Title: Why Does the Tongue Coating Appear White and Thick, and Cannot Be Scratched Off?
Author: Fan Li, Assistant医师 of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Practice License Number: 241411381000562) This article is written by Dr. Fan Li and is based on classical theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine and clinical experience. It is intended for general knowledge and educational purposes only. The practice qualifications can be publicly verified on the official website of the National Health Commission of China.A seemingly paradoxical beginning: Is the white tongue coating due to cold or heat?
When the tongue coating is white and thick, and cannot be scratched off, many people's first reaction is that there is "excessive cold and dampness," so they desperately drink ginger tea and apply moxibustion. However, the tongue coating becomes even whiter and stickier, and even leads to dry mouth and a dry tongue. Why is this the case? Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that tongue coating is formed by the ascending steam of stomach Qi onto the tongue surface.