White coat one side

OR

White Anterior-grey

OR

Black posterior

Red body

no coat

Red body,

yellow coat

RED BODY,

NO COAT

Slightly flaccid body,

slightly swollen anterior

Pale body,

bluish purple if severe

Pale body,

coating white, wet

Pale body,

possibly swollen,

white coat

Pale body,

tip paler

Pale body,

slightly dry

Pale body,

sides paler

No coat in center,

dry, wide crack in center

Red body,

no coat anteriorly,

tip redder

Red body,

no coat,

cracks anteriorly

Red body,

no coat,

dry, cracks

Body pale,

coating thick, slippery

and white

Body red,

coating thick

and yellow

INTERIOR (EXCESS) CONDITION

STASIS OF BLOOD

INTERIOR EXCESS CONDITION

PHLEGM

Coating thick,

slippery

and

greasy

TONGUE BODY COLOR

PALE, SLIGHTLY DRY

TONGUE BODY COLOR

PALE, WET

TONGUE BODY COLOR

PALE, BRIGHT AND SHINY

QI AND BLOOD VACUITY (DEFICIENCY),

PARTICULARLY OF

STOMACH AND SPLEEN

TONGUE BODY COLOR

RED WITH COATING

HEAT IN THE NUTRITIVE (YING)

AND BLOOD LEVELS (XUE)

TONGUE BODY COLOR

RED AND

WITHOUT COAT

YIN DEFICIENCY (VACUITY)

WITH HEAT

TONGUE BODY COLOR

RED AND WET

HEAT WITH RETENTION

OF DAMPNESS

TONGUE BODY COLOR

RED AND DRY

WITH COATING

HEAT FROM EXCESS BURNING

BODY FLUIDS

REPLETE HEAT CONSUME

JIN YE

TONGUE BODY COLOR

RED AND DRY

WITHOUT COATING

DEFICIENCY HEAT AND EXHAUSTION OF

BODY FLUIDS

VACUITY HEAT WITH EXHAUSTION

OF JIN YE

TONGUE BODY COLOR

RED AND SHINY

STOMACH AND/OR

KIDNEY YIN

DEFICIENCY (VACUITY)

TONGUE BODY COLOR

RED AND SCARLET

LUNG OR HEART YIN

DEFICIENCY (VACUITY)

TONGUE BODY COLOR

RED WITH RED POINTS

OR SPOTS

HEAT WITH BLOOD STASIS

TONGUE BODY COLOR

RED WITH PRICKLES

HEAT IN THE NUTRITIVE (YING) LEVEL

OR IN THE UPPER OR

MIDDLE JIAO

TONGUE BODY COLOR

RED WITH A PURPLE

SPOT IN THE CENTER

BLOOD STASIS

AND HEAT IN

STOMACH

TONGUE BODY COLOR

RED AND PEELED

HEAT FROM STOMACH

AND KIDNEY YIN

DEFICIENCY (VACUITY)

TONGUE BODY COLOR

DARK RED WITH A

DRY CENTER

STOMACH FIRE BLAZING

OR

STOMACH YIN DEFICIENCY (VACUITY)

WITH HEAT

TONGUE BODY COLOR

REDDISH PURPLE

TONGUE BODY COLOR

REDDISH PURPLE AND DISTENDED

EXTREME HEAT WITH BLOOD STASIS

AND TOXIN FROM ALCOHOL

INJURING THE HEART

TONGUE BODY COLOR

BLUISH PURPLE

TONGUE BODY COLOR

BLUISH PURPLE AND MOIST

BLOOD STASIS FROM INTERNAL

COLD STIFFENING THE

TENDONS AND BONES

TONGUE BODY COLOR

BLUE

SEVERE INTERNAL COLD WITH BLOOD

STASIS

TONGUE BODY COLOR

BLUE WITHOUT COATING

SEVERE INTERNAL COLD WITH

STASIS AND EXHAUSTION

OF BLOOD

TONGUE BODY COLOR

BLUE CENTRAL SURFACE

SPLEEN YANG DEFICIENCY (VACUITY)

