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Language has several functions in our organisms. There are thousands of taste buds on its surface, thanks to which we recognize the taste and aroma of food. But above all, it is a strong muscle, with the help of which we can speak and swallow. A healthy tongue is pink in color, almost smooth and elastic, and touching it should not cause pain. But if something is wrong in the body, the appearance of this muscle also changes.
What can be learned from the appearance of the tongue
In traditional medicine, the phrase: “Show your tongue!”, As a rule, is said by a therapist and an otorhinolaryngologist who wants to examine a patient’s throat. But in Chinese traditional medicine, for more than a millennium, doctors have been diagnosing a person’s state of health by his tongue. But for maximum accuracy of the diagnosis, it is advised to examine the muscle in the morning, in good light, and preferably before eating and brushing your teeth.
Interestingly, even before considering the pattern on the surface of the organ, experts even pay attention to how the patient opens his mouth.
For example, if a person does this timidly and shows only part of the tongue, as if embarrassed, this fact indicates to Chinese healers a lack of vitality. If the patient shows the tongue, filling its tip in one direction, this can be taken as a signal that there are problems on that side of the body.
According to oriental medicine, any changes in individual parts of the body are not an accident. The Chinese even developed a map of the relationship between the individual parts of the language and internal organs. So, according to this theory, the language is usually divided into 5 functional zones.
Tip
This part is a “mirror” of the state of organs such as the heart and small intestine. In addition, redness on the tip of the tongue or bright spots on it may indicate a person’s anxiety or stress.
Part by end
By studying the state of this zone, we can conclude that the functioning of the respiratory and immune systems is normal. Changes in this area may indicate bronchitis, tuberculosis, pneumonia, or emphysema.
Center
The middle part of the tongue informs about the work of the digestive system, in particular the stomach, pancreas and spleen. Redness or yellow spots in this area indicate diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Any changes in the central part can also be a sign of problems with the stool: diarrhea or constipation.
Right and left side
These areas reflect the state of the liver. If the tongue is swollen on the sides, this may be a signal of hepatitis or fatty liver. Sometimes such changes appear in people with diabetes or flatulence. Dark spots around the edges sometimes appear in the presence of cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Back (back)
Any changes in this zone may indicate kidney failure, bladder dysfunction, disruption of the gonads, or malfunctions in the endocrine system. In particular, yellow plaque on the back may indicate an infectious disease of the bladder, other changes – urethritis or kidney disease.
Surface structure
If cracks form on the surface of the tongue, this usually indicates dehydration and excessive blood clotting, which, in turn, increases the risk of stroke or thrombosis. Also, a dry surface with numerous small cracks is one of the symptoms of diabetes. But depending on their location, cracks can indicate different diseases. For example, one deep in the middle of the tongue can be a symptom of an upset digestive system and increased acidity in the stomach.
A spotted, or embossed, tongue may indicate that a person has fungal infections, beriberi, or allergies.
Sometimes these changes appear in people with vitiligo or psoriasis. But if a curved line is clearly visible on the surface, then the musculoskeletal system should be checked, this may be a signal of a disease of the spine.
Color
The tongue of a healthy person should be slightly pink. Any change in color can be regarded as a signal of health problems.
Crimson or with a purple tint
The tongue can acquire this color due to an excessive increase in body temperature that has arisen against the background of inflammation or an infectious disease. The cyanosis of the tongue often indicates hypoxia (impaired blood supply), and a purple hue sometimes appears after eating too spicy foods.
Scarlet
In people who are malnourished or prone to obesity, the middle part of the tongue may be bright red. Similar symptoms appear in diseases of the gallbladder or blood stasis. If redness is visible on the tip of the tongue, this may be a sign of chronic stress, cardiac disorders, or insomnia and neurosis. If the tip of the tongue is bright red and slightly swollen, there is reason to believe that the person is suffering from coronary heart disease. In addition, red spots on the surface can be a sign of a vitamin B deficiency.
If the tongue is not just bright red, but also completely smooth, this signals liver disease, poisoning with toxins, as well as a lack of vitamin B12 and iron, since this particular mineral is necessary for the formation of papillae on its surface. By the way, this type of tongue can be seen in vegetarians. But if a person eats more or less balanced, and there are still not enough vitamins in his body, perhaps the reason is an autoimmune disease, due to which useful substances are not absorbed. And this can also be suspected by an unnaturally red and smooth tongue. In some cases, a smooth, very red surface can be the result of a burn or an overindulgence in hot spices. Red spots on an unnaturally pale surface are a signal of disorders in the respiratory system. A scarlet and grainy tongue most often indicates scarlet fever.
Very pale, almost white
Such an anomaly may indicate several serious diseases. The tongue turns pale at very low body temperature, against the background of anemia, a weakened heart, or in violation of the immune system.
