CHAPTER 10

Internal Climate Change

Tongue Diagnosis

Rather than just taking my word for it, let’s talk about how you can look at the condition of your own Yin and Yang and your Five Phases. A primary method used in Chinese medicine to evaluate the state of our internal heat and coolant and the condition of our internal organs is tongue diagnosis. If we’re to address the underlying causes of climate change, it’s essential that we understand that what is occurring with the climate is occurring within us as well. The degree that the global environment is becoming destabilized is directly proportional to the destabilization of our own internal ecology.

We know there is heat from increasing greenhouse gas emissions and the release of methane from bogs and the ocean floor. We also know there is a loss of global coolant from deforestation, melting ice sheets, and the acidification of the ocean. As a result, we’ve seen storms like the ones we talked about in chapter 1, which turned the river outside our clinic from a quiet murmur into a raging Class V rapid overnight. These dramatic and rapid changes in the environment around us mirror an equally dramatic and important change to our internal environment.

In essence, the small picture is a mirror of the big picture—as a small part of nature, we are a reflection of the whole. Likewise, because our tongue is physically a small part of our bodies, its condition is a mirror of the bigger picture of what’s happening within us—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. This time-tested holographic understanding of the world and our relationship to it allows us to see the patterns that affect our health and the health of the planet. Tongue diagnosis is an easily accessible, effective, and deep-reaching method to understand our own internal condition and what is, and isn’t, promoting health.

Tongue diagnosis can be understood as a map of our internal terrain. We don’t have to rely exclusively on MRIs or x-rays to know the condition of our internal organs. Their state manifests externally, in great detail, on our tongue. The size, shape, color, coating, and texture of our tongue tell us what’s happening within us. Depending on what the tongue looks like, we can determine whether we’re hot or cold, damp or dry, or have internal wind. The tongue also tells us the condition of the Qi throughout our body. Additionally, in Chinese medicine, different qualities observed on different parts of the tongue indicate which organs are being affected and how.

The forward to Atlas of Chinese Tongue Diagnosis, an in-depth modern text, states that the first person thought to have used tongue diagnosis is Bian Que, a renowned Chinese physician from the Warring States era (471–221 BCE). The atlas also attributes the first written reference to tongue diagnosis to the seminal Five Phases text we discussed earlier, the Nei Jing. Additionally, the first text to deal exclusively with tongue diagnosis dates to 1341 CE and was published by Du Qing-Bo, based partially on the work of another author.1

Before we get into the specifics of tongue diagnosis, let’s begin with the well-developed logic behind it. In Chinese medicine, when we say “the body,” we are referring to the torso. While the arms, legs, and head are obviously important, they are considered less essential as they don’t house any organs thought to be of primary importance.

That’s right—the brain, which is given such prominent attention in Western culture and medicine, is not considered a primary organ in Chinese medicine. It’s categorized as a secondary organ—a curious organ that doesn’t function the same way as other organs that are directly connected to the Five Phases. The rationality and thinking associated with the brain is recognized as important in Chinese medicine, but it isn’t as essential as the actions of the primary organs.2

With that said, the tongue is a small, external map of our larger, internal terrain—particularly the condition of the body, or the torso, which houses the primary organs. The front of the tongue is associated with our upper torso and our chest, the middle of the tongue with our middle abdomen, and the back of the tongue with our lower abdomen. Also, a tongue showing internal health is pink, flat, and smooth, without curled edges, cracks, bumps, or dips. It has a consistent, oval shape and a thin, clear coating, without any yellow or white on the surface. Not surprisingly, with the long history of Chinese medicine, there is some difference in interpretation of tongue diagnosis. For clarity’s sake, we will discuss the perspective I use clinically, which includes a small change from what is presented in the Atlas of Chinese Tongue Diagnosis.

