A Look at Tongue and Its Care from the Perspective of Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine
The tongue is a valuable diagnostic tool used in both Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western medicine. While the approaches to tongue care between these two medical systems differ significantly, both recognize the tongue's ability to reflect an individual's overall health. Although these approaches may seem contradictory, with proper application, they can complement each other.
Importance of Tongue in Diagnosis
Traditional Chinese Medicine
In TCM, the tongue is considered a vital diagnostic aspect and a primary indicator of overall health and body imbalance. Practitioners examine the color, shape, coating, and moisture of the tongue to assess the state of internal organs and the flow of energy (qi). A pink tongue with a thin white coating is deemed healthy, while deviations can indicate imbalance.
Western Medicine
In Western medicine, examining the tongue as a standalone diagnostic tool is less common. However, the appearance of the tongue can be observed to detect specific oral conditions or to identify underlying health issues such as nutritional deficiencies, infections, or allergies.
Tongue Care
Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Gentle scraping: TCM practitioners may use a special scraper made of metal or bamboo to gently remove the tongue coating. This is believed to eliminate toxins and reveal underlying imbalances.
- Herbal rinses: Used to clean the tongue and promote oral health.
- Dietary recommendations: Based on tongue diagnosis, specific dietary adjustments may be suggested to address imbalances and support overall well-being.
Western Medicine
- Using a scraper or brushing: Western medicine emphasizes regular tongue cleaning as part of oral hygiene, typically using a toothbrush or tongue scraper to remove bacteria and food particles. Recently, special sonic toothbrush attachments, such as TongueCare+ (for Philips Sonicare), have been used for gentle tongue coating removal.
- Mouthwashes: Antiseptic mouthwashes are commonly recommended in Western medicine to reduce bacteria and maintain oral health.
- Dental check-ups: Regular visits to a dentist are advised to monitor the health of the tongue and detect any abnormalities or oral diseases.
Interpretation of Tongue Characteristics
Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Tongue color: Different colors can indicate imbalance in specific organs. For example, a red tongue in a certain location may suggest heat or inflammation, while a pale tongue may indicate blood deficiency.
- Shape: The shape of the tongue is associated with various elements and organs, with deviations indicating potential health issues. The overall shape of the tongue also suggests the general composition of the organism.
- Coating: The thickness, color, and distribution of the tongue coating provide insight into the state of the digestive system and its organs. They also indicate the condition of heat/cold in the area corresponding to the given organ or system.
- Surface structure: TCM pays attention to surface structures of the tongue (papillae, grooves, veins...), where their shape, color, and distribution may again point to specific problems with a particular organ.
The shape and appearance of the tongue can also to some extent reflect the personality and temperament traits of the individual, as well as the current and long-term emotional state.
TCM perceives a connection between observable phenomena on the tongue (coating, infections, wrinkles...) and the rest of the body. From its perspective, the occurrence of a particular condition (e.g., a candida infection) is the result of changes in the given area of the tongue following changes in the condition of the corresponding somatic or psychological area.
Western Medicine
- Oral hygiene: Western medicine primarily focuses on the overall oral hygiene of the tongue to prevent dental problems and bacterial growth.
- Oral diseases: The appearance of the tongue can indicate oral diseases such as glossitis, stomatitis apthosa or candidiasis, which require specific treatment.
- General diseases: The condition of the tongue can also change in the case of general diseases or due to medication usage. In such cases, tongue examination can be a supplementary diagnostic tool.
- Western medicine also recognizes conditions considered completely benign or merely a form of the tongue, without any health implications or need for treatment. These conditions include, for example, lingua geographica, lingua plicata, or glossitis rhombica mediana.
Conclusion
The approaches to tongue care differ significantly between Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western medicine. While TCM utilizes the tongue as a crucial diagnostic tool, Western medicine emphasizes the importance of regular oral hygiene and dental check-ups. Both aim to contribute to the overall health and well-being of the patient, and understanding the differences between them can support a comprehensive approach to tongue care and maintaining overall health.
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Source: Křepelková J., Himmlová L., Janouch M. Tongue Care. The Tongue from the Perspective of Western vs. Traditional Chinese Medicine. Webinar. Philips Czech Republic, 28.11.2022. Available at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPUKecY-S9A
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