The Red Tongue – Summer Heat

A bright red tongue is displayed to illustrate the concept of summer heat toxin according to Traditional Chinese Medicine.

A red tongue indicates excess internal heat or inflammation when combined with summer heat. This means your body is losing vital fluids as it struggles to cope with the hot, humid weather.

The geography of redness, shade and coating indicates the underlying cause and internal organ affected.

Pure Summer-Heat: Bright red tongue body, especially at the tip and edges, with a thin, dry, yellow coating.

Summer-Heat with Dampness: Red tongue body with a yellow, greasy, or sticky coating.

Heart-Fire: Deep red tip, often with raised red points or mouth ulcers.

Deficiency-Heat: Red with scanty or no coating indicates the body's vital fluids are depleted, usually accompanied by cracks.