Understanding Our Inner Ecology

Associated with the chest, the very tip of the tongue specifically corresponds to the Heart, the Pericardium, and the Lung. The center and middle of the tongue is associated with the digestive system, specifically the Stomach and the Spleen, as they are physically located in the middle of the abdomen. The middle sides of the tongue relate to the Liver and Gallbladder, as they are located on the sides of the abdomen. The very back center of the tongue corresponds to the Kidney and Bladder, and the sides of the back of the tongue are associated with the Small Intestine and Large Intestine, as they are located in the lower torso.3

Now that we’ve established the map of the tongue, in which certain parts are associated with their respective primary organs, let’s discuss the various qualities that can be found on the tongue. Because tongue diagnosis is an in-depth medical evaluation that requires years of training to apply thoroughly, we won’t be able to cover everything that you might encounter during tongue diagnosis. Let’s focus on some of the diagnoses we see regularly at our clinic and that are related to the condition of our country and our climate.

Color: When the organs and Qi are in balance, the whole tongue has a light-pink color, from front to back and side to side.

• Redness on the tongue indicates excess heat. A severely red tongue that is dark or crimson red indicates more advanced heat.

• Raised red dots indicate advanced heat as well as toxicity. This is a sign of excess warmth pushing itself off the surface of the tongue—the dots show that the heat has accumulated to toxic levels. When the dots are very prominent, and they look like small growths rather than dots, this indicates an even more significant accumulation of heat and toxicity, called fire toxins.

Coating: When there is a healthy balance of moisture internally, the tongue has a slight, clear coating.

• A dry tongue occurs when there is a lack of fluids and a lack of Yin.

• When there is internal heat, a thin, smooth, white coat will appear, indicating that the fluids that were once clear are being cooked. This coating comes from what Chinese medicine calls dampness, which is an unhealthy accumulation of too much fluid.

• The next stage in the progression of heat and dampness is a smooth yellow coating, which indicates more heat than the white coating. The amount of yellow indicates the degree of heat, and the thickness of the coating indicates the amount of dampness.

Texture: When the organs are in balance, the tongue is smooth and flat throughout its entire length and width.

• Vertical cracking on the tongue indicates dryness, just like exposed soil when there’s too much sun without enough rain.

• Horizontal cracking indicates Qi deficiency. Part of what our energy does is hold things together. When there’s not enough Qi, things begin to pull apart and separate, creating horizontal cracks.4

Size/Shape: A tongue indicating internal health is evenly rounded at the front and has a consistent width and thickness.

• A pointy tongue that is elongated at the tip indicates excess heat. It very often accompanies a red tip—both indicate heat in the Heart.

• Scallops on the side of the tongue indicate a lack of Qi. Scallops are wavy indentations that occur where the tongue is pressing against the side of the teeth. Because our energy is responsible for holding things in place, when it’s deficient, the sides of the tongue get puffy and push against the teeth, creating scallops.

• A puffy tongue also indicates Qi deficiency. Just as the sides of the tongue get scalloped when there’s not enough Qi to hold it in place, a puffy tongue can also come from a lack of energy.5

• A dip in the tongue indicates Yang deficiency, as there’s not enough deep strength to hold the tongue up. A dip in the back indicates jing deficiency, as this part of the tongue is associated with the Kidney, which houses the jing.

• A short tongue also indicates jing deficiency. This occurs when there is a complete absence of the back of tongue. As it’s associated with the Kidney, when the back of the tongue is missing, it implies a significant lack of jing.

• A tongue that’s turned to the side is called a deviated tongue, which indicates internal wind. This occurs because there’s an excess of movement and a lack of stability in the Liver and Gallbladder, causing the tongue to move to either side. The degree of deviation speaks to the amount of internal wind.

Evaluating Our Inner Ecology

To look at the state of your internal ecology by examining your tongue, find a place with a well-lit mirror. Because there’s a great deal of important information that you can derive from a tongue diagnosis, I suggest having a pen and a piece of paper. To start, simply stick out your tongue as far as you can without creating tension in your mouth.

It usually takes looking at your tongue several times to understand what you’re seeing. It is important only to look at your tongue for fifteen to twenty seconds at a time. If you look longer than that, it will start to change shape and color from the effort. To begin, first look at the tip of your tongue and note its color, shape, coating, and texture. Write down what you see.

As the tip of the tongue is associated with the Heart and Pericardium, which are part of the Fire phase, it’s prone to getting hot. Just as the hottest place in a room is often near the ceiling because heat rises, the hottest place in the body is often the chest, and the Heart in particular.

