A central short crack in the middle of the tongue often indicates stomach yin deficiency 15 fig. Chronic yin deficiency leads to emptyheat and we know in this case that the blood stasis derives from heat as the tongue. The appearance and qualities of the tongue is a critical part of diagnosis in chinese medicine tcm. Tongue assessment in traditional chinese medicine tcm. Cracks on the tongue coating can indicate that your nourishing fluids are burned out, just like the earth cracks when it becomes dry. Jun 24, 2017 cracked tongue is a condition in which the top visible surface of your tongue gets cracks or fissures. It can be a strong indicator of a persons overall harmony or disharmony. However, it is not recommended to diagnose this condition by yourself.
Hiv, traditional chinese medicine, tongue, acupuncture. Besides looking at the throat, tonsils and general mouth condition, westerntrained doctors know that the tongue can reveal several health clues. It is therefore very useful and important during inspection for confirming tcm diagnosis. In this article i am going to share with you knowledge about tongue diagnosis. The fissures or grooves vary in sizes and can either be deep or shallow and may be as deep as six millimeters. When a chinese practitioner carries our his diagnosis through tongue session, he would take notes of the following. Painful, white or red bumps that appear on the sides of the tongue are most likely to be caused due to constant irritation of the fungiform papillae that are scattered on the dorsal or top surface of the tongue. The demarcations that you look for are cracks or raised areas. Usually, the entire surface of the tongue is covered with small, pinkwhite bumps. Now they have a bright red tongue with cracks and its peeled.
Subjecting your tongue to constant injuries or trauma as a result of brushing too aggressively or friction from chipped tooth can cause cracks or fissures to develop on your tongue. The small bumps on the surface of your tongue, called papillae, grow throughout your lifetime. There are several shapes such crack and fissure on the surface of tongue, which differ in depth and numbers. People with geographic tongue are missing papillae in different areas of the tongue. Most of them have taste buds which are the receptor organs for detecting tastes and then send the information back to the brain. Cracks in a red tongue indicate deficient yin or heat injuring the fluids. If you find cracks on a pale tongue, it usually means that the qi and the blood is deficient. As with geographic tongue, the smooth patches will make the natural fissures in the tongue more noticeable. If there is no tongue fur over the crack or fissure, the fissure belongs to pathologic changes. Tongue diagnosis in tcm acupuncture theory tcm acupuncture theory. However, if cuts are severe, they must be very sore.
Cracks on a red tongue surface these points to a fungal infection in the body, and is often accompanied by night sweats, sleeplessness and irritability if you like the video, give it a thumbs. Cracked tongue is a condition in which the top visible surface of your tongue gets cracks or fissures these tongue cracks might go unnoticed because of their benign effects, but they change the tongue appearance. The surface of the tongue reveals significant information about underlying imbalances. Cracked tongue pictures, causes, diagnosis, treatment. Possible causes include food allergy, biting the tongue, malabsorbtion of vitamin b, colon imbalance and other factors. Bumps on tongue and back of tongue, causes and home remedies. Then this may lead to chronic tongue cracks that take longer to heal. Diagnosis through tongue acupuncture and chinese medicine. In most cases, the condition is harmless and you can clear it up with athome treatment and proper oral hygiene. The appearance of multiple small cracks all over the tongue is a clear indicator of a strong, chronic vata derangement such as high anxiety, fear, insomnia, and possibly a nervous system disorder. Aug 20, 2011 tongue diagnosis is a primary diagnostic tool in traditional chinese medicine. Bumps along the back of your tongue are often inflamed papillae.