WITH RETENTION OF PHLEGM

IN CHEST

TONGUE BODY COLOR

BLUE IN A PREGNANT WOMAN

TONGUE BODY COLOR

DISTENDED VEINS ON

UNDERSIDE OF TONGUE

DEFICIENCY (VACUITY) AND STAGNATION

OF QI

IF VEINS ALSO DARK: BLOOD STASIS

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

THIN, PALE BODY

TONGUE BODY SHAPE

THIN (RED BODY)*

TONGUE BODY SHAPE

SWOLLEN*

• SPLEEN AND/OR KIDNEY YANG DEFICIENCY WITH DAMPNESS
• DAMP-HEAT IN STOMACH AND SPLEEN

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

SWOLLEN

RED BODY

• HEART AND STOMACH HEAT
• ALCOHOLIC TOXIN

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

SWOLLEN EDGES

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

SWOLLEN SIDES

ASCENDANT LIVER YANG

OR LIVER FIRE

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

SWOLLEN TIP

WITH RED BODY

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

SWOLLEN TIP AND

NORMAL COLOR

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

SWOLLEN BETWEEN

TIP AND CENTER

LUNG QI DEFICIENCY (VACUITY)

WITH RETENTION OF PHLEGM

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

SWOLLEN ALONG

CENTRAL CRACK WITH

RED BODY

HEART FIRE BLAZING

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

SWOLLEN ALONG CENTRAL CRACK

WITH NORMAL COLOR

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

HALF SWOLLEN

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

PARTLY SWOLLEN ON ONE SIDE

DEFICIENCY (VACUITY)

OR STAGNATION OF

QI IN CHEST

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

HALF SURFACE SWOLLEN

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

HAMMER-SHAPED

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

STIFF WITH RED OR

DARK RED BODY

TONGUE BODY SHAPE STIFF*

WITH RED BODY

TONGUE BODY SHAPE STIFF*

TONGUE BODY SHAPE STIFF*

WITH NORMAL COLOR

TONGUE BODY SHAPE FLACCID*

WITH PALE BODY

TONGUE BODY SHAPE FLACCID*

WITH A RED BODY

TONGUE BODY SHAPE FLACCID*

WITH DEEP RED BODY

KIDNEY YIN DEFICIENCY (VACUITY)

WITH HEAT

TONGUE BODY SHAPE  LONG*

BLAZING HEART FIRE

PHLEGM-FIRE IN HEART

TONGUE BODY SHAPE SHORT*

WITH A PALE BODY

SPLEEN YANG DEFICIENCY (VACUITY)

INTERNAL COLD

TONGUE BODY SHAPE SHORT*

WITH A RED BODY

TONGUE BODY SHAPE SHORT WITH A

RED BODY AND COATING*

INSUFFICIENCY OF BODY FLUIDS

DUE TO HEAT FROM EXCESS

TONGUE BODY SHAPE SHORT

WITH A RED BODY,

WITHOUT COATING*

TONGUE BODY SHAPE SHORT

WITH A PALE BODY

AND SLIPPERY COATING*

SPLEEN YANG DEFICIENCY (VACUITY)

WITH DAMPNESS

AND

PHLEGM

TONGUE BODY SHAPE

CRACKED WITH

HORIZONTAL CRACKS*

TONGUE BODY SHAPE

CRACKED WITH CRACKS

LIKE ICE FLOES*

YIN DEFICIENCY (VACUITY) FROM

OLD AGE

TONGUE BODY SHAPE

IRREGULAR CRACKS*

TONGUE BODY SHAPE

TRANSVERSE CRACKS

ON SIDES*

TONGUE BODY SHAPE

VERTICAL CRACKS IN CENTER*

HEART YIN DEFICIENCY (VACUITY)

OR BLAZING HEART FIRE

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

TRANSVERSE CRACKS BEHIND TIP

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

VERY DEEP CENTRAL CRACK

WITH OTHER SMALL CRACKS

KIDNEY YIN DEFICIENCY (VACUITY)