Tip of the Tongue

• If the tip of the tongue is red, this indicates heat in the Heart and Pericardium.

• If the tip of the tongue is pointed, this also indicates heat in the Heart.

• If the tip of the tongue has raised dots, this indicates toxicity and more advanced heat in the Heart and Pericardium.

• If the tip of the tongue is dry, without a coating, this indicates a lack of fluids and Yin deficiency in both organs.

• If the very tip of the tongue has a vertical crack, this also indicates Heart and Pericardium Yin deficiency. The depth and width of the crack indicates the amount of dryness.

One of the most common presentations we see at our clinic is a red tip of the tongue with raised dots. In the undergraduate Chinese medicine classes I teach, I often have students look at the tongues of others on campus as part of their assignments. After a few weeks of looking at a few dozen tongues, they often come back to class and say that almost everyone has a red tongue tip and ask if this is “normal.”

As we’ve discussed before, just because something is common doesn’t mean that it’s a sign of health. In our country, which is so overheated that it’s destabilizing the planet, many things that are considered usual are often pathological. Just because the tip of your tongue is red, as are the tongues of nearly everyone around you, this doesn’t mean a red-tipped tongue is the “new normal.” Rather, it is yet another indication of how much heat we each have individually and how pervasive it is in our culture.

When we have heat in the Heart and the Pericardium, this means our Fire phase is overstimulated. In particular, it indicates that our expression of who we are, which occurs through the Heart, is lacking internal peace. Heat in the Heart can also contribute to a wide variety of other symptoms, including insomnia (particularly the inability to fall asleep), anxiety, chest pain, heart palpitations, and other circulatory conditions. Given that the state of the climate is mirrored in our internal conditions, it’s not surprising that we see so many people with these symptoms at our clinic.

Having a red tip of the tongue, especially when coupled with a crack that indicates a lack of Yin, can also mean that your communication with others has been overheated as well. As we talked about in chapter 8, on Fire, the amount of emails, texts, and tweets many of us send and receive each day speaks to how overstimulated we’ve become. And the use of the devices themselves also contributes to the buzz of a lack of coolant and too much warmth.

Behind the Tip of the Tongue

Next, look at the front of the tongue, which is the area immediately behind the tip. This is the area associated with the Lung, which is physically located in the chest, next to the Heart.

• If the front of the tongue is red, this indicates heat in the Lung.

• If the front of the tongue has raised red dots, this shows advanced heat and toxicity in the Lung.

• If the front of the tongue is dry and lacks a coating, this indicates a lack of fluids and Yin deficiency in the Lung.

• If the front of the tongue has a vertical crack, this also indicates Yin deficiency in the Lung, a more advanced stage of dryness than a lack of coating. As with the Heart and all of the other organs, the depth and width of the crack indicates the amount of dryness.

As heat rises upward, and as the Lung is in the upper torso along with the Heart, it’s also common for the front of the tongue to show signs of heat and dryness. This excess warmth can start in the chest or originate in other organs and rise up into the Lung and Heart. When there’s heat in the Lung, the organ itself is overstimulated and possibly inflamed. This can correlate to a wide range of respiratory issues, including minor ones like chronic cough, mild shortness of breath, and chest tightness. It can also include significant diagnoses, such as certain types of asthma, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other long-term respiratory conditions.

When the Lungs are hot and Yin deficient, this can also mean that the connection to the spiritual parts of our lives is overstimulated and dried out. As we talked about in chapter 7, one of our fundamental needs to live a healthy life is a direct experience of something greater than our everyday lives. When the Lungs are hot, it’s more difficult to experience a lasting sense of inspiration. Heat often cooks off the fluids, and this Yin deficiency in the Lung makes it harder to absorb the Qi from heaven that we inhale with each breath.