A fissured tongue is marked by a deep, prominent groove in the. A primary care physician will likely ask his or her patients to open up and say ahhh in an effort to get a glimpse of the tongue. The nature of cracks in tongue from cuts depends on what has caused them. The surface is smooth, without cracks, bumps or signs of atrophy. The allergies could be caused by food, medications, or an insect sting. A whitish tongue with bumps on the back healthfully. Smooth, red and irregular shaped patches that keeps on migrating from. Cracked tongue causes, symptoms, pictures, painful and. The symptoms of a fissured tongue are cracks on top surface of the tongue. Feb 01, 2014 a central short crack in the middle of the tongue often indicates stomach yin deficiency 15 fig. Tongue diagnosis is a practice long used in traditional chinese medicine a system of alternative medicine that originated in china. You may feel pain, inflammation or a burning sensation when taking salty, spicy or acidic foods. Cracked or grooved tongue is also known as scrotal tongue. Jun 14, 2016 the tongue is a map of the body in chinese medicine.
Dec 22, 2019 the appearance of multiple small cracks all over the tongue is a clear indicator of a strong, chronic vata derangement such as high anxiety, fear, insomnia, and possibly a nervous system disorder. In fact, im surprised when acupuncturists dont use it. Since papillae are raised up, they create a large surface area on which debris and microorganisms inside the mouth can easily collect. Another serious form of injury that may cause cracks in the tongue is a laceration. Bumps could also appear on the surface, back, or side of the tongue. According to a survey, nearly 50% of people will experience lie bumps in their lifetime, especially in childhood. The fissured tongue is also the most common oral finding in patients with. These tongue cracks might go unnoticed because of their benign effects, but they change the tongue appearance. Geographic tongue is a condition that causes white bumps over the tongue, with smooth patches in between 3 4. In traditional chinese medicine tcm, the tongue is considered a very important sign for both the meridians and the internal organs of the body. What does a yellow tongue reveal about digestive health. Tongue cracks are hereditary, and rarely cause and problem.
Read on to learn what these cracks mean, how they look in pictures, causes including vitamin deficiency plus gluten. Reading through the above you may think eureka, this is a doddle. Tongue diagnosis pacific bridge wellness acupuncture. Both substances are used to mature the tongues papillae and lacking in one or both can result in large, smooth patches developing on the tongue.
A reddishpurple tongue body colour usually indicates blood stasis deriving from or. In traditional chinese medicine, its an ancient practice to read the tongue. Examples of a tongue that has lost its healthy qi zheng qi include a tongue that is. If the tongue body also has cracks and there is little or no tongue coat, this usually indicates deficient heat due to internal injury. Tonguethe tongue is one of the major pillars of diagnosis, the other main one being the pulse. You might experience sharp and persistent pains or lumps in the body. Fissured tongue in tcm tongue diagnosis tcm health. If the tongue body is also moist, tender, and swollen, this can indicate yang cold. Thorny eruptions of the buds on the tongue alert the doctor to heat or stagnant xue. Vertical crack on the tongue usually indicates the exhaustion of your body fluids specifically yin deficiency. Deep cracks on the tongue indicate dryness that may be caused by excess. Without these taste buds, an individual would not be able to. Symptoms also include fever, sore throat and inflamed tongue with red bumps. Some of these symptoms include acid reflux, joint stiffness, red spots on the tongue or throat, bumps on throat or tongue, a sore throat, soreness, a common cold, a fever, burning sensation, a dry mouth, bad breath, or an overall bad taste in the mouth.
These bumps usually cause a cluster of bumps on the tongue. A window to other organs registered dental hygienist. The tongue has many relationships and connections in the body, both to the meridians and the internal organs. It is considered normal to have certain types of cracks on the tongue. Lie bumps is a common cause of white or red bumps on the tongue. The tongue is a map of the body in chinese medicine. Warts can spread by contact with one organ to another or from person to person. If the tongue body also has cracks and there is little or no tongue coat, this usually indicates deficient heat due to. The tongue should have a pink color, without dark or discolored areas. The four examinations, part 2 tongue diagnosis in chinese medicine. The four examinations, part 2 tongue diagnosis in chinese. A part from cracked tongue, it is characterized by various symptoms like. Tcm doctors rely on tongue diagnosis to differentiate one syndrome from another, and use variations in the tongues colour, texture, shape and coating to evaluate a patients condition. Oct 03, 2019 fissured tongue is a benign condition affecting the top surface of the tongue.
