|
Home page
|
On the Tip of your TONGUE!
If you are interested in taking out a magazine subscription you can do so right now, please telephone... Subscriptions: 08451 204600 or visit... http://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/store/displaystore.asp?sid=62
Sticking your tongue out for the doctor isn't as odd as it might seem - your
tongue is actually a colourful map of the state of your overall health! Sarah
Merson explains in the article below how to read your own tongue and we are very grateful to Here's Health for permission to use this excellent article.
Your eyes may be the windows to your soul (more about that next month!) but your tongue is a window to your state of health. Many complementary therapies, including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) use the tongue to aid diagnosis. The colour, mobility and shape indicate the state of your vital energy and blood production. These affect your ability to breathe, digest food, eliminate toxins and fight disease, so it's no wonder the tongue can be used to indicate your overall health - past, present - and even future. Getting started: Every tongue is unique, but there are general guidelines: the coating, colour, cracks, swellings and grooves all relate to your state of health. Look at your tongue first thing in the morning, before you eat, in indirect sunlight. Relax the tongue to avoid changing its shape. Let it hang out flat, noting colour, shape and texture. 'The tongue of most two-year-olds is the best impression of a healthy tongue,' says Here'sHealth TCM adviser Richard Blackwell. 'It is pinkish-red in colour and looks not unlike healthy flesh. It's neither 'waterlogged' with excess saliva nor 'burnt' a deep red-orange in colour, which can point to a health imbalance. The tongue should be moist, perhaps with a thin white coating, and have a slight shine with no unusual markings such as redness or grooves.' A nutritionist may use tongue diagnosis to detect vitamin deficiencies. A smooth, sore tongue could indicate a lack of B12 or iron, while enlarged veins under the tongue could suggest a vitamin C deficiency. Shape: In TCM, practitioners will look for changes in the shape of your tongue. Treatment could include herbs, acupuncture and diet changes, but will be tailored to suit you. Thin (looking from the side) - you may have a blood deficiency such as anaemia, or your blood may not be feeding body tissues sufficiently. This may also show through brittle nails or dry skin. You may have trouble sleeping or feel emotionally tense. Thick - you may have excess 'dampness' in your body, which could show up as sinus problems or water retention. Emotionally, you may feel dull, lethargic and depressed. Scalloped, puffy or with teeth-marks - you may be prone to low energy, fluid retention and digestive problems. Your tongue may also tremble. TCM and detoxing under the guidance of a nutritionist may help you feel more energised. Coating: The coating of the tongue shows a temporary acid or alkaline condition from the digestion of food. Whitish or clear - can indicate alkaline conditions (coldness). Treat by adding warming herbs and spices such as ginger, cumin and cinnamon to your diet. Yellow or brown - indicates an acid condition (heat). Treat with cooling foods such as salads and peppermint tea. Thick or greasy - indicates excess fluids and 'dampness' in your system which may cause water retention. 'A diet rich in pulses, vegetables, fruit and wholegrains encourages friendly bacteria and may help alleviate water retention,' says naturopath Cornelis van Dalen. Add warming foods and spices to your diet. There may be a build up of phlegm and catarrh which can be eased by limiting your intake of dairy products. Texture: Tongue texture may vary from completely smooth to rough and bumpy. Note any marks, shiny areas, grooves and cracks and refer to the symbolic painting below to help identify any health problems with a particular part of the body.
The TONGUE deciphered... Tongue colourThe colour of your tongue can change according to your state of health. As a general rule, if your tongue is red (heat), you may be over-stimulated due to toxicity, a deficiency or just be burnt out. A pale emphasis (damp), may indicate low energy, and you may often feel tired and cold - possibly as a result of your organs not functioning at the optimum level. Cornelis van Dalen gives a more detailed, naturopathic view of what your tongue colour reveals:
Blue/purple - indicates too much sugar in the body from soft drinks, alcohol, medications, fruit juices, drugs or chemicals. Dark red - inflammation (heat). The colour may be darker in certain areas and this will explain where the heat is located - for example, the middle of the tongue could indicate excess heat in the stomach. Regulate heat with cooling foods such as salads, cucumber, celery, water-based tropical fruits and green tea. Scarlet Pixel and Here'sHealth hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and are studying your tongue in the mirror right now! Some contacts for further information on this topic are given below:
Richard Blackwell, The Northern College of Acupuncture, 01904 343305.
Cornelis van Dalen, The College of Naturopathic and Complementary
Medicine, 01342 410505
The Chi Centre, call 020 7233 5566 - a tongue diagnosis costs around £20.
© Scarlet Pixel 1999 - 2006 |
Back
in 2001 our last two colour updates focused on the often unperceived effects that colour has upon the human body. The first of these,
in November, provided a fascinating insight into the importance of the colour of your TONGUE! We are delighted to reproduce an excellent article which was published in the April 2001 issue of Here's
Health - the UK's leading natural health magazine.
