Limp tongue

A tongue that is soft and floppy, moves with difficultyand cannot be extended. The spleen governs the flesh, and the tongue is flesh. A limp tongue is therefore a manifestation of a debilitated spleen, but it may may occur when wearing of yīn humor deprives the sinews of nourishment. In a new disease, a limp tongue is the result of heat scorching yīn. In an enduring disease, a limp crimson tongue means that yīn depletion has reached an extreme, while a limp white tongue indicates dual vacuity of qì and blood.

Medicinal therapy: Supplement the center and nourish the blood. Take Center-Supplementing Qì-Boosting Decoction (补中益气汤 bǔ zhōng yì qì tāng) in the morning and Spleen-Returning Pill (归脾丸 guī pí wán) in the evening.

See tongue examination.