Kit Li
Did you know the deeper imbalances of Yin-Yang, Qi-Blood, and organs systems manifest to our physical and emotional symptoms, externally and internally.
According to the wisdom of the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, we all experience some forms of Yin or Yang deficiency, Blood or Qi stagnation, Dampness, Stasis, or Phlegm at various points of life. These imbalances are always interconnected, for instance, if Dampness develops in our body, it can lead to the formation of Phlegm and become associated with Qi-stagnation.
Let me briefly explain some of these concepts using basic Tongue diagnosis, which can help you recognize the characteristics of each imbalance:
1) The root of Fire (Internal Heat) is Yin-deficiency (火的根源是阴虚):
Excessive heat symptoms such as night sweats, dry mouth, tinnitus or irritability often appears from insufficient Yin, for instance, Kidney yin-deficiency. Yang becomes comparatively excessive when Yin is insufficient, therefore 'Empty Heat' is manifested.
Tongue: red near the center or tip with little to no coating, cracks in midline.
2) The root of Coldness is Yang-deficiency (寒的根源是阳虚):
Yang governs warmth, active force and movement, if your body lacks of Yang energy, especially in Kidney (pre-natal) and Spleen (post-natal) you often feel cold internally or externally, which leads to chills, cold limbs, fatigue, and a slow metabolism.
Tongue: a puffy tongue with pale, swollen, slippery coating with teeth marks, a noticeable indentation in the center of the tongue.
3) The root of fatigue is Qi-deficiency (疲的根源是气虚):
Qi-deficiency means insufficient Qi and lacking of vital energy that fuels all bodily functions, such as tiredness, lack of physical strengths, or weakness. When Qi is low, organs such as Spleen and Lungs cannot perform optimally, leading to exhaustion and lack of vitality.
Tongue: a pale and swollen tongue with teeth marks, also a noticeable indentation in the center of the tongue.
4) The root of acne/pimples is Damp-Heat (痘的根源是湿热):
Skin eruptions like acne are commonly due to an accumulation of dampness and heat in the body, particularly in Stomach and Lungs. This internal imbalance, often caused by unhealthy diet (like greasy, spicy, sugary and processed food), stress, or imbalance hormones, leads to inflammation, swelling, and pus.
Tongue: Red with yellow, greasy coating, especially in Stomach or Liver area. Slightly swollen with strawberries spots.
5) The root of dizziness is Blood-deficiency (晕的根源是血虚):
Blood nourishes the brain and senses, and when deficient, it fails to anchor the spirit (the disharmony of Heart and Liver) causing these symptoms, dizziness, light-headedness, or blurred vision.
Tongue: Pale and thin, slightly dry, indented and raised.
6) The root of stagnation is from Blood Stasis (滞的根源是淤阻):
Pain, swelling, or clots are caused by poor blood circulation, therefore, a feeling of sluggishness, fullness, or lack of flow in the body often points to Blood Stasis.
Tongue: dark or purple-ish colour may appear, also with red or purple dots; sublingual veins may be dark and swollen.
7) The root of pain is lack of free flow (痛的根源是不通):
Pain arises when Qi or Blood is blocked, whether due to cold, trauma, or emotional factors. According to TCM, 'if there is free flow, there is no pain; whereas, if there is pain, there is no free flow'.
Tongue: depends on the types of blockage, please refer to Qi-stagnation, Blood Stasis, Damp-heat.
8) The root of lumps (or nodules) is phlegm accumulation (结的根源是痰凝):
Nodules, cysts, or other types of bodily 'knots' often come from the accumulation of phlegm and dampness, which congeal into physical masses. This includes thyroid nodules, lymph node swelling, even brain fog, etc.
Tongue: A puffy and swollen with teeth marks, greasy white or yellow coating.
9) The root of sorrow (or depression) is Qi-stagnation (忧的根源是气郁):
Emotional distress, especially worry and sadness, often originates from Liver Qi-stagnatin, which means it is not flowing smoothly, emotions can become suppressed, leading to mood disorders.
Tongue: normal or slight red in both sides, thin white coating, may have slight teeth marks.
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, all of these symptoms can be treated effectively with a combination of acupuncture, moxibustion, and personalised Chinese Herbal Formulas. The goal is not simply symptom relief, but restoring the balance and harmony within the body and mind.
Please feel free to contact me at kitsinli28@gmail.com if you have any further questions or concerns about your health.
References:
Understanding diagnostic reasoning in TCM practice: tongue diagnosis
Traditional Chinese medicine tongue inspection: an examination of the inter- and intrapractitioner reliability for specific tongue characteristics
Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution Identification Based on Objective Facial and Tongue Features: A Delphi Study and a Diagnostic Nomogram for Blood Stasis Constitution
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