What does your tongue reveal? 

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the tongue is considered a mirror of the entire body. Its appearance can indicate what is happening inside the organism and the state of individual organs.

Several basic signs are observed during diagnosis:

• colour and shape of the tongue
• coating – its colour, thickness and moisture
• formations on the tongue – for example, cracks, tooth marks, spots or sores
• mobility of the tongue

Organ map on the tongue

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, individual parts of the tongue relate to specific organs:

• tip – Heart
• sides – Liver and Gallbladder
• centre – Spleen and Stomach
• root – Kidneys

A healthy tongue represents a reference point from which we can recognise various deviations and imbalances in the body. In subsequent articles, we will therefore focus on individual changes and their significance.

Practical tip:
Examine your tongue in the morning, before eating and in daylight. This is the only way to get the most accurate picture of its true state.