Overview

Tongue diagnosis is a technique used in traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda) to diagnose disease or medical conditions.

There is no strong scientific evidence that tongue diagnosis is a reliable technique. It should not be used to diagnose and guide treatment in place of modern diagnostic techniques.

Tongue diagnosis is a technique used in traditional Asian systems of medicine including traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda). It is often used in connection with pulse diagnosis. Practitioners of these systems of medicine evaluate the tongue for color and other qualities. They believe that certain tongue qualities correlate with energy imbalances or body fluid (humoral) imbalances in specific organs or areas of the body. Therapies are often guided by these tongue qualities. However, there is no reliable scientific evidence that tongue diagnosis is an accurate indicator of medical conditions or disease.

How does it work ?

Tongue diagnosis is a technique used in traditional Asian systems of medicine including traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda). It is often used in connection with pulse diagnosis. Practitioners of these systems of medicine evaluate the tongue for color and other qualities. They believe that certain tongue qualities correlate with energy imbalances or body fluid (humoral) imbalances in specific organs or areas of the body. Therapies are often guided by these tongue qualities. However, there is no reliable scientific evidence that tongue diagnosis is an accurate indicator of medical conditions or disease.

Uses & Effectiveness

Insufficient Evidence for

  • Diagnosing disease or medical conditions.
  • Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of tongue diagnosis for these uses.

Side Effects



Special Precautions and Warnings



There isn't enough reliable information to know if tongue diagnosis is safe. While tongue diagnosis is a non-invasive procedure that has been used with apparent safety in some low-quality studies, this technique should not be relied upon to identify or diagnose medical conditions or disease in place of modern diagnostic techniques.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of tongue diagnosis during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Interactions

We currently have no information for Tongue Diagnosis overview.

Dosing

The appropriate or safe use of tongue diagnosis depends on several factors such as the condition being treated or the person administering the treatment. Be sure to seek and follow relevant directions from your physician or other healthcare professional before using this treatment.
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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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