In some traditional ways of medication and treatment, they look at a person's tongue to tell what is going on with their health. In naturopathy and complementary therapies, they aid diagnosis by checking the tongue.
The texture and color of the tongue can tell if your body is deficient in something or if you are suffering from undetected health condition or illness. According to Women's Health page, there are already researchers creating a diagnostic system that takes a photo or digitized the image of a patient's tongue and gives them some diagnosis. This is really a breakthrough in the field of medicine once perfected.
Here are some tongue types that will tell you the status of your health.
1. White patches in your tongue
If there is a white patch that doesn't go away even if you tried brushing it everyday, this could mean that you have an infestation of candida (fungus). It is a yeast which is a common cause of fungal infections. This white patches could be common if you are under medication like antibiotics or chemotherapy. You may also be suffering from leukoplakia where the tongue grows too much cells and could be a precursor to tongue cancer as explained by a family physician, Daniel Allan, M.D. in a post from Cleveland Clinic.
2. Red colored tongue
You can be deficient in iron, vitamin B-12 and folic acid. This condition is called atrophic glossitis where your taste buds are lost. Your tongue can also go red if you are suffering from a scarlet fever which is a viral infection and this is usually accompanied by a strep throat.
3. Black colored tongue and hairy
A black colored tongue may be very scary but don't get nervous. This is not something very serious. It happens when your tongue excessively produces cells faster than your tongue can shed those dead cells. This can also be caused by different medications, e.g. antibiotics.
4. Canker sore in tongue
Getting canker core or ulcers in tongue is a sign that you are stressed and has a weak immune system. Canker sore are viral infections but not contagious. Eat up some fruits to heal it faster.
5. Tongue cracks and fissures
One sign that you are already aging and nothing really serious. You need to maintain good oral hygiene because of clefts. Possible fungal infestation may happen on the cracked areas.
6. Purple tongue
This is a signal that your cholesterol level is high. Purple tongue also means poor blood circulation where your tongue may look pale or purple. Exercise is needed for a healthy blood circulation.
