What an intensely red tip reveals
The tip of the tongue correlates to the heart in traditional Chinese medicine. Coincidentally, the heart is also where our Shen, our spirit + mind resides.
If the tip of the tongue is noticeably red - think flaming red- that can indicate heat in the heart, and since the heart houses our Shen, that can manifest in anxiety, insomnia, difficulty concentrating and heart palpitations.
Tongue diagnosis is one of the ways acupuncturists glean what is actually going on inside your body. The tongue is, after all, a visible organ. The diagnosis involves much more that just this bit about the red tip (see the full map below) but if you are someone who struggles with the symptoms mentioned above, it’s worth taking a look.
Chances are you know when you are having anxiety, but the visual reminder might contribute to simple choices that downgrade the anxiety, such as opting for herbal tea over a double espresso or making sure to do a morning meditation.
It’s best to look at your tongue in the morning, in natural light, before brushing your teeth and before any hot beverages, which, you guessed it, can cause the whole tongue to become red. A healthy, normal tongue overall should be pink with a thin, white coating. Food, drink and certain medications can all alter the appearance of the tongue. The most common offenders are coffee, wine, turmeric, smoothies, beets etc. If you get in the habit of looking at your tongue daily you will more easily be able to decipher any changes. Any questions can also be discussed in more detail with your acupuncturist.
