Conversations with patients
"Stick out your tongue" is a standard part of the pre-treatment diagnosis that I use in my practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Acupuncture. This request often triggers one of the most FAQ's by patients: "What does my tongue tell you?" The article posted on my web page titled "Stick out your tongue" will give you a good over view of how important looking at my patients tongue is as a complimentary part of my diagnosis and selection of my treatment strategy for this session and possibly subsequent treatments.
In Chinese medicine theory the key aspects considered include the colour, shape and mobility of the tongue body (SHI ZHI); and the colour and texture of the coating (SHE TAI). The tongue can confirm good health and it will reflect internal changes of a pathological nature. It is this aspect that makes the tongue such an important diagnostic tool.
Tongue appearannce and landmarks are noted on the patients file so I can monitor changes from one session to the next. In some cases a change can occur during treatment and the tongue will have a different appearance after the treatment than it did with the initial observation.
One of the best publications on Tongue Diagnosis available is a joint publication by "People's Medicial Publishing House Beijing and Editions Sinomedic Strasbourg. This 638 page hardcover text has color photos of tongues with the basic diagnosis written in five separate languages to allow the best International interpretation of the information.
Our climate in the Pacific Northwest is reflected in both the tongue and the pulse of people who live in this area. The "dampness" of our climate is reflected in our physical well-being, and in some cases the dampness can take on a pathogenic proportion that is reflected in the wellness - or lack of wellness in a patient. In this case "drying" herbs or foods may be recomended to the patient to assist their body's return to homeostatsis, or good health.
Asking a patient to "expose" their tongue often results in unexpected responses that can vary from shyness to "Letting it all hang out". I once had a patient who was unable to stick out her tongue unless she sat up on the treatment table. If I'm only provided with a "dart" I often have to ask the patient to give me a longer time to observe the landmarks. One of the more common habits is to just extend the tongue through their lips without opening their mouth, and that only allows me to see the upper portion which doesn't allow for a full diagnostic observation. On some occasions there is even associated body languge in the "So there!" manner of speaking.
Children love to extend their tongues and in some cases seem totally fascinated with this unique body appendage. There have been instances in restaurants were a child provides me with an extended view (pardon the pun) and if pathology is present, I am tempted to hand my business card to the parent and suggest that they book an appointment with me or another Dr. TCM in the near future.
Good health,
Dr. Bill
In Chinese medicine theory the key aspects considered include the colour, shape and mobility of the tongue body (SHI ZHI); and the colour and texture of the coating (SHE TAI). The tongue can confirm good health and it will reflect internal changes of a pathological nature. It is this aspect that makes the tongue such an important diagnostic tool.
Tongue appearannce and landmarks are noted on the patients file so I can monitor changes from one session to the next. In some cases a change can occur during treatment and the tongue will have a different appearance after the treatment than it did with the initial observation.
One of the best publications on Tongue Diagnosis available is a joint publication by "People's Medicial Publishing House Beijing and Editions Sinomedic Strasbourg. This 638 page hardcover text has color photos of tongues with the basic diagnosis written in five separate languages to allow the best International interpretation of the information.
Our climate in the Pacific Northwest is reflected in both the tongue and the pulse of people who live in this area. The "dampness" of our climate is reflected in our physical well-being, and in some cases the dampness can take on a pathogenic proportion that is reflected in the wellness - or lack of wellness in a patient. In this case "drying" herbs or foods may be recomended to the patient to assist their body's return to homeostatsis, or good health.
Asking a patient to "expose" their tongue often results in unexpected responses that can vary from shyness to "Letting it all hang out". I once had a patient who was unable to stick out her tongue unless she sat up on the treatment table. If I'm only provided with a "dart" I often have to ask the patient to give me a longer time to observe the landmarks. One of the more common habits is to just extend the tongue through their lips without opening their mouth, and that only allows me to see the upper portion which doesn't allow for a full diagnostic observation. On some occasions there is even associated body languge in the "So there!" manner of speaking.
Children love to extend their tongues and in some cases seem totally fascinated with this unique body appendage. There have been instances in restaurants were a child provides me with an extended view (pardon the pun) and if pathology is present, I am tempted to hand my business card to the parent and suggest that they book an appointment with me or another Dr. TCM in the near future.
Good health,
Dr. Bill
