tongue dx

[Guest guest]

We have talked a lot about pulse diagnosis on this list, but very little

about tongue dx, which is arguably the more important sign for herbalists.

Perhaps we all take for granted that this method is comparatively easy

and there is no debate on it. I think that is largely true, however

I wanted ask about several aspects.

What were people taught constitutes a white coat? More often than

not, I have white coats identified for me that I would call dirty.

they are, off white, beige colored or even light yellow. I was taught

such coats indicate heat forming at various stages. In the dirty

beige stage, turbidity and stagnation are pronounced, but heat is just

beginning to form. There may be no signs and little or no need to

treat this aggressively with heat clearers. However, these coats

are definitely not what I consider to be white and thus do not point to

a diagnosis of cold. To me, white coats are distinctly white and

fairly rare in my practice, which is not surprising since all chronic illness

is multipatterned with a tendency to transform to heat.

-- ,

 

 

FAX:

 

[Guest guest]

What were people taught constitutes a white coat? More often than not, I have white coats identified for me that I would call dirty. they are, off white, beige colored or even light yellow. I was taught such coats indicate heat forming at various stages. In the dirty beige stage, turbidity and stagnation are pronounced, but heat is just beginning to form. There may be no signs and little or no need to treat this aggressively with heat clearers. However, these coats are definitely not what I consider to be white and thus do not point to a diagnosis of cold. To me, white coats are distinctly white and fairly rare in my practice, which is not surprising since all chronic illness is multipatterned with a tendency to transform to heat.

>>>>Todd

I would only add making sure that color is real color ie making sure its not a false color

Alon

[Guest guest]

 

>

> What were people taught constitutes a white coat? More often than

not,

> I have white coats identified for me that I would call dirty. they

are,

> off white, beige colored or even light yellow.

 

I've noticed something similar for years.

In fact, when I first went to China in 92

I was often surprised to hear doctors calling

tongue coatings yellow that I had been taught to

think of as " white " .

 

At first I tried to rationalize this as

being due to individual differences in

practitioners, but over years it became

clear that different standards or understanding

existed.

 

Ken

[Guest guest]

 

> To me, white coats are distinctly white and fairly

> rare in my practice, which is not surprising since all chronic illness

> is multipatterned with a tendency to transform to heat.

 

I agree completely. White coats are bright white. Dirty white, the is

the initial stage of the yellow coat.

 

--

Al Stone L.Ac.

<AlStone

http://www.BeyondWellBeing.com

 

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.

[Guest guest]

Al

How often do you see a bleach white coat?

Alon

[Guest guest]

> ALON MARCUS wrote:

>

> Al

> How often do you see a bleach white coat?

> Alon

 

I saw one today. : )

 

But to answer your question, not very often. I do however admit that I

don't always need a bleach white coat to make the diagnosis of cold

damp.

 

--

Al Stone L.Ac.

<AlStone

http://www.BeyondWellBeing.com

 

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.

[Guest guest]

I do however admit that Idon't always need a bleach white coat to make the diagnosis of colddamp. >>>>>That's what I mean

Alon

[Guest guest]

, Al Stone <alstone@b...> wrote:

I do however admit that I

> don't always need a bleach white coat to make the diagnosis of cold

> damp.

 

I find chronic cold damp to be rare. in the absence of confirming

tongue signs, how do you make this dx?

 

[Guest guest]

, " Alon Marcus " <alonmarcus@w...> wrote:

> I do however admit that I

> don't always need a bleach white coat to make the diagnosis of cold

> damp.

> >>>>>That's what I mean

> Alon

 

I see acute cold-damp and cold-damp bi syndrome, but rarely, if ever,

see chronic cold damp. Even my yang xu patients often present with

dampheat pathogens. I guess this comes full circle to Jason's

question. If the yang is xu, then damp and cold may accumulate

internally. over time, both these pathogens typically transform to

heat.

 

[Guest guest]

1 wrote:

>

> , Al Stone <alstone@b...> wrote:

> I do however admit that I

> > don't always need a bleach white coat to make the diagnosis of cold

> > damp.

>

> I find chronic cold damp to be rare. in the absence of confirming

> tongue signs, how do you make this dx?

 

Usual stuff: slippery pulse, bloating, borborygmus, nausea/vomiting,

loose stools, heaviness in the limbs.

 

I treat dampness as cold unless there are symptoms of heat. By default

damp is cold.

 

--

Al Stone L.Ac.

<AlStone

http://www.BeyondWellBeing.com

 

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.