lodged between the enlarged and sometimes inflamed papillae.

What do cracks in your tongue mean TCM?

Cracks on the tongue are often a sign of severe and chronic illness (Fig. 2). 1. Cracks in a red tongue indicate Heat injuring the fluids or Deficient Yin; cracks in a pale tongue signify Deficient Blood and Qi.

How do you read a tongue acupuncture?

There are several defining characteristics your Acupuncturist will look for when observing your tongue, like:

1. SHAPE – is it small, enlarged, puffy, pointed?
2. COLOR – is it pale, red, purple, grey?
3. TEXTURE – is it dry, wet, glossy, or greasy?
4. BODY FEATURES – are there cracks, spots, ulcers, raised speckles, or deviations?

Is it normal to have a thin white coating on tongue?

While everyone’s tongue may look slightly different, a “typical healthy” tongue has similar characteristics. It ought to be pink, with a thin whitish coating on the surface. Papillae are also prevalent on a healthy tongue.

What is heat tongue?

A burning tongue, or burning mouth syndrome (BMS), is a condition that causes a sensation of burning in the mouth. People with this condition often describe the burn as feeling similar to a hot drink scald. There are several known causes of BMS, but the reason for its onset can be unclear.

What is yang deficiency tongue?

Patients with Yang deficiency often have a pale or purple tongue body with a white and moist coating and a very deep, slow and weak pulse.

What is Yin deficiency in tongue?

Cracks on your tongue often indicate an internal Heat imbalance Acupuncturists refer to as Yin Deficiency. I sometimes see red dots on your tongue and this signifies the energy pattern of Empty Heat – this often accompanies a Yin Deficiency pattern.

How does damp heat manifest on the tongue?

Dampness manifests on the tongue primarily on the coating and Heat on the tongue-body colour. Therefore Damp-Heat manifests with a sticky-yellow coating and a red tongue-colour. The more Heat there is, the more the tongue body is red: the more Dampness there is, the thicker the coating.

When do acupuncturists use the tongue for diagnosis?

Tongue diagnosis is used all the time by acupuncturists and practitioners trained in Chinese medicine. It is an important way to diagnose a patient’s health and sometimes can be crucial in deciding what to do first. In fact, I’m surprised when acupuncturists don’t use it.

Why is the dryness of the tongue so important?

How moist or dry the tongue is can be important for tongue diagnosis. Dryness suggests a lack of fluids, especially of Blood but also can point to Heat. A very moist tongue suggests a deficiency of Yang, which probably points to Spleen Yang deficiency in the first place, and consequently a build-up of Damp.

Are there any physical symptoms of damp heat?

Please note that symptoms such as low-grade fever or afternoon fever are not common and they appear only when the Heat is pronounced. There are many skin diseases that manifest with Damp-Heat; for example, eczema and acne. There are three main skin eruptions to consider: papules, vesicles and pustules. Papules are red and stick out.