Previously published in the May 2007 Edition of the Cooroora Connect

Natural Health Page

© By Amina Eastham-Hillier (BH.Sc Naturopathy)

Have you ever had a good look at your Tongue?  Go on, go and have a look………

Your tongue is the second part of your anatomy to trigger off the process of digestion. The first being the olfactory receptors in your nose, which even on just smelling food stimulate your digestive enzymes to prepare to break down any fats and proteins.

The tongue is also a great diagnostic tool and is often used by Naturopaths, Medical Doctors and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners. It offers a simple and effective way to get insight into the entire digestive system, and the bodies over all energetic state.  A Healthy tongue is slightly moist and has a thin white coat that is evenly distributed. The edges of the tongue may be slightly pink with smooth sides.

If you have no coat on your tongue, this may indicate a lack of hydrochloric acid (HCl) being produced by the parietal cells of the stomach. Naturally our HCl and digestive enzymes decrease as we age though stress and poor diet can also decrease these levels. This can stall the break down of foods and lead to other symptoms such as gas, bloating and discomfort after consuming rich meals. Low HCl levels may be increased by adding 5 mls of apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water and taken half an hour before meals or lemon juice in water. Ginger tea is another stimulating tea to help aid the process of digestion. Supplementation of digestive enzymes, prescribed by a professional Naturopath or GP is also recommended after eating.

A thick or greasy coat is referred to a ‘damp’ condition according to Chinese Medicine. This often indicates a sluggish digestion and an inability to absorb the goodness from our food and assimilate the nutrients. This leaves our body feeling very sluggish and deficient in energy and often includes an accumulation of mucus or other damp conditions in the body.

A swollen tongue has teeth indentations and may indicate a mineral imbalance e.g. sulphur. This person may have a sluggish digestion and may be prone to fluid retention.

A tongue that has cracks and looks like a map may benefit from minerals that can strengthen their connective tissue. In TCM this may be in the centre of the tongue which is the ‘stomach channel’.

If you have thin nails that break easily and weak hair you may notice a pointy tongue and could be in need of some more silica in your diet e.g. almonds, sesame seeds and asparagus (funnily enough all the pointy foods and that is not just coincidental by the way). Another whole topic!

A quivering tongue often needs minerals such as one of the magnesium nutrients. Some people have difficulty in poking out their tongue even when trying, called a ‘shy tongue’ indicating another symptom that can all be put back into balance with mineral therapy.

If you get ulcers on the tongue it may be due to ‘stomach heat’. This means your Stomach has either been affected by ‘stress’ and/or has had foods or drinks that have literally caused heat and your body is letting you know, it needs some healing. Coffee, alcohol, chocolate, red meats and cigarettes can all contribute to stomach heat as well as emotional and physical stress.

Cooling foods like apples, pears, salads, peppermint and dandelion teas, just to name a few, help reverse the symptoms and herbs that can help reduce ulcers on the tongue are sage and myrrh (though not recommended in pregnancy or breastfeeding) and Chamomile. Salt can help dry ulcers up but will not help prevent them reoccurring.

Looking at the tongue from a traditional Chinese Medicine perspective any yellowing of the tongue may indicate damp heat or heat within the organs of digestion. This is more evident if the coat is thicker at the back of the tongue.

Diet, Herbal medicine and acupuncture can often rectify this.

A tongue in cheek is when you are having a laugh unless you are literally sticking your tongue in your cheek which may lead to you being tongue tied and unable to perform tongue twisters (See your therapist for that one!).

Next Month : Your Natural First Aid Kit for Winter

Amina Eastham-Hillier (B HSc) :  Naturopathy (Herbal Medicine, Diet & Nutrition, Flower Essences, & Iridology).  Mobile : 0422 408 450

Email :  naturopathy@angelmothers.com with any questions

Website : www.angelmothers.com for regular healthy recipes and articles

Amina Eastham-Hillier  (B.H.Sc). Member ATMS.

Naturopathy can help with:

·        Digestive Problems

·        Liver Detoxification

·        Weight Loss

·        Allergies & Intolerances

·        Low Energy & Fatigue

·        Hormonal imbalances

·        Pre conception, Pregnancy & Post Natal care

Health Fund Rebates

 
Mob : 0422 408 450

Email :  naturopathy@angelmothers.com with any questions

Website : www.angelmothers.com for regular healthy recipes and articles

Amina Eastham-Hillier N.D