The Middle and Center of the Tongue

Now look to the center, middle of your tongue. This area corresponds to the condition of the middle of our abdomen—our digestive system, in particular. In Chinese medicine, this includes our Stomach and Spleen. Similar to their functions as described by Western medicine, the Stomach is responsible for taking in food nourishment as well as for the majority of digestion. From an Eastern view, it also helps distribute the Qi we garner from eating food to our other organs. The Spleen works with the Stomach to distribute this food energy, and it also creates blood and lifts Qi upward throughout the body. The Spleen is also responsible for the strength of our muscles and contributes significantly to our overall mental and physical vitality. The Spleen is the organ most closely associated with our thoughts and our thinking process in general. Together, the Stomach and Spleen turn the food we eat into a major source of our day-to-day energy and strength.6

When looking at the middle and center of the tongue, it’s possible that you’ll see similar things to what appears on the front and tip.

• If the middle, center of the tongue is red, this indicates heat. The redder this area is, the hotter things are internally. If there are raised red dots, this indicates more advanced heat as well as toxicity.

• If the middle, center of the tongue is dry and without a coating, this shows dryness in either organ.

• If the middle, center of the tongue is cracked vertically, this indicates Yin deficiency in the Stomach and Spleen.

• If the middle, center of the tongue has a smooth white coat, this indicates dampness from heat. If there’s a smooth yellow coat, this indicates more advanced heat. The darker the color of the tongue’s coat, the more intense the heat. Likewise, the thicker the coat, the greater the dampness.

It’s also possible that you’ll see characteristics less common on the front and tip.

• If the sides of the middle of the tongue are scalloped, this indicates Stomach and Spleen Qi deficiency. As we’ll discuss further below, the middle sides of the tongue are associated with the Liver and Gallbladder. However, when the sides are scalloped, it’s due to the middle of the tongue pushing outward, causing the sides to push against the teeth, creating scallops.

• If the middle, center of the tongue is indented, this indicates Spleen Yang deficiency. The Yang helps to hold things up, and when we’re Yang deficient, things start to drop. This is a deeper level of tired than mere Qi deficiency.

Just as the tip and the front of the tongue can be red and cracked, so can the middle of the tongue. Heat and dryness in the Stomach and Spleen are related to a long list of physical symptoms, including indigestion, acid reflux, stomach ulcers, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), too much or too little appetite, and a wide variety of digestive issues. Too much heat in the Stomach and Spleen can also contribute to sense of being overstimulated physically. As it is a major part of our day-to-day energy, heat in the digestive system often leaves us feeling amped up.

Mentally and emotionally, a hot and dry Stomach or Spleen overstimulates our thoughts. As the Spleen is associated with thinking, too much heat and too little Yin often mean an overly busy mind. In our overstimulated culture, it’s not surprising that so many of us have a hard time controlling our thoughts.

At our clinic, many patients describe how hard it is to turn their mind off at night and fall asleep. A major contributor to this type of insomnia is too much heat and not enough Yin, especially in the Spleen. If you tried the exercise suggested in chapter 7, on Metal, and had a hard time sitting still and relaxing your mind, Yin-deficient heat in the Spleen and Stomach is one possible cause.

With all the overstimulation and lack of Yin in the world around us, it also makes sense that so many of us are tired as well. Many people we see at our clinic have scallops on the sides of the tongue as well as a dip in the middle. This Qi and Yang deficiency sometimes corresponds to heat in the Stomach and Spleen as well as redness throughout the tongue. This dynamic of overstimulation and tiredness is quite a common one in our era of climate change. Just as the planet is reaching its limits of what it can sustain, our Qi is similarly reaching its limits. When we’re tired, what keeps us going is our internal heat. As noted earlier, many of us use coffee to keep going when we don’t have the energy to maintain our overstimulated lives. But heat is not Qi, and using stimulants to try to drum up energy often leads to consequences that are plain to see on the condition of our tongue.

The Outside Middle of the Tongue

Next, look at the outsides of the middle of the tongue. Physically located in the mid-abdomen, the Liver and Gallbladder also correspond to the middle of the tongue.

• If the mid-sides of the tongue are red, this indicates heat in the Liver and Gallbladder. As with the other organs, if there are red raised dots, this again indicates increased heat as well as toxicity.

• If the mid-sides of the tongue are curled, this indicates Liver Qi stagnation. The Liver in particular is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi,7 and when its energy is not flowing smoothly, this creates a curling in the sides of the tongue.

