Licking lips is a common habitual action, but it may conceal health information. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the state of the lips can reflect the body’s health condition. For example, deep red lips may indicate body heat; pale lips are often associated with anemia or blood loss; light red lips may indicate blood deficiency or insufficient qi and blood; pale lower lips may reflect stomach deficiency and cold issues, accompanied by symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea; pale upper lips with a bluish tint may indicate large intestine deficiency and coldness; bluish lips may also indicate poor blood circulation, requiring vigilance against acute illnesses such as vascular embolism; dark lips may be related to digestive system diseases such as constipation or diarrhea. In addition, cracked corners of the mouth may be related to spleen and stomach Yin deficiency, and frequent ulcers in the lips are not merely due to excess heat but may also be due to a constitution leaning toward deficiency.
Observing lip color is a simple way for self-health monitoring. For example, pale lips accompanied by paleness in other areas may be a manifestation of anemia; deep red lip color reflects internal heat; purple lips may indicate stagnant blood or heart problems; light yellow lips may be related to poor liver function. The dryness, wetness, and color changes of the lips are all signals that the body sends to us.
It is worth noting that frequent lip licking not only fails to solve dryness issues but can exacerbate dryness by evaporating saliva, leading to angular cheilitis or irritant dermatitis, resulting in rough and discolored skin. Therefore, maintaining natural lip moisture, avoiding lip licking habits, is crucial for maintaining lip health. If any lip abnormalities occur, it is recommended to adjust lifestyle habits, supplement nutrition appropriately, or seek professional medical advice.
