The gold standard: A normal healthy tongue is pink in color, has a light white tongue coating on it, and is proportionate in size to the mouth.
So, what can your tongue tell you about your health?
Tongue Colour:
- A red tongue may indicate heat in the body, such as a fever or a hormonal imbalance that is leading to hot flashes or temperature changes.
- A purple tongue is a sign that the circulatory system is backed up, perhaps from a major injury or pain condition. There may also be inflammation or infection.
- A pale tongue is a sign of a deficiency or a lack of energy. This is common with anemia or after a long-standing disease where the immune system is weak.
- A thick coating reflects a more serious condition and poor gut health.
- A thin coating is normal, but a very thin or absent tongue coating means a lack of body fluids, or it could be a sign that the body is being taxed greatly.
- A yellow coating signals heat and/or infection in the body.
- A grey or black coating indicates that something is very wrong with the body's health.
- A thick white coating means there is cold in the body, likely poor circulation to the extremities and possibly Candida, a yeast infection.
- If the tongue is puffy with teeth marks/scalloped edges, it indicates a lack of nutrient absorption; there could be blood stagnation and toxic buildup in the body as well.
- A very thin tongue could indicate dehydration or that a chronic condition has left the body severely depleted.
- A bump on top of the tongue could be a warning of bacterial or viral infection or of an allergic reaction to a food or medication.
- Canker sores more often pop up on the underside of the tongue, and can be identified by a round, red border and yellow or white centre.
- A white or gray lesion with a hard surface that feels thick and raised from the tongue could be leukoplakia, a disorder of the mucous membranes caused by irritation from dentures, crowns, fillings, or tobacco use.
- Hairy leukoplakia, which occurs in people with weakened immune systems due to illnesses like HIV or the Epstein-Barr virus, appears as a fuzzy, white lesion that usually crops up on the side of the tongue.
- Map-like patches: If you spot patchy lesions on the tongue that seem to change location from day to day, you may have a harmless but sometimes uncomfortable condition called geographic tongue.
- Wrinkled: A tongue that bears grooves, wrinkles, or furrows could be scrotal tongue, a harmless condition that can make it difficult to keep the tongue properly clean.
- A sore or lump on one side of the tongue could be a sign of cancer and needs to be checked by a doctor.
- Any burning, intense pain, loss of sensation, or inability to move the tongue properly should be looked at by a doctor as soon as possible.
You can use these helpful tips to improve your digestion and thus the appearance of your tongue:
- Eat fermented foods and drink probiotic beverages to bring your system back into balance.
- Eat only until you are 80% full and eat whole foods that are as natural as possible.
- Warm up your digestion with cooked foods.
- Add herbs and spices to improve digestion.
- Drink warm ginger tea 20 minutes before a meal to benefit digestion and relieve nausea.
- Take digestive enzymes to increase mineral absorption.
SOURCES:
Tongue Chart picture reproduced courtesy of AcuMedic Clinic. www.acumedic.com
http://bodyecology.com/articles/what-your-tongue-is-telling-you-about-your-digestion
http://breakingmuscle.com/health-medicine/know-your-tongue-know-your-health
https://www.sacredlotus.com/go/diagnosis-chinese-medicine/get/tongue-diagnosis-chinese-medicine#body_shape
http://chealth.canoe.com/Channel/Womens-Health/Overview/What-your-tongue-can-tell-you
Comment: ๏ปฟThe state of your tongue can give you clues to your overall health