WITH HEAT

TONGUE BODY SHAPE *

LOOSE

WITH RED BODY

TONGUE BODY SHAPE LOOSE

WITH A RED BODY AND

SLIPPERY COATING*

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

 LOOSE

WITH A PALE BODY

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

DEVIATED

WITH A NORMAL COLOR

EXTERIOR WIND INVADING

THE CHANNELS

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

DEVIATED

WITH A RED OR NORMAL COLOR

TONGUE BODY SHAPE *

DEVIATED

WITH A PALE BODY

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

NUMB WITH PALE BODY

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

NUMB WITH RED OR NORMAL COLOR

TONGUE BODY SHAPE *

NUMB

WITH SLIPPERY COATING

TONGUE BODY SHAPE *

MOVING

WITH RED BODY

TONGUE BODY SHAPE *

MOVING

WITH RED AND DRY BODY

SPLEEN HEAT WITH EXHAUSTION

OF BODY FLUIDS

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

QUIVERING

WITH A PALE BODY

TONGUE BODY SHAPE *

QUIVERING

WITH A RED BODY

EXTREME HEAT GENERATING INTERNAL

WIND

TONGUE BODY SHAPE *

QUIVERING

WITH A PALE BODY

TONGUE BODY SHAPE *

QUIVERING

WITH A

PALE AND THIN BODY

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

ROLLED WITH THE

TIP ROLLED OVER

TONGUE BODY SHAPE *

ROLLED WITH THE

TIP ROLLED UNDER

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

TOOTH MARKED

TONGUE BODY SHAPE*

 ULCERATED

WITH A RED BODY

TONGUE BODY SHAPE *

ULCERATED RED AND

WITH A PEELED BODY

TONGUE BODY SHAPE *

SORE-COVERED WITH

A RED BODY

TONGUE BODY SHAPE *

SORE-COVERED

WITH A RED AND PEELED BODY

TONGUE COATING WHITE

AND THIN

NORMAL OR

WIND, COLD

OR

DAMPNESS IN EXTERIOR

TONGUE COATING WHITE

THIN AND SLIPPERY

EXTERIOR ATTACK OF DAMP-COLD

(COLD DAMP)

TONGUE COATING WHITE

THICK AND SLIPPERY

DAMPNESS IN THE MIDDLE JIAO

COLD WITH RETENTION OF FOOD IN THE ST

TONGUE COATING WHITE

THIN AND DRY

WITH A PALE BODY

BLOOD DEFICIENCY (VACUITY)

OR

YANG DEFICIENCY (VACUITY)

TONGUE COATING WHITE

THIN AND DRY

WITH A NORMAL BODY COLOR

EXTERIOR ATTACK OF WIND-COLD

OR WIND-HEAT

LUNG FLUIDS INJURED

OR DRY ATTACK

TONGUE COATING WHITE

THICK AND WET

WITH A NORMAL BODY COLOR

EXTERIOR ATTACK OF WIND-COLD

OR INTERNAL DAMP-COLD (COLD DAMP) IN

MIDDLE JIAO

TONGUE COATING WHITE

THICK AND DRY

DIRTY FLUIDS IN THE INTERIOR WITH HEAT

(INTERNAL HEAT WITH TURBID DAMP)

TONGUE COATING WHITE

THICK AND GREASY

YANG DEFICIENCY (VACUITY) WITH RETENTION

OF FOOD OR DAMPNESS

TONGUE COATING WHITE

THICK, GREASY AND SLIPPERY

SPLEEN YANG DEFICIENCY (VACUITY) WITH

DAMP-COLD OR PHLEGM

TONGUE COATING WHITE

THICK, GREASY AND DRY

DAMPNESS WITH EXHAUSTION OF

BODY FLUIDS OR HEAT

TONGUE COATING WHITE

ROUGH AND CRACKED

ATTACK OF SUMMER HEAT INJURING

THE QI (QI LEVEL)

