The tongue, a body part that is often overlooked, actually harbors secrets reflecting health. A healthy tongue is typically pale red, covered with a thin layer of white tongue coating. When the tongue is extended, it maintains an appropriate distance from the corners of the mouth, even if the mouth is open for a period, it will not quickly dry out. The veins under the tongue appear light purple, indicating good blood circulation.
However, not everyone’s tongue is in this ideal state. For example, people with weak constitutions may have pale tongues, sparse tongue coating, and inconspicuous small veins. These individuals are prone to fatigue, weak immunity, susceptible to colds with slow recovery, and may also experience issues such as anemia and low blood pressure. To address this situation, enhancing nutrient intake, keeping the body warm, avoiding cold foods, selecting warm-tonifying foods like traditional Chinese medicine Astragalus, and engaging in moderate exercise to boost metabolism are all beneficial improvement measures.
In contrast, individuals with a tendency for heat and poor blood circulation often have thick, hard tongues with yellowish, greasy tongue coating, prominent veins, and deep red color. They are prone to acute feverish symptoms, such as rapid high fever, with a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, different manifestations of tongue coating can reveal health issues: prickly tongue coating may indicate inflammation or infection; excessive white coating may be related to stagnation of body fluids or phlegm-dampness; yellow coating is often associated with heat-related diseases; black coating may be a sign of long-term and complex conditions; lack of coating or excessively smooth tongue surface may suggest malnutrition or serious illnesses.
It is worth noting that while changes in the color and texture of tongue coating can provide health clues, accurate assessment requires consideration of specific individual symptoms and professional medical opinions. Developing the habit of observing tongue signs can help us detect subtle changes in the body earlier and take timely measures to maintain good health.