• If the tongue goes to one side, this is a clear indication of internal wind. The amount that the tongue deviates indicates the amount of wind internally. As it is associated with the Wood phase, internal wind is also associated with both organs connected to this phase, especially the Liver.

Heat in the Liver and Gallbladder, Liver Qi stagnation, and internal wind are very common diagnoses at our clinic. Considering how much we overemphasize the Wood in our country, this does not come as a surprise. When the Liver and Gallbladder are overstimulated with heat and wind, a wide range of physical symptoms results. As we discussed with the patients in chapter 6, on Wood, it can create seizures of all kinds as well as migraines. It can also create a wide range of other kinds of headaches, especially those at the temples and top of the head. Excess heat and wind in the Liver and Gallbladder are also responsible for high blood pressure and for some kinds of dizziness and instability. Internal wind is also an underlying cause of many types of strokes. In one lineage of Chinese medicine, neurological conditions come from an underlying issue of internal wind.8

Internal wind can create a feeling of being uprooted and ungrounded, and this is a common dynamic when we’re diagnosed with an excess of rising Qi. Too much Liver and Gallbladder heat and Liver Qi stagnation can also contribute to excess anger and rage, as well as persistent frustration. The stories we read about road rage and other acts of sudden violence likely involve significant amounts of heat, a lack of Yin, and stagnation in the Wood. As they’re associated with anger, when the Liver and Gallbladder are very overheated and lack adequate coolant, and when the Qi becomes stuck in both organs, there only needs to be one small incident—like someone cutting you off in traffic—to have it explode into rage and violence.

An excess of heat and wind in the Wood can also make it more difficult to have a clear vision for our life. When the Liver and Gallbladder are continuously overstimulated, it’s harder to see clearly who we are and what we’re here to do.

The Back of the Tongue

Lastly, look at the back of your tongue. As it can be hard to see, make sure to stick your tongue all the way out and that there is ample light. The middle back of the tongue corresponds to the organs that are partially or completely located in lower part of the torso: the Kidney, Bladder, Large Intestine, and Small Intestine. The condition of the middle back of the tongue tells us the condition of the Bladder and Kidney, and the sides of the back of the tongue speak to the state of both Intestines.

Middle Back of the Tongue

• If the middle back is red, this indicates heat in the Bladder and Kidney, and raised red dots indicate advanced heat and toxicity.

• If the raised areas are very pronounced and look more like growths than dots, this indicates significant heat and toxicity—fire toxins—in both organs.

• If it is dry and without a coating, this indicates dryness in either organ.

• If the middle back of the tongue is cracked vertically, this indicates Yin deficiency in either organ.

• If there is a smooth white or yellow coat, this indicates dampness from heat. The thickness of the coat indicates the amount of dampness, and a yellow coat indicates more heat than white.

• If there’s a dip or indentation in the back of the tongue, this indicates jing deficiency. Unlike other organs, where a dip indicates Yang deficiency, because of the foundational nature of the Kidney, a dip in the back of the tongue shows a lack of the deep reserves: the jing.

• If the tongue is short, this also indicates jing deficiency. Rather than a dip, a short tongue means an absence of what would normally be the back of the tongue. This indicates a significant depletion in the Kidney.

So many of us have such excess heat that in addition to redness being common on the front and middle of the tongue, redness and Yin deficiency on the back of the tongue are common as well. Too much heat and a lack of moisture in the Kidney and Bladder mean that our foundational energy is overstimulated. As a result, we feel compelled to keep doing things even though our Qi is no longer able to support our activity levels. If we have more heat than can be cleared from the body, it can accumulate in the Kidney and the Bladder, as they are responsible for cooling thing down and clearing things out.

Heat, dryness, and dampness in the Kidney and Bladder contribute to a number of symptoms in these organs, including Kidney and Bladder infections, Kidney and Bladder stones, and urinary tract infections. Just as the signs of heat on the tongue, including the back, have become common, depleting our reserves has, unfortunately, also become common. Given the way we now live and the amount of fossil fuels we burn, jing deficiency is apparent on the tongues of many patients we treat. Not only is our lack of wisdom prevalent in our cultural systems and the assumptions on which they are based, for many of us, our tongue is telling the same story of jing deficiency.

