1. In general, if the tongue is generally pale and slightly wet tongue 

2. pale and dry

1. yang xu

2. blood xu

1. pale wet tongue (fluid is clearly visible on the surface of the tongue, if severe dripping saliva)

2. if pale wet and swollen..

3. if tongue is pale wet swollen and sticky coating all over

1. spleen yang xu

2. kidney yang xu

3. obstruction of spirit by phlegm with severe anxiety or mild manic behavior

1. pale dry tongue

2. pale bright and shiny tongue (looks like freshly plucked chicken flesh and peels from the center outward till it covers entire tongue)

1. blood xu

2. long duration of st and sp weakness

or long duration of qi and blood xu

Red Tongue:

1. red tongue-presence of heat

2. if excess--will have coating

3. if no coating, deficiency

4. red points or spots=heat and blood stasis

5. distribution of red over the surface and its changes=progress of disease

1. if red points or spots are over an area larger than the tip on the front of tongue in ext. cont. disease:

2. if red points or spots on the sides during an ext. contracted disease:

3. if red points or spots on the left or right of center during an ext. cont. disease:

4. if red spots or points on the left or right of center with a white slippery coat on the right side alone

1. 1st stage of external attack--affecting only the upper burner and exterior

2. wind heat in the exterior

3. wind heat in the intermediate stage 1/2 interior and 1/2 exterior

4. shao yang pattern affecting the TW or GB channels

Red Spots:

1. general=heat with blood stasis

2. on the tip

2. on the sides

3. on the root

heat with blood stasis

1. heat and blood stasis in heart

2. heat and blood stasis in liver 

3. blood stasis in lower burner

Pale Red or White Points:

1. pale red points in the center on a normal or pale tongue

2. white or very pale concave points

3. white or very pale concave points in center

1. very slight heat in the st with st/sp qi xu

2. cold

3. cold in stomach

Red with Prickles:

1. general

2. red with prickles between tip and center of tongue

3. red with prickles across the center of the tongue or just around the center

4. red with prickles in the center of the tongue with wide crack with yellow prickles inside of it

1. heat in the ying level

2. lung heat

3. heat in teh chest

4. stomach heat