Black
A very dark, almost black tongue always indicates kidney dysfunction. In addition, it does not matter in which particular zone dark spots appeared, although most often in such cases the base of the tongue turns black.
White spots on the mucous membrane
Sometimes painless white spots can form on the tongue (from below or along the edges). In medicine, they are known as leukoplakia. They are formed as a result of excess cell growth. Often such spots are found in smokers. And in this case, this is a very alarming signal. Leukoplakia is called a precancerous condition. Between 5 and 17% of people with these spots develop cancer over time. However, if you stop smoking in time, the spots disappear. If such spots appear in non-smokers, then perhaps their cause is the banal rubbing of the tongue with teeth. But if leukoplakia persists, you should contact your dentist to resolve the problem.
Plaque and possible diseases
During the normal functioning of the body, the human tongue is covered with a thin, loose layer of whitish plaque. If it changes color or thickness, this is already an alarm.
White
White dense plaque can appear as a result of hypothermia of the body or when metabolism slows down (this often happens in autumn). If the plaque is homogeneous, but very thick, this indicates the presence of a bacterial infection in the body, and if it forms lumps, this is a signal of a fungal disease.
A thick layer of white plaque also occurs with chronic gastritis with high acidity or enterocolitis. With gastritis with low acidity, the plaque is not so thick and drier. It is also interesting that by the thick white coating on the tongue you can recognize the sweet tooth and lovers of dairy products.
Gray
Gray plaque is a sign of infectious diseases accompanied by fever. Also, a grayish coating may indicate diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or liver. In particular, the tongue may acquire a grayish tint during an exacerbation of peptic ulcer. If a gray coating appears in the company of small blisters on the tongue, the person may be suffering from herpes. And a grayish coating can signal that the body lacks iron.
Brown
Most often, a tongue with a dense brown coating can be seen in smokers. The same symptom indicates disorders in the respiratory system, which can lead to hypoxia. Also, brown plaque is a signal of digestive problems.
Yellow
If such a plaque appears in a person in the summer, this may indicate overheating of the body. The surface of the tongue also turns yellow after drinking coffee or certain spices. In more serious cases, the appearance of yellow plaque indicates a stomach ulcer, malfunction of the pancreas or liver.
Greenish
A plaque with a green tint is a very alarming signal. As a rule, it warns of serious liver diseases, up to the development of a cancerous tumor.
If the tongue hurts or burns
In many cases, painful sensations in the tongue appear as a result of not following a balanced diet. In particular, pain can occur due to a lack of iron, vitamins B6, B3 (PP) and B12.
Burning on the surface of the muscle may indicate that the stomach produces too little digestive juices, so this symptom usually indicates a malfunction in the digestive tract.
Sometimes, if outwardly the tongue is no different, but there is a burning sensation, this may indicate a hormonal imbalance. By the way, in women, such a symptom appears almost 7 times more often than in men. In addition, burning sensation can be the result of an allergy to the wrong toothpaste.
What will tell the size of the language
If we already carry out diagnostics by the appearance of the tongue, then experts also advise paying attention to its size. If it is excessively large and swollen (touches the corners of the mouth), you should check for problems with the heart, thyroid gland, spleen, kidneys.
The tongue increases in size with anemia, allergies, or if for some other reason the whole body swells in a person, as well as in people who are overly nervous. Swollen veins under the tip of the muscle may indicate heart failure.
If the tongue is smaller than usual, then it is quite possible that the body suffers from a deficiency of vitamins and minerals, and this may also be a symptom of a very weakened immune system.
What about your taste buds?
On the surface of the tongue there are thousands of small pimples – these are papillae. All of them can be divided into 6 groups, each of which plays its own role, including allowing you to distinguish between four basic tastes: sweet, salty, bitter and sour.
Interestingly, over time, taste buds “wear out”, but if a person is healthy, they are replaced by new “pimples”. At a young age, this process occurs quite quickly, and after 45 years, as a rule, it slows down.
Therefore, with age, a person ceases to distinguish tastes and aromas so sharply. But sometimes the inability to taste food is related to more than just age. Loss of taste bud sensitivity can be a symptom of a bacterial infection in the digestive tract or a pancreatic disorder.
The effect of drugs on the appearance of the tongue
When studying the condition of the tongue, it must be borne in mind that taking certain medications can also affect its appearance. For example, steroids make it redder and slightly swollen. Diuretics can lead to the appearance of a “varnished” tongue or, conversely, furrows on it.
Many people develop red spots on the surface of the muscle after taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. And some antibiotics can damage the papillae on the tongue, resulting in temporary taste disturbance and loss of appetite.
If you call the eyes the mirror of the soul, then the tongue is undoubtedly an indicator of our health. At least occasionally pay attention to his condition in order to prevent the development of the disease or to recognize the disease at an early stage, before the onset of its clinical symptoms. Now you know exactly in which cases the appearance of the language should be alarming.