Tongue - our strongest muscle?

The tongue is the strongest muscle on the human body.  It’s purpose manipulates food for mastication and the primary organ of taste. Tongue lies in the mouth between the upper and lower jaw.  Generally in a safe environment. With that said, this is an essential part of the body.  

However, the tongue can experience a number of different types of disorders due to poor oral hygiene, infections, genetic tendencies, and various underlying medical conditions, skin problems, urinary infections, temperature, stress and depression can cause retention or deficiency month other facts.  There are more factors that your tongue will make yours different from others. 

Since the tongue is the largest muscle in the body and it is critical to both tasting and consuming the food humans need to fuel the bodies through out the day, therefore the condition of the tongue can be a good indicator of the state of your general health.  It can reflect dental issues, medical conditions, and underlying imbalances can create different effects on the tongue.  This goes as far as stress and depression can cause changes in it’s conditions. 

Below are a few points to look for when guanine the appearance of one’s tongue: 
~Smooth, Glossy Tongue:  with a pink/red glossy and smooth appearance could mean one has a medical condition or a nutritional deficiency.  Such as iron, B-12, niacin, riboflavin, or folic acid deficiency.  
~Lack of Coating: and indication of a yin deficiency will make a tongue look raw with little/ no protective coating.  This can bring cracks on the tongue.  The sun deficiencies can cause fatigue, dryness of the skin and eyes, insomnia and problems of the reproductive organs. 
~Blackish or Purple Spots: with a chronic illness will show one’s tongue to have discolored spots (suggesting blood stasis). 
~ White Coating: a yang deficiency will show white/ pale coating with swollen appearance on the tongue.  Yang deficiencies include: kidney function, temperature control and digestions.  These conditions can affect circulation. 

There are three (3) key signs of health one can read by looking at the tongue: 
~ Swollen Tongue:  when one has a swollen tongue, that is a case for the ER.  Simply because if the tongue gets worse, then it can block airflow.  Usually a common cause of allergy. 
~ Whitish Tongue: a most probably cause that will make one’s tongue look whiter than normal is poor hygiene.  Bacteria and dead cells can make your tongue grow a white coating.  If that’s the case, then gently brush your tongue with a toothbrush or use a tongue scraper twice a day.  Additionally, make sure to drink plenty of water to prevent it form coming back. 
~ Red Tongue: if one’s tongue is red, bright red, all over, then it can be a symptom of scarlet fever.  It’s a bacterial disease caused by the same bacteria that cause strep throat.  The difference is Scarlet Fever bacteria will cause rash and other symptoms.  When left untreated, can cause serious damage to many body’s systems.






Sources: 
https://positivemed.com/2013/07/09/which-tongue-are-you/ 
https://positivemed.com/2016/03/15/signs-of-health/