Acupuncture Martin Place

Tongue diagnosis is one of the most distinctive and valuable diagnostic tools in TCM. The tongue is considered a mirror of the internal organs, and its examination provides objective, visible evidence of the body's condition that supplements pulse diagnosis and patient questioning. Practitioners examine the tongue body (colour, shape, moisture, and movement) and the tongue coating (colour, thickness, distribution, and quality).

The tongue body colour reflects the state of Blood, Qi, and organ function. A normal tongue is pale red with a thin white coating. A pale tongue suggests Blood or Qi deficiency. A red tongue indicates Heat. A deep red or crimson tongue points to intense internal Heat or Yin deficiency. A purple tongue suggests Blood stasis. The tongue shape is equally informative — a swollen tongue with tooth marks along the edges indicates Spleen Qi deficiency with Dampness, while a thin tongue suggests Blood or Yin deficiency.

The tongue coating reflects the state of the digestive system and the presence of pathogenic factors. A thick white coating suggests Cold-Dampness. A thick yellow coating indicates Damp-Heat. A peeled or missing coating (geographic tongue) points to Stomach or Kidney Yin deficiency. Different regions of the tongue correspond to different organs: the tip relates to the Heart, the sides to the Liver and Gallbladder, the centre to the Spleen and Stomach, and the root to the Kidneys and Intestines — allowing localised changes to point toward specific organ involvement.