bubble_chart Concept

The condition where the color and shape of the tongue show no obvious abnormalities, but there is an unusual itching sensation, is referred to as "tongue itching." Cases where the tongue is swollen, eroded, or ulcerated, causing pain and itching, are not within the scope of this discussion.

bubble_chart Pattern Analysis

1. Heart-kidney Yin Deficiency with Wind Invasion︰The tip of the tongue itches without redness or swelling. The itching penetrates to the heart, causing restlessness and unease. The urine is clear and smooth, and bowel movements are normal. The tongue is pale red with scant coating, and the pulse is thin and weak or thin and rapid. Suwen. Zhizhenyao Da Lun: "All painful and itching sores are ascribed to the heart." The tongue is the sprout of the heart. The collateral of the hand Shaoyin meridian connects to the root of the tongue, and the foot Shaoyin kidney meridian runs alongside the root of the tongue. Although the meridians of the five zang-organs all connect to the tongue, its ruler is the heart. Deficiency of heart and kidney yin leads to up-flaming of heart fire, and wind evil takes advantage of this, causing wind and fire to contend, resulting in unbearable tongue itching. The disease lies in the heart and kidneys, and the evils are wind and fire. Treatment should focus on enriching yin, clearing fire, and dispelling wind. The recommended formula is Rehmannia paste combined with Saposhnikovia Root and Schizonepeta.
2. Exuberance of Heart Fire︰Itching on the tip or front half of the tongue, possibly accompanied by burning pain, restlessness and heat sensation in the chest, irritability, dry mouth with a red tongue, red prickles on the tongue tip, dark and painful urination with a burning sensation, and a wiry, rapid pulse. This condition is often caused by depression and unfulfilled desires leading to {|###|}five minds transforming into fire{|###|}; or excessive consumption of rich, sweet, or greasy foods, as well as indulgence in alcohol and dairy products, resulting in accumulated heat in the heart and spleen, {|###|}up-flaming of heart fire{|###|}, combined with exposure to wind pathogens, leading to a clash of wind and fire that triggers tongue itching. The characteristic symptoms include: tongue itching accompanied by restlessness and heat sensation in the chest, irritability and {|###|}insomnia{|###|}, dark and painful urination with a burning sensation, a red tongue tip with small prickles, and other signs of excessive fire in the heart meridian. Treatment should focus on {|###|}clearing heart and reducing fire{|###|}, using the formula Eight-Ingredient Rectification Powder supplemented with Skullcap Root and Coptis Rhizome.

Tongue itching is a rare symptom, with the itching usually occurring at the tip or the front half of the tongue. When caused by wind in the context of heart and kidney yin deficiency, it manifests as a deficiency-excess syndrome. Clinically, apart from evident signs of heart and kidney yin deficiency, attention should be paid to changes in the tongue and pulse for diagnosis. In cases of yin deficiency, the tongue texture is red, with little or no coating, and the pulse is thin and rapid. In cases of intense fire, only the tip of the tongue is red, with no significant change in the overall tongue color, and the pulse is wiry and rapid. For excess syndrome, the treatment approach involves clearing the heart and reducing fire. For deficiency syndrome, the treatment focuses on nourishing yin and clearing away fire.