TONGUE COATING WHITE

STICKY AND GREASY

DAMPNESS OR PHLEGM IN THE

MIDDLE JIAO

OR

EXTERIOR ATTACK OF DAMPNESS

AT THE QI LEVEL

TONGUE COATING WHITE

LIKE POWDER WITH A BODY

THAT IS SLIGHTLY RED ON TIP

OR SIDES

EXTERIOR HEAT

TONGUE COATING WHITE

LIKE POWDER WITH A BODY

THAT IS RED OR DARK RED

TONGUE COATING WHITE

LIKE POWDER WITH A

BODY THAT IS RED

TONGUE COATING WHITE

LIKE SNOW

SPLEEN YANG EXHAUSTION

WITH DAMP-COLD IN THE

MIDDLE JIAO

TONGUE COATING WHITE

AND MOLDY

KIDNEY AND STOMACH YIN DEFICIENCY

(VACUITY),

DAMP-TOXIN IN THE INTERIOR

TONGUE COATING HALF-WHITE

AND SLIPPERY ON THE RIGHT SIDE

PATHOGENIC FACTOR HALF-EXTERIOR,

HALF-INTERIOR

TONGUE COATING HALF-WHITE AND

SLIPPERY ON THE LEFT SIDE

TONGUE COATING YELLOW

OR PALE YELLOW

• EXTERIOR ATTACK OF WIND-HEAT
• WIND-COLD TURNING INTO HEAT
• DAMP-HEAT IN THE CHEST AND MIDDLE JIAO

TONGUE COATING YELLOW

AND SLIPPERY

DAMP-HEAT IN THE STOMACH AND

INTESTINES

TONGUE COATING YELLOW

STICKY AND GREASY

TONGUE COATING WITH

YELLOW ROOT AND WHITE TIP

EXTERIOR PATHOGENIC FACTOR

JUST CHANGING INTO HEAT AND

PENETRATING TO THE INTERIOR

TONGUE COATING

BILATERAL YELLOW STRIPS

(REMAINDER WHITE)

• EXTERIOR PATHOGENIC FACTOR PENETRATING TO THE INTERIOR
• HEAT IN THE STOMACH AND INTESTNES

TONGUE COATING BILATERAL YELLOW STRIPS

REMAINDER YELLOW

TONGUE COATING GRAY OR

GRAY, WET AND SLIPPERY

HEAT FROM EXCESS

(REPLETE HEAT)

TONGUE COATING BLACK OR

BLACK, SLIPPERY AND GREASY*

TONGUE COATING BILATERAL

BLACK ON WHITE*

AND WET

TONGUE COATING BILATERAL

BLACK ON WHITE*

AND DRY

HEAT FROM EXCESS IN THE STOMACH AND

SPLEEN

TONGUE COATING WHITE WITH

BLACK POINTS*

TONGUE COATING WHITE WITH

BLACK PRICKLES*

• TRUE COLD, FALSE HEAT
• COLD TURNED INTO HEAT

TONGUE COATING BLACK IN THE

CENTER, WHITE AND

SLIPPERY ON SIDES

SPLEEN YANG DEFICIENCY (VACUITY) WITH

DAMP-COLD (COLD DAMP)IN THE INTERIOR

TONGUE COATING 1/2 WHITE AND SLIPPERY,

 1/2 YELLOW AND BLACK

TONGUE COATING WITH YELLOW SIDES,

BLACK AND GREASY CENTER

TONGUE COATING BLACK, DRY AND CRACKED*

• EXHAUSTION OF KIDNEY
• YANG DEFICIENCY WITH INTERIOR COLD

TONGUE COATING WHITE IN CENTER,

YELLOW AROUND

TONGUE COATING WHITE, GRAY AND

MOIST

TONGUE COATING HALF-WHITE,

HALF-GRAY

TAIYANG PATTERN TONGUE

(BODY AND COAT)

BODY IS NORMAL,

TONGUE COAT: THIN, WHITE, POSSIBLY MORE AROUND CENTER OR IN FRONT 1/3

YANGMING PATTERN TONGUE

BODY AND TONGUE COAT

BODY IS RED

TONGUE COAT IS YELLOW, THICK AND DRY

SHAOYANG PATTERN TONGUE,

BODY AND COAT

THE BODY IS NORMAL, THE TONGUE COAT IS WHITE, SLIPPERY ON ONE SIDE

OR

WHITE AND GRAY

OR

WHITE AND BLACK

TAIYIN PATTERN TONGUE,

BODY AND TONGUE COAT

SHAOYIN COLD PATTERN

GIVE TONGUE

BODY AND COAT

SHAOYIN HEAT TONGUE,

 GIVE BODY AND TONGUE COAT

JUEYIN PATTERN TONGUE,

GIVE BODY AND COAT

THE BODY IS PALE AND

THE TONGUE COAT IS WHITE AND YELLOW (CAUSE IS BOTH HEAT AND COLD SIGNS)

WEI PATTERN TONGUE,

GIVE BODY AND TONGUE COAT

BODY IS SLIGHTLY RED IN FRONT,

THE COAT IS THIN AND WHITE

THE QI LEVEL TONGUE,

GIVE BODY AND TONGUE COAT

YING LEVEL TONGUE,

GIVE THE

BODY AND THE TONGUE COAT