When looking at the tongue, the overall body, shape, color, coat and texture are observed. A normal tongue is pale red with a thin white and somewhat moist coat. Deviations from this normal picture are a tongue that is very puffy, thin, or cracked; color that is very red, pale, purple or even more rarely black; coating that is very thick or non-existent called peeled , yellow or even green, sticky, watery, or dry; a tongue that shakes, is stiff, does not extend easily or hangs too far.
All of these are signs that point to underlying conditions. For example, a very red tongue with a yellow coat indicates much heat maybe from infection or inflammation, a pale and thin tongue with a dry coat can indicate deficient blood or body fluids, a purple color can indicate pain, a puffy tongue with scalloped edges from pushing out against the teeth indicates a weakness in overall Qi or excess fluids. A very thick coat can be described as greasy and indicated excess mucus or dampness in the body.
Of the four examinations, touching includes feeling the skin for heat, cold, dryness, moisture, if pain feels better or worse with touch, sensation at different acu-points, and most importantly, feeling the pulse. Just like the tongue, a lot of information can be gathered by nuances in the pulse. The pulse indicates overall health and strength of energy. Although rate is noted if it is abnormally fast, slow, or irregular, what an acupuncturist tunes into otherwise is overall quality of the pulse as in strength, width, shape, depth, length and more.
The pulse is felt at three levels of pressure—superficial, middle, and deep. Three fingers are used at a specific location on both wrists with 2 different organs corresponding to each position, so 12 total. There are about 28 different pulse qualities, so it takes many years of practice and refinement to be able to identify these subtleties.
There is a sensitivity of the practitioner for the overall quality of the pulse, as well as any difference felt between the right and left wrist and under each of the fingers.
So, for example the liver position may feel quite different than the lung position, or if one organ was noticeably weaker than the rest that may indicate something problematic in that organ system. The beauty of Chinese medicine is that it is a unique comprehensive system of health care with a continuous clinical tradition of over 3, years with documented research and practice, and it is also a sophisticated art.
So if you have questions or concerns, consult with a Licensed Acupuncturist LAC who is trained to decipher the nuances present on your tongue—but more importantly, detect the underlying root issues to the symptoms you are facing.
Oh and one more thing! If you do decide to meet with an Acupuncturist—your first visit or a follow up—please do not brush or scrape your tongue beforehand! We need to be able to see the full picture—tongue coating and all.
Now find yourself some good lighting, a mirror, and go ahead—stick out your tongue. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, these are all areas that not reflect one another—and the ways they show up are different for each person.
If you struggle with chronic pain, anxiety, depression, sleep issues, the effects of trauma, a difficult transition, or something else, I am here help you navigate your healing process. To learn more about my approach to care and see if our practice would be the right fit, click here. Please note, the information presented in this article is for educational purposes only and is not meant to replace the diagnosis or treatment for ANY medical condition mentioned above.
Please seek out appropriate care as needed. BY Dr. There are several defining characteristics your Acupuncturist will look for when observing your tongue, like: SHAPE - is it small, enlarged, puffy, pointed? COLOR - is it pale, red, purple, grey?
Poor circulation blood clots and toxins can cause there to be more or less white coating. Purple: A purple colouring is indicative of poor blood circulation, due to the liver and the heart.
But there are several other reasons why the colouring of the tongue may be purple. Migraines and arthritis are a couple examples. Your acupuncturist will also examine the shape of the tongue to gain a sense of the nature of a condition. Therefore; it is important for your acupuncturist to take a look in order to gain a sense of your body and your health. Yes, I would like to receive emails from Avenue Acupuncture.
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