Also a habit of grinding the teeth while a sleep can subject the tongue to a friction that causes cracks over a long time. There are hundreds of variations and it takes quite a while to become quick at diagnosis. The cracks, they might be congenital, otherwise they mean something has eaten up the fluids. If the cracks are only located on one area of the tongue, this may reveal chronic high vata in that correlating organ i.
A thick tongue coating can indicate dampness in the system. Jul 27, 2017 they may cause painless, red or white bumps on back of tongue. Cracked tongue from a vitamin deficiency takes two main forms. Cracked, if develops during illness indicates chronic and severe, otherwise normal. It is especially important in confirming the tcm diagnosis. The tongue fissures may be shallow or several millimetres deep. A tongue with a thick and yellow coating or swollen taste buds will indicate excess heat or an interior heat pattern.
The image on the left shows the correlation between the organs and area of the tongue. Cracks, grooves, or clefts appear on the top and sides of the tongue. This is a bacterial infection which causes red rashes on the body. The cracks mostly occur in the middle of the tongue and they may come in various sizessmall and largebig.
The deficiency extends to the tongue manifesting as cracks on the tongue. Here is what a yellow tongue may tell us, according to tcm. Sensitivity of the tongue to certain foods and beverages. White tongue is commonly caused by a buildup of bacteria and or fungi, along with dead cells trapped between the papillae small bumps that contain the taste buds on the surface of the tongue. The cracks and grooves are only present on the tongue and not other parts of the mouth. It will often be necessary to crossreference several or all of these aspects to establish a full picture. Tongue diagnosis is an integral part of taking a medical history in chinese medicine. They may cause painless, red or white bumps on back of tongue. Knowledge of tongue diagnosis is one of the unique treasures of traditional chinese medicine tcm. The tongue is totally peeled without coating and with many cracks, both signs of chronic yin deficiency. A cracked tongue is a benign condition with multiple small but furrows, fissures or grooves visible on the dorsal of the tongue. Bumps or papillae on your tongue are already a reddish, pink color. White tongue is commonly caused by a buildup of bacteria andor fungi, along with dead cells trapped between the papillae small bumps that contain the taste buds on the surface of the tongue.
Your tongue is a muscle covered by a mucous membrane, which can make it susceptible to bacteria and infection. Mar 25, 2016 a cracked tongue diagnosis usually involves looking at the tongue to see what else is occurring alongside the cracks. Cracks in or on your tongue is for sure a scary condition. Tongue diagnosis is a very traditional and effective method which has been used to diagnose diseases for over two thousand years. Tongue diagnosis requires a great deal of knowledge of tcm theory and experience with. Jan 25, 2017 vertical crack on the tongue usually indicates the exhaustion of your body fluids specifically yin deficiency. A normal tongue is covered with tiny, pinkishwhite bumps called papillae. Vitamin h deficiency mostly occurs in those taking antiseizure medications, taking longterm antibiotics and. A tremor of the tongue, or a tongue that is too rigid or too flaky, is a sign of health problems. Most of the tiny red bumps that are on the tongue are referred to as papillae, and they cover the total surface of the tongue. Most causes of a cracked tongue have distinctive and telltale symptoms, so a visual inspection followed by a medical history can accurately determine most culprits.
