For tongue analysis, only look at the front of the tongue, the part used for speech, not at the back of the throat. If you stick out your tongue, the part that is easily visible is used in tongue diagnoses, basically.
A pale tongue indicates anemia, depletion.
A coated tongue indicates toxins. If the toxins are towards the back of the tongue, the toxins are mainly in the colon. Middle to front means small intestine and stomach. Whitish toxins indicate mucous/Kapha derangement. Drink ginger tea and the Cleansing Drink to burn the toxins up. Yellowish indicates too much bile in the gallbladder and small intestine. Redish/yellowish coat is too much heat/toxins due to weak digestion, oftentimes constipation. Take steps to get things moving and plan on cleansing the liver.
Dark brown or black tongue is Vata type weakness/cold, often diarrhea. Plan on doing some warming, moist and soothing therapy – marshmallow tea or tincture, slippery elm.
Slippery Elm
Teeth impressions means edema and poor absorption, mostly in small intestine and possibly some undigested foods in the intestines.
Froth means bronchitis. Cleanse the lungs, stop smoking.
Thready spit means candida, mucous or overly acidic system. Drink more fluids.
A single line bisecting the tongue represents the emotions stored in the spinal column. If this line is crooked or jagged, chances are there is a spinal subluxion or scoliosis. The line should be very thin. If it is wide and deep, get B12 shots right away and start taking a supplement of all the B’s. If you have other kinds of furrows get a series of B12 shots.
Jagged cracks indicate usually diarrhea, irritated, inflamed intestines that need soothing, mucilaginous herbs. It’s very common to have this when cleansing/detoxing and practicing bowel management. Take a break from the cleansing and switch to marshmallow/slippery elm.
Bright red spot at the middle/near front of the tongue indicates heart issues. Increase circulation with cayenne, rosemary, consider fasting and correct your fats. No more phony fats; lecithin, cod liver oil, olive oil and other good fats are called for.
Raised areas means irritation in various organs or intestines.
Over-production of saliva (do you drool a lot in your sleep?) means a lack of salt and sometimes parasites.
Tongue ulcers, cankor sores, means pH imbalance, often due to too few friendly microbes. Consider supplementing with probiotics; definitely use a safe toothpaste – no gels, low sudsing action, just plain baking powder is best. Avoid tropical fruits and overdosing on Vitamin C.
The tongue should have tiny protrusions on it that can look feathery. If it is slick, no protrusions, there’s a serious lack of B vitamins and zinc.
Your goal is to have a clean tongue immediately upon waking. Check it before you brush. Is it coated? You ate the wrong foods, or ate too much, or ate pasteurized dairy, or just ate something you could not digest. Here is a list of ways you can adjust your diet so the coating goes away. You can do just one or a combination:
Skip breakfast entirely and drink ginger tea or India Spice tea all morning.
Take fiber supplements.
Drink the Cleansing Drink for breakfast.
Eat whole grain cereal with rice milk not cow milk.
Eat as usual but smaller portions with plenty of heating spices like cayenne, cumin, garlic, basil, cinnamon.
Eat Kichadi.
Eat only fresh-squeezed veggie juices, with ginger.
Eat the cleansing salad.
Take digestive enzymes both with meals and before bed on empty stomach.
Do some thorough bowel management (enemas, colonics) if the coating is persistent and tends to be towards the back of the tongue.