TONGUE ANALYSIS

It may seem like a strange request from a Naturopath but a basic tongue analysis is one of the tools a Naturopath uses to draw information about your current health.

So what does your tongue say about the state of your health?

Chinese medicine considers the tongue as a map that corresponds to different parts of the body.

The body of the tongue, texture, it’s shape, size, colour, moisture, coating and movements are important components of tongue examination. These indicators map out the condition of your internal organs as well as your mental and emotional health.

• Tip of the tongue or first third of the tongue indicates what is happening in the heart and lungs.
• Mid third is related to the stomach and spleen.
• Back third is related to the bladder, kidneys, small and large intestine.
• Liver and gallbladder areas on the sides of the tongue.

Common findings a Naturopath may see on tongue examination:

Tongue appearance

1. Redness at the tip of the tongue indicates that there is too much “heat” in the body, and often correlates with symptoms like insomnia, nervousness, heart palpitations, worry.
2. A quivery tongue or one that doesn’t stay still when stuck out may indicate symptoms associated with stress, adrenal fatigue, and insomnia. Usually a sign of magnesium deficiency.
3. A red inflamed tongue indicates lack of certain nutrients, especially iron and B vitamins.
4. Pale coloured tongue indicates anaemia.
5. A thick, pale tongue with scalloped edges can indicate “dampness” within the body. Symptoms may include bloating, loose stools, fatigue and anxiety.
6. Indents on the side of the tongue indicates liver challenge. The person will usually present with symptoms of headache, constipation and irritability.
7. A fissured tongue is commonly associated with deficiencies of Calcium, Zinc and Silica. It is regularly seen in people with digestive and absorption problems.

Tongue coating

The tongue has a coating, which represents the state of digestive function. A white coating corresponds to cold in the area of the body. Thick white coating on the back or at the centre of the tongue may be a sign of an overloaded digestive system. This can be caused by an imbalance of good bacteria in the gut, nutritional deficiencies and stress.

Yellow greasy coating indicates heat in the body, and is associated with symptoms such as irritability, rashes or pimples, easy sweating, thirst, loose stools, and weight gain.