Examing the tongue is a key diagnosic tool in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The tongue is a major conduit of energy in the body and therefore can reveal a lot about our state of health. Shape, colour and any coating (which is produced by stomach chi) it may have give clues as to what imbalances are causing disease in the body.

In ancient times, it was established that different parts of the tongue correspond to different internal organs. The tip of the tongue reflects the heart and lungs; the middle part, the spleen and stomach; its root, the kidneys; and both sides of the tongue, liver and gall-bladder.

A normal tongue sign is proper size, soft in quality, free in motion, pale red in color and with a thin layer of white coating which is neither dry nor overly moist.