What are the symptoms of kidney deficiency in the tongue

The tongue symptoms of kidney deficiency mainly include pale tongue texture, enlarged tongue body, tooth marks on the tongue edge, thin white or peeling tongue coating, and varicose sublingual veins. Kidney deficiency can be divided into kidney yang deficiency and kidney yin deficiency, with different tongue manifestations, which may be related to congenital deficiencies, long-term illness depletion, overwork, and other factors.

1. Pale white tongue

Patients with kidney yang deficiency often have pale white tongue without blood color and moist tongue surface. This is due to insufficient kidney yang, which leads to weak circulation of qi and blood, and cannot ascend to the tongue. Accompanying symptoms include chills and cold limbs, as well as soreness and weakness in the waist and knees. It can be improved daily by moxibustion at Guanyuan point and eating mutton to supplement food at the same temperature. In serious cases, it is necessary to use Yougui Pill, Jinkui Shenqi Pill and other traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations according to the doctor's advice.

2. When the metabolism of kidney deficiency fluids is abnormal, the tongue may swell and become enlarged, and the edges may be compressed to form bite marks. This type of tongue image is often related to spleen kidney yang deficiency and is common in patients with chronic edema. Accompanying symptoms include frequent nocturia and lower limb swelling. It is recommended to avoid eating raw and cold foods, and to use Huangqi soaked water instead of tea drinks. If necessary, use modified Zhenwu Tang for treatment.

3. Tooth marks on the tongue edge

When long-term kidney deficiency leads to a decrease in muscle tension of the tongue, tooth marks are prone to appear on the tongue edge. This type of manifestation is often related to kidney essence deficiency and is common in people who stay up late for a long time or suffer from excessive sexual activity. May be accompanied by symptoms such as tinnitus, forgetfulness, and premature graying of hair. Adequate sleep should be ensured in daily life, and kidney tonifying ingredients such as black sesame seeds and walnuts can be consumed. For severe cases, Wuzi Yanzong Pills can be taken according to medical advice.

4. Abnormal tongue coating

Patients with kidney yin deficiency are more likely to have peeling or uneven tongue coating, and less saliva on the tongue surface; People with kidney yang deficiency often have white and smooth tongue coating. This is related to the imbalance of kidney yin and kidney yang, which leads to abnormal distribution of body fluids. The accompanying symptoms include dry mouth and throat, or weak mouth without thirst. It is recommended that individuals with yin deficiency soak in water with Ophiopogon japonicus, while those with yang deficiency consume cinnamon in moderation. Medication adjustments should be carried out under the guidance of a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.

5. Sublingual varices

Prolonged kidney deficiency may cause the sublingual veins to become tortuous and purple, indicating stagnation of qi and blood. This type of manifestation is common in middle-aged and elderly patients with blood stasis syndrome, often accompanied by symptoms such as dull complexion and limb numbness. Daily practice of Ba Duan Jin can promote the circulation of qi and blood, and medication regulation should be combined with traditional Chinese medicine such as Xuefu Zhuyu Capsules to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis.

The tongue symptoms of kidney deficiency should be comprehensively judged based on systemic symptoms. Daily attention should be paid to balancing work and rest to avoid excessive consumption of kidney essence. Moderate intake of kidney tonifying ingredients such as yam, goji berries, and black beans can be added to the diet, and appropriate supplementation can be made in winter. At the same time, maintain moderate exercise such as Tai Chi, walking, etc., and avoid vigorous exercise that consumes energy and harms yin. If the tongue image continues to be abnormal or accompanied by obvious discomfort, it is recommended to seek medical attention in a traditional Chinese medicine department in a timely manner, and develop personalized conditioning plans through comprehensive diagnosis and treatment such as pulse diagnosis.