avatarKiran Yasmin

Summary

The article discusses how the tongue's appearance can indicate overall health, detailing various conditions that different colors and textures may suggest.

Abstract

The tongue's color and texture are important indicators of health, according to both Western and Eastern medical practices. A healthy tongue is typically pink and moist, but changes in color—such as bright red, pale, purple, or brown—can signal deficiencies in nutrients like iron and vitamin B, anemia, poor circulation, or even skin cancer. Textural changes like a dry tongue or red spots can point to issues ranging from the side effects of medication to immune system disorders or asthma. The article emphasizes the importance of the tongue in diagnosing health problems and suggests dietary adjustments to address certain deficiencies.

Opinions

  • The tongue's rich blood supply and constant saliva flow are crucial for maintaining oral health and preventing harmful bacteria growth.
  • In Western countries, tongue diagnosis is evidence-based and used to detect conditions such as anemia, thrush, dehydration, cyanosis, and kidney problems.
  • In China and other parts of the world, tongue diagnosis is also valued for identifying digestive issues, poor circulation, high cholesterol, vitamin deficiencies, and allergies.
  • A bright red tongue may indicate a deficiency in iron or vitamin B, necessitating the inclusion of nuts, lean meats, apricots, and shellfish in one's diet.
  • A purple tongue is associated with a lack of oxygen, possibly due to chronic bronchitis, heart disease, poor circulation, or high cholesterol.
  • A brown spot on the tongue could be a sign of melanoma, a form of skin cancer.
  • A dry tongue is often a side effect of medication but can also indicate hormonal imbalances, stress, or Sjorgren's syndrome, with a recommended remedy of lemon juice and cider vinegar.
  • Red spots on the tongue might be linked to asthma or eczema, and a red tip could suggest a lack of bioflavonoids found in vitamin C, which can be addressed by consuming citrus fruits, peppers, kiwi, and berries.
Photo by Vinicius "amnx" Amano on Unsplash

What Is My Tongue Saying About My Health?

It’s safe to say that the tongue is the perfect place to look for signs of trouble. This means if its color and texture are good, then we can be ensured of a healthy life…

Photo by Alex Perez on Unsplash

The tongue is richly supplied with blood vessels, and the constant flow of saliva in the mouth makes it possible for our tongue to stay clean. It also keeps harmful oral bacteria away and ensures our health to a great extent.

My tongue is supposed to be in a pinkish color and should be able to move freely in the mouth. Not only this but also it needs to be moist 24/7. In case the color and texture of our tongue change, this could be a sign of illness.

In some western countries, the diagnosis of the tongue is based on scientific evidence and is considered an excellent way of reading symptoms. So, when the doctor asks us to stick out the tongue, he or she is probably looking for anemia, thrush, dehydration, cyanosis (the lack of oxygen in the lungs) and kidney problems.

In China and other parts of the world, the tongue is diagnosed to see problems like digestive issues, poor circulation, high cholesterol levels in the body, vitamin deficiency and allergies.

Different Colors Of Your Tongue

Photo by Humphrey Muleba on Unsplash
  1. Bright Red — If you have an inflamed or bright red tongue, you may have a deficiency of iron and vitamin B. Iron is needed by the body on a daily basis; it provides you with energy to do day-to-day works. On the other hand, vitamin B is required for the proper functioning of your nervous system. Foods that you can try are nuts, lean meats, apricots, and shellfish.
  2. Pale — A pale tongue will indicate that you have anemia or your body does not have sufficient iron. In this case, you may feel lethargic and tired. So, the best idea is to include liver and meats in your daily diet.
  3. Purple — If you have a purple tongue, this will show that your body has a lack of oxygen. Maybe, it is because of chronic bronchitis which is responsible for reducing the flow of oxygen. Or maybe, it is due to heart disease, poor circulation or high cholesterol.
  4. Brown — The tongue itself may not turn to brown. Instead, you will have a spot that can change the shape, color or size of the tongue with time. It will eventually become darker than ever, and this could be a sign of melanoma which a form of skin cancer.

The Texture Of Your Tongue

Photo by Chandra Oh on Unsplash
  1. Dry Tongue — A dry tongue is usually the result of medicines. This could also indicate hormonal imbalances and stress. If you have a chronic dry tongue, this will show that you have Sjorgren’s syndrome which is an immune system disease. The easiest way to deal with this problem is to drink the mixture of lemon juice and cider vinegar once or twice a day.
  2. Red Spots — Red spots on your tongue could be a sign of asthma or eczema. If the tip of the tongue turns red, this will show that you have a lack of bioflavonoids which is mainly found in vitamin C. Make citrus fruits, peppers, kiwi and berries a part of your daily diet to deal with this problem.

Have you ever experienced any of these problems?

Health
Self Improvement
Life Lessons
Life
Inspiration
Recommended from ReadMedium