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In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there's a profound saying: "Observing to understand the cause embodies divinity, making visual diagnosis a fundamental diagnostic technique." Among such techniques, tongue observation is particularly critical. But why emphasize the tongue? This practice is deeply rooted in TCM's holistic theory.

According to TCM, the human body develops from a single fertilized egg, meaning every part or cell inherently contains comprehensive information about the body's organs and systems. The tongue, therefore, acts as a mirror reflecting the state of the body's internal organs, tissues, and skeletal structure.

For millennia, TCM practitioners have relied on tongue diagnosis in situations where patients are unable to communicate due to conditions like a stroke or in cases involving non-verbal children. But how exactly is this form of diagnosis conducted?

The Process of Tongue Diagnosis

1. Shape Observation: The examination begins with the tongue's shape—its thickness, elasticity, size, and contour (whether it's convex or concave). The tongue's orientation (centered or skewed) and its mobility (flexible or stiff) provide essential clues for pinpointing the location and nature of an illness.
2. Color Analysis: The tongue's color spectrum, from light white and pink to red, dark red, purple, and blue, is assessed. Light pink serves as a baseline for a healthy tongue, with any significant deviations signaling potential health issues.
3. Coating Inspection: The tongue's coating, or "moss," is examined for both its texture and color, which range from white, yellow, gray, to black. Variations in thickness, moisture, and consistency are noted. A thin, white coating indicates health, whereas other colors may denote various ailments. It's important to exclude temporary color changes from external sources like food or drink, as they do not reflect the individual's health status.
4. Comprehensive Assessment: Integrating observations of the tongue's body, color, coating, and additional signs, such as red spots, allows practitioners to diagnose the affected body part and determine the disease's characteristics. This holistic approach enables the selection of appropriate herbal remedies to realign organ function and achieve a renewed state of health, in line with TCM principles.