Allergies can cause the tongue to swell, become enlarged, or have bumps on it. In some people, the papillae become excessively long. May 10, 2020 the tongue should be malleable and flexible. Treatment for irritation include vitamin and zinc supplements, and treatment for pain include pain revilers and antiinflammatory drugs. It is simply when small or pronounced grooves or fissures develops on the surface of your tongue. What your tongue coating is telling you the body ecology. Taking into account swelling of the tongue body your teeth marks it confirms the yin deficiency in the spleen and accumulation of damp. In this video, you will learn what cracks, spots, red dots, and bumps all mean. May 16, 2017 cracks on a red tongue surface these points to a fungal infection in the body, and is often accompanied by night sweats, sleeplessness and irritability if you like the video, give it a thumbs. Sep 06, 2018 the symptoms of a fissured tongue are cracks on top surface of the tongue. Lets look briefly at why you can get red bumps appearing on the back of your tongue. According to the principles of tcm, analyzing the appearance of an individuals tongue can provide a greater understanding of his or her overall health. It is likely that the yin deficiency preceded the blood stasis.
However, conditions like a throat infection or bacterial infection will cause the bumps to become larger and redder and possibly cause some pain. You may feel hot at night, or notice dryness in your skin or eyes. Geographic tongue usually accompany cracked tongue. It can present strong visual indicators of a persons overall harmony or disharmony. If your tongue becomes very swollen and starts pressing on your teeth, you will probably have a wavy, crinkly tongue. Bumps on tongue and bumps on the back of the tongue could be scary if you dont know what caused them. There may be soreness, pain, a burning sensation, or a feeling of pins and needles. May 19, 2016 bumps on tongue and bumps on the back of the tongue could be scary if you dont know what caused them. Is the shape of your tongue swollen with toothmarks on the sides of the tongue body or is it thin with multiple cracks on the surface of the tongue. Tongue diagnosis in tcm acupuncture theory chinese medicine. Fissures on the tongue vary in depth, but they may be as deep as 6 millimeters. The tongue can tell a great deal about the internal condition of the body. Geographic tongue is a harmless inflammatory condition that affects the tongue s surface. However, most fissures occur in the middle of the tongue.
Indicates the quality of blood, reflecting blood andor qi deficiency or cold. Nov 21, 2019 fissured tongue is a common condition. Color changes, sores and bumps on the tongue are common tongue problems, but they are rarely the sign of a serious condition 1. Tongue diagnosis is a primary diagnostic tool in traditional chinese medicine. What causes bumps to appear on the back of your tongue. In some people, the papillae become excessively long, rather than being worn down by daily activities. Dampness can be likened to sludge, and often times may indicates issues with digestion. The good news is, most cases of bumps are easily resolved and are not threatening.
These are the characteristics of a fissured tongue. Fissured tongue is a benign condition affecting the top surface of the tongue. Tongue diagnosis is used all the time by acupuncturists and practitioners trained in chinese medicine it is an important way to diagnose a patients health and sometimes can be crucial in deciding what to do first. But with geographic tongue, patches of those tiny bumps. A normal tongue is relatively flat across its length. If you find cracks that are horizontal, that almost always means yin insufficiency. In some cases, the cracks may cause burning sensation while consuming specific food type or may leave you tasteless too.
Cracks in a red tongue indicate heat injuring the fluids or deficient yin. In tcm, the tongue is believed to be connected with many organs through the meridians. Cracks in on tongue, fissured,causes, vitamin deficiency. But if the tongue is pale and cracked, deficient qi or xue is present. In traditional chinese medicine tcm the tongue body represents the yin organs, blood and nutritive qi ying qi. What your tongue says about your health eu yan sang. The tongue has a special relationship with the heart, in that. Treatment for irritation include vitamin and zinc supplements, and treatment for pain include pain revilers and anti. Quite a number of individuals suffer from this condition. The small projections on your tongue, called papillae, may swell, making it easier for bacteria to become trapped between them. When the papillae is irritated, it will become slightly swollen and lead to lie bumps. Tongue diagnosis in chinese medicine by giovanni maciocia. The tongue occurs as painful and magenta in color, inflamed glossitis. Approximately 5% of people in the united states have it, and the numbers vary considerably in countries throughout the world.
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