The tip of the tongue is red and the tongue coating is white. Different tongue colors and shapes indicate different problems.

Generally speaking, people's tongue coating is white with a hint of red under normal circumstances. However, if the tip of the tongue appears red and the tongue coating is white, you should be careful that it may be related to a certain disease. The following article will teach you how to judge possible physical problems based on the color and shape of the tongue.

(1) Tongue color

① Pale tongue: The tongue is lighter than normal, indicating deficiency syndrome and cold syndrome, which is often seen in blood deficiency, and is a sign of weak yang qi and insufficient qi and blood. Pale color and plump and tender tongue indicates deficiency and cold; plump and tender tongue with teeth marks on the edges indicates qi deficiency and yang deficiency.

② Red tongue: The tongue color is darker than normal, bright red, indicating heat syndrome, mostly internal heat syndrome. Red tip of the tongue indicates heart fire inflammation; red edges of the tongue indicate liver and gallbladder heat; red and dry tongue indicates heat damage to body fluids or Yin deficiency and excessive fire.

③ Red tongue: The tongue is deep red, which indicates excessive heat, mostly due to pathogenic heat penetrating into the nutrient, blood or excessive fire due to yin deficiency.

④Petechiae tongue: There are purple spots or spots on the tongue, which are mostly caused by blood stasis.

⑤ Purple tongue: The whole tongue is purple, which may be a sign of extreme heat or cold. A deep purple and dry tongue indicates extreme heat, and in patients with febrile diseases, the pathogens are transmitted to the nutrient and blood. A pale yellow-purple or purple and smooth tongue indicates a yin-cold syndrome.

(2) Tongue shape:

Observe the tongue's texture, thickness, thorns, cracks, etc.

① Old and tender: "Old" refers to the rough texture of the tongue, firm and restrained shape and color, which are mostly positive syndromes, heat syndromes; "tender" refers to the fine texture of the tongue, tender shape and color, which are mostly negative syndromes or negative cold syndromes.

② Fat and thin: "Fat" refers to a fat and swollen tongue, which is mostly related to water retention. A pale and fat tongue with tooth marks on the edge of the tongue is mostly due to spleen deficiency or kidney yang deficiency, water retention; a red and swollen tongue is mostly due to internal dampness and heat or excessive heat toxicity. "Thin" refers to a thin and small tongue, which is mostly due to deficiency syndrome. A pale tongue and a thin tongue are mostly due to insufficient qi and blood; a red tongue and a thin tongue are mostly due to internal heat due to yin deficiency.

③ Thorns: The papillae of the tongue proliferate, become enlarged, and protrude like thorns, which are mostly caused by excessive heat evil. The more severe the heat evil, the larger and more numerous the thorns. Clinically, thorns are mostly seen on the tip and sides of the tongue. Thorns on the tip of the tongue are mostly caused by excessive heat in the liver and gallbladder.

④ Cracks: There are many longitudinal or transverse cracks or wrinkles on the tongue, which are mostly formed due to mucosal atrophy. Cracked tongue can be seen in a few normal people. Those with red tongue and cracks are mostly due to excessive heat; those with pale tongue and cracks are mostly due to insufficient qi and yin.