Long Tongue.?

[Guest guest]

Hi Jason, of course it is true, that you can change the shape of the tongue by using little force when extending or by making a conscious effort in relaxing the tongue. Not only a pointed tongue can be changed in this way, but also one with curled up edges.

Needless to say that tongue diagnosis is/remains a subjective diagnostic method as is the pulse in contrast to "cellular" diagnosis.

To me it is very important what the tongue shape looks like when the patient shows the tongue for the first time. I take it as an representation of the actual energetic situation of the patient, I will note the particular shape , and reexamine the tongue on the second visit having the previous tongue shape in mind. Only then do I really make an judgement on the tongue.

I think that the pointed tongue denotes the energetic condition for nourishment , anchoring of the spirit. (pale and long tongues point towards a Heart blood deficiency, a red and long one towards a Heart yin deficiency or sometimes Heart fire).

Important to remember that one particular tongue sign should never be judged by itsself and that the tongue should only be evaluated in combination with other signs and symtomps presented by the patient.

[Guest guest]

Group,

 

 

 

 

I remember reading something about this somewhere, but am unclear

still...A typical explanation for a long (pointy) tongue is either

heat or some heart involvement (maybe others...) but the puzzling

thing is this long tongue seems dependent on how the person sticks out

there tongue... I.e. I can stick out my tongue and the color looks

pink, good shape, & somewhat normal, or I can stick it out and make it

red pointy tip, long, thicker, etc… and it looks as if I have some

(extra) pathology. SO… depending on how one sticks out there tongue,

seems important or does it? Do we tell people to try to relax their

tongue if we see this, or do we just say " Oh... because this is the

natural (or 1st) way that they stuck out there tongue, we should

accept this as the REAL tongue picture... " Hope that was clear...

Comments?

 

 

 

 

-Jason

[Guest guest]

Barbara,

 

Can you clarify what you mean by "I think that the pointed tongue denotes the energetic condition for nourishment, anchoring of the spirit." Do you mean the person is in need of nourishment? Or?

 

Also, what do you make of a deep red tongue, no coating, on a patient whose main complaint is hypothyroidism, with pale skin, always feels cold, constipation, etc.?

 

Thank you.

 

Julie

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Juli,

Blood and Yin are needed to nourish and settle the spirit. The tongue color and shape point towards the condition of blood,yin and yang. In case of very pointed, f.e. pale tongue there is not sufficient blood to nourish the Heart. In relation to the tongue there is not enough blood , yin to fill out the tongue, depriving it of its normal shape. Therefore this tongue shape shows that the energies necessary for nourishing the Heart are insufficient which will affect the spirit. The state of the spirit can be perceveived through the eyes of a person , but not judged by examining the tongue. I think, that the combination of tongue color and shape reveal the energetic condition which determine the nourishment etc of the spirit.

 

Your second point is interesting. Obviously the tongue doesn`t match the symptoms of the patient. However more than one interpretation is possible. The obvious one being a Kidney yin deficiency.

A long- standing deficiency of Kidney yin (red , dry tongue) can in the end lead to a weakening of the Yang. Deficiency of both the Kid yin and yang is quite common with thyroid complaints. May be this is one reason for the increased incidence of of thyroid problems in menopause. I see quite a few women who suffer from Hashimoto-Tyreoiditis. This often begins with hyperactivitiy of the thyroid leading to hypoactivitiy.

You said the tongue body is deep-red which can denote heat on the blood-level. As an underactive thyroid can develop as sequel to acute thyreoditis, you should look at this possiblity, too.

In Menopause one often sees the same contradiction, pale, swollen tongues and the women can`t sleep, have hot flushes and night sweats.I think that the tongue color shows the underlying constitution and often points towards the root of the (prevalent) deficiency.

[Guest guest]

Hi Julie,

Blood and Yin are needed to nourish and settle the spirit. The tongue color and shape point towards the condition of blood,yin and yang. In case of very pointed, f.e. pale tongue there is not sufficient blood to nourish the Heart. In relation to the tongue there is not enough blood , yin to fill out the tongue, depriving it of its normal shape. Therefore this tongue shape shows that the energies necessary for nourishing the Heart are insufficient which will affect the spirit. The state of the spirit can be perceveived through the eyes of a person , but not judged by examining the tongue. I think, that the combination of tongue color and shape reveal the energetic condition which determine the nourishment etc of the spirit.

 

Your second point is interesting. Obviously the tongue doesn`t match the symptoms of the patient. However more than one interpretation is possible. The obvious one being a Kidney yin deficiency.

A long- standing deficiency of Kidney yin (red , dry tongue) can in the end lead to a weakening of the Yang. Deficiency of both the Kid yin and yang is quite common with thyroid complaints. May be this is one reason for the increased incidence of of thyroid problems in menopause. I see quite a few women who suffer from Hashimoto-Tyreoiditis. This often begins with hyperactivitiy of the thyroid leading to hypoactivitiy.

You said the tongue body is deep-red which can denote heat on the blood-level. As an underactive thyroid can develop as sequel to acute thyreoditis, you should look at this possiblity, too.

In Menopause one often sees the same contradiction, pale, swollen tongues and the women can`t sleep, have hot flushes and night sweats.I think that the tongue color shows the underlying constitution and often points towards the root of the (prevalent) deficiency.

Best wishes

Barbara