Tongue diagnosis

Comment by Chad J. Dupuis, L.Ac.

What advice specifically are you looking for (herbs, acupuncture, lifestyle, diet, just general impressions, etc.)? Are you currently receiving treatment (i.e. acupuncture and/or herbs) - if not, why not? If so, what has changed and what hasn’t and why are you looking for further guidance?

Comment by Archived User

Yes acupuncture on st40 and st36 and few other points. Take herbs for wind dampness and drink a tonic every night for Yang deficiency. I also eat two meals a day that have leek ginger, black pepper, scallions , parsnips basmati rice , cashew nuts, all damp draining properties.

Still no reduction in tongue swelling and symptoms

Comment by Chad J. Dupuis, L.Ac.

What “herbs” specifically (or formula specifically) are you taking and at what dose over what time frame? And how often and who is doing the acupuncture? The best person to contact us would be the practitioner who is treating you, that way we can discuss in more direct terms. Unless they feel like that their approach is doing well for your overall and it is just a matter of it taking more time…

Generally if you have been treated for more than 3 months with a specific approach and you are not improving significantly then the diagnosis and/or the treatment approach needs to be re-evaluated.

Generally speaking you seem to have far more signs of blood deficiency and less of dampness or true yang deficiency. What does your western blood work show? If you haven’t had it, you should get a general blood test, plus detailed thyroid and hormone panel.

Comment by Archived User

Dizzines, hair loss and loss of muscle tone is a sign of Deficient Blood; as is weak limbs, probably due to an initial Spleen Qi deficiency. That means, as a result of its lack of Qi your body cannot build up Ying Qi and so, Blood is deficient. The initial Spleen Qi deficiency can be seen as of your brain fog, bloated and full sensation in your abdomen. I should see it, but your abdominal fat could not be fat, but actual water retention.

When you have Yang deficiency, the main problem is cold in hands and feet, but whole body coolness sensation. Cold arms and feet could be due to blockage or blood deficiency too, as well as dampness blocking your circulation to the limbs (which is the one I go for).

The crack in the middle of your tongue tells us there is a weak Earth, afecting digestion and so, corraborating the just said.

Many times, not always though, this dampness you are experimenting is due to mineral imbalances. TCM Herbology nowadays focuses on plants while classical books do have minerals listed, but for some reason therapists don’t give them much credit at this moment. I’d recomend you to get some Potasium and Magnesium, but you’ll need to figure out doses with your TCM Doctor. Don’t drink much water either. And as Chad Dupuis told you, get some tests, they may arise some light upon this.

Your TCM practitioner should be the one putting all toghether though, and if there is no result, then either change treatment or change practitioner.