When jing is deficient, both the Kidney and Bladder are weakened significantly, and as a result, the rest of the organs are weakened as well. The Kidney is responsible for the strength and integrity of our lower back, legs, knees, feet, and ankles; thus, jing deficiency can be a cause of many related physical symptoms in these areas. Lower-back pain and weakness, including vertebral issues, can be related to jing deficiency. Chronic knee, leg, ankle, and foot pain or weakness can also result from a deep depletion of the Kidney and Bladder. In addition, the Kidney is also responsible for the condition of our bones, so when it is depleted, it can lead to weakness and brittleness of our bones, including osteoarthritis. Jing deficiency is also associated with symptoms of premature aging, including the loss of and graying of head hair, memory and cognition symptoms, and a general decline of vitality.9

Aside from these physical ailments, jing deficiency can also make it much harder for us to know who we are and what we’re here to do. Without enough jing, it’s more difficult to answer the bigger and deeper questions of our lives. Unfortunately, many of us experience the effects of jing deficiency and struggle with being able to sense our unique purpose and how we can contribute to the world.

Sides of the Back of the Tongue

The sides of the back of the tongue tell us about the state of our Intestines.

• If the sides of the back of the tongue are red, this indicates heat in the Small and Large Intestines, and raised red dots indicate advanced heat as well as toxicity.

• If the raised areas are more pronounced and look more like growths than dots, this is a more advanced condition, namely fire toxins.

• If there is a white or yellow smooth coat on the sides of the back of the tongue, this demonstrates the amount of dampness from heat. A white coat indicates less heat than yellow, and the thickness of the coating shows the amount of dampness.

Considering the way we’re living and the amount of impurities we’re exposed to on all levels, it’s unsurprising that many of us have heat in our Intestines. These impurities include the often discussed substances like pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, chemical preservatives, and artificial coloring and flavors. It also includes all the food that has been genetically modified, sometimes with the genes of other species added.

But the heat in our Intestines is from other sources as well, including the vast amount of information and overstimulation so many of us are exposed to each day. The sheer volume of electronic communication we send and receive daily can tax the capacity of the Intestines to expel the things we don’t need.

It’s the responsibility of the Intestines to clear things out—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. When we’re exposed to more impurities than the Intestines can handle, significant amounts of fire and toxicity can accumulate, as indicated by large bumps on the back and sides of the tongue.

When there’s heat and toxicity in the Intestines, this can contribute to a wide range of intestinal and digestive issues, including Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), intestinal polyps and growths, chronic and acute diarrhea, intestinal pain and cramping, and intestinal inflammation of all kinds.

Heat, dampness, and toxicity in the Intestines likely means that accumulation is occurring mentally and emotionally as well. Perhaps we are unable to let go of difficult experiences, or maybe it is hard for us to let go of past or current relationships. Or we may have a hard time letting go of thoughts, beliefs, or patterns that don’t promote health. In addition to the physical symptoms that result from accumulation in the Intestines, there are important mental and emotional symptoms as well.

The Opportunity of Tongue Diagnosis

If you take the time to really examine your tongue and you find that it doesn’t look good, you’re certainly not alone. In many cases, you don’t have to be an acupuncturist or Chinese herbalist to recognize that issues are occurring internally. A tongue demonstrating health is pink, flat, and smooth, with a consistent shape and a thin clear coating. But most of us have a tongue that looks very different. Regardless of how dramatic our tongue looks, it’s important to know that a well-trained acupuncturist or Chinese herbalist can likely treat the internal causes of your tongue’s appearance.

The serious issues with our climate are reflected in the significant imbalances within us physically, mentally, and emotionally. The number of people projected to have cancer and die from the condition is a sobering indication of what’s occurring internally. But just as ignoring the data about climate change won’t stop the planet from heating, avoiding what’s happening to our organs won’t promote health.

It takes fortitude to really examine what’s happening—both to us as individuals and to the planet. It can be difficult to face the data of climate change: the rates of melting ice sheets and deforestation, the rise of temperatures, and the increase in storms can