Know thy tongue!

Tongue Analysis:

Tongue Colour: Normal colour is pale - red.
	Pale:	Deficiency of Yang or deficiency of Blood. If a Yang deficiency, tongue will be swollen and slightly wet. If a blood deficiency, tongue will be somewhat dry.
	Red:	Always indicates heat. If predominately on the tip = Heart. If predominately on the sides = Liver or Gall Bladder.
	Purple:	Stasis of Blood, circulation disorder.
Tongue Shape:
	Thin:	Indicates either a Blood or Yin deficiency and a chronic condition.
	Swollen:	Indicates retention of fluids.
	Long:	Indicates a tendency to Heat in the Heart.
	Short:	If pale and wet = Interior Cold (Yang deficiency). If red and peeled = Interior Heat (Yin deficiency).
	Cracks:	Indicate either Heat or a Yin deficiency: Short, horizontal indicates Stomach Yin deficiency. Long, deep midline reaching to the tip indicates a Heart disharmony. Shallow, midline, not reaching tip, indicates a Stomach Yin deficiency. Short, transverse on sides of middle, indicates a Spleen Qi deficiency.
Tongue Coating: A thin, white coating is normal and indicates that the stomach is digesting properly.
	Thick:	Indicates the presence of a pathogenic factor.
	None:	Often called "peeled". Indicates a Stomach or Kidney Yin deficiency. If peeled and red all over, indicates deficient Kidney Yin.
	White:	Indicates Cold (Yang deficiency).
	Yellow:	Indicates Heat (Yin deficiency).
Moisture: A normal tongue is slightly wet.
	Wet:	Indicates a Yang Qi deficiency.
	Dry:	Indicates a Yin Qi deficiency.
	Slippery:	Or sticky, indicates retention of dampness.