Jihva Pariksha (Tongue Examination) is a crucial diagnostic tool in Ayurveda, providing valuable insights into digestive health, metabolic balance, doshic imbalance, and systemic diseases. In Ayurveda, the tongue is considered a mirror of the digestive system (Agni) and internal health. Various changes in the tongue’s color, texture, moisture, coating, and shape can indicate underlying health conditions.

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🔹 Importance of Jihva Pariksha in Diagnosis

• Helps in assessing Ama (toxins) accumulation, digestive disorders, and dosha imbalance.
• Provides early warning signs of systemic diseases (diabetes, anemia, infections, liver disorders, etc.).
• Used in other traditional medicine systems like TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and Modern Medicine for holistic diagnosis.

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🔹 Clinical Approach to Jihva Pariksha

Step	Examination Focus	Clinical Significance
1. Tongue Color	Assessing normal or abnormal color	Indicates blood circulation, oxygenation, and organ health
2. Tongue Coating	Presence, color, thickness of coating	Reflects digestive health and presence of toxins (Ama)
3. Tongue Texture & Shape	Cracks, indentations, swelling	Suggests chronic illness, malnutrition, or vitamin deficiencies
4. Tongue Moisture	Dryness or excessive wetness	Indicates hydration levels and metabolic efficiency
5. Tongue Movement	Tremors, deviations, sluggishness	Helps in neurological and muscular assessments
6. Localization of Changes	Specific regions of abnormality	Helps in diagnosing organ-specific pathology

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🔹 Tongue and Dosha Analysis in Ayurveda

Dosha	Tongue Characteristics	Associated Disorders
Vata Dosha	Dry, rough, thin, cracked, tremors	Nervous system disorders, constipation, dehydration
Pitta Dosha	Red, inflamed, burning sensation, ulcers	Hyperacidity, gastritis, liver disorders
Kapha Dosha	Thick, white coating, swollen, excessive saliva	Mucus accumulation, sluggish digestion, metabolic disorders
Ama (Toxins)	Thick, sticky white/yellow coating	Poor digestion, toxic buildup, chronic illness

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🔹 Correlation with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

In TCM, tongue diagnosis is widely used, and specific tongue areas correspond to different organ systems:

Tongue Region	Associated Organ (TCM)	Ayurvedic Correlation
Tip	Heart & Lungs	Prana Vata (respiratory & circulatory health)
Center	Stomach & Spleen	Pachaka Pitta (digestion)
Sides	Liver & Gallbladder	Ranjaka Pitta (liver function)
Root	Kidneys, Intestines, Bladder	Apana Vata (excretion, detoxification)

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🔹 Modern Medical Correlation of Tongue Signs

Tongue Feature	Possible Medical Condition
Pale Tongue	Anemia, Iron deficiency
Bright Red Tongue	Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, inflammation
Purple Tongue	Poor circulation, cardiovascular diseases
Black Hairy Tongue	Fungal infection, poor oral hygiene, antibiotic use
Geographic Tongue	Autoimmune conditions, nutritional deficiencies
White Coating	Oral thrush, candidiasis, digestive imbalance
Cracks or Fissures	Dehydration, Sjögren’s syndrome, Vata imbalance

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🔹 Clinical Decision Making Based on Jihva Pariksha

Observation	Possible Cause (Ayurveda & Modern Medicine)	Suggested Action
Thick white coating	Ama accumulation, poor digestion, candida	Detox, light diet, herbs like Triphala
Dry & cracked tongue	Vata aggravation, dehydration, Sjögren’s syndrome	Hydration, oil massage, ghee intake
Red & inflamed tongue	Pitta imbalance, acidity, vitamin B12 deficiency	Cooling diet, herbs like Aloe Vera
Swollen tongue with scalloped edges	Kapha imbalance, water retention, thyroid issues	Reduce salt, exercise, stimulate digestion

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🔹 Clinical Application of Jihva Pariksha for Practitioners

1. Observe tongue in natural light for accurate assessment.
2. Ask the patient to extend the tongue fully for complete examination.
3. Check color, coating, moisture, and texture systematically.
4. Consider other symptoms and history for correlation.
5. Integrate Ayurvedic, TCM, and modern medical findings for precise diagnosis.

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🔹 Ayurvedic Management Based on Tongue Findings

• Ama accumulation (thick white coating) → Detoxification (Langhana, Triphala, Fasting).
• Pitta imbalance (red, inflamed tongue) → Cooling diet, Sheetali Pranayama, Ghee, Coriander.
• Kapha excess (swollen, excessive saliva) → Warm spices (Ginger, Black Pepper), exercise.
• Vata dominance (dry, cracked tongue) → Hydration, Abhyanga (oil massage), Nourishing diet.

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