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Expert interviewed: Zhou Jingxin, deputy chief physician of Nephrology and Endocrinology Department, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine

Global Times Health Client Reporter Ouyang Yunshuang

In the vast treasure house of traditional Chinese medicine, tongue diagnosis, as a unique and exquisite diagnostic method, has been highly praised by doctors for thousands of years. By observing the subtle changes in various characteristics of the tongue, doctors can gain insight into the health of the human body, and this effect has recently been confirmed again by modern science.

A paper published in the journal Technology introduced an artificial intelligence technology that researchers from Iraq's Secondary Technical University and the University of South Australia used to achieve the "skill" of "identifying diseases by looking at the tongue". During the experiment, the researchers first used 5,260 images to train the machine to learn to predict tongue color under different lighting conditions and match abnormal tongue color with diseases. The accuracy of the training model was 98%. Subsequently, the researchers input 60 abnormal tongue images collected from hospitals into the system, and the system's diagnostic accuracy reached 96.6%. After the artificial intelligence "mastered" this method, the researchers asked it to start "looking at" real patients - the camera placed 20 cm away from the patient captured their tongue color, and the imaging system could display their possible diseases and predict their health status in real time.

"This research achievement and technology once again prove the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine." Zhou Jingxin, deputy chief physician of the Nephrology and Endocrinology Department of Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, said that the history of tongue observation can be traced back to more than 2,000 years ago. The ancient Chinese medical classic "Huangdi Neijing" recorded in detail the relationship between the tongue and internal organs. After continuous practice and summary by successive doctors, tongue diagnosis has gradually become an indispensable part of the traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis system. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the tongue is the sprout of the heart and the external sign of the spleen, and the tongue coating is produced by the stomach qi. The tongue is closely connected to the internal organs through meridians. Therefore, the pathological changes of the internal organs are often reflected on the tongue, and the changes in the tongue image can quickly and intuitively reflect the human body.Qi and bloodProsperity and decline, balance of yin and yang, advancement and retreat of pathogenic factors, etc.

A healthy tongue should be light red in color, moist in texture, free to move, with a thin and even white coating, and moderate dryness and wetness. Zhou Jingxin said that if there are some changes in the following characteristics, it may indicate health problems or even diseases.

Tongue color

1. Pale tongue. This is more common in patients with deficiency of both qi and blood and insufficient yang qi, often accompanied by little or no coating. If yang qi is insufficient, the tongue will become pale;anemiaPatients are also prone to pale tongue.

2. Red tongue. Generally, it indicates that the body is hot or yin deficiency turns into heat. If there are red spots or thorns on the tongue, it means that the heart fire is excessive, the stomach and intestines are hot, or the liver and gallbladder are hot. Clinically, the tongue of acute stroke patients is often abnormally red; the above study mentioned thatInfectAmong people with COVID-19, approximately 64.29% of mild patients, 62.35% of moderate patients, and 99% of severe patients will have a dark red or wine red tongue; in the case of Helicobacter pylori infection, the tongue may appear slightly red with white markings.

3. Purple tongue. Common inBlood circulationPatients with poor circulation, such as cold syndrome, heat syndrome or blood stasis syndrome. A dark purple tongue may be caused by hyperlipidemia, cor pulmonale, etc.cancerThe patient's tongue may also be purple and have a thick, greasy feel; indigo-purple indicates vascular, gastrointestinal orasthmaquestion.

4. Yellow tongue. This is usually caused by food coloring, such as long-term smoking, drinking tea, and eating dark-colored foods. The paper mentioned that people with fever, liver and bile duct diseases, gastrointestinal problems, and diabetes may also have yellow tongues.

Tongue coating

1. Thick fur. This may indicate that the condition has changed from mild to severe, or there is gastrointestinal stagnation. If the fur is thick and yellow, it is mostly due to internal heat or food stagnation; if the fur is white and greasy, it is mostly due to excessive damp phlegm. If you have a cold or systemic infection, infants, the elderly andImmunityPeople with low backs may also develop thick tongue coating when they are infected by fungi.

2. Dry fur. The fur is dry and without fluid, which is often seen in patients with high fever, yin fluid deficiency, vomiting and diarrhea that damage body fluid.

3. Greasy fur. This indicates that dampness and turbidity are accumulated and Yang Qi is suppressed.Damp heat; White and greasy tongue coating is mostly caused by cold and dampness.

Tongue shape

1. Enlarged tongue. The tongue is puffy and enlarged with teeth marks on the edges, which is mostly caused by spleen deficiency and dampness or yang deficiency. If the tongue coating is yellow and greasy, it may be accompanied by dampness and heat.

2. Thin and red tongue. A thin and red tongue is usually a sign of yin deficiency, excessive fire or lack of nutrition.

3. Fissured tongue. Cracks on the tongue are usually caused by deficiency of essence and blood or excessive heat damaging body fluid. Sudden cracks may indicate superficial gastritis or malnutrition. If the symptoms last for more than two weeks, it is recommended to see a doctor.

It should be noted that changes in tongue appearance do not exist in isolation, but are interrelated with the patient's systemic symptoms, pulse, etc. As an auxiliary diagnostic method, the effectiveness of tongue diagnosis depends on the doctor's experience and skills. Therefore, looking at the tongue to diagnose a disease is a professional diagnostic skill. When you look at the tongue yourself, don't easily make a diagnosis. If you feel that the tongue appearance is abnormal, be sure to seek medical attention in time and ask a professional doctor to make a judgment. ▲

Editor: Zheng Ronghua

Editor-in-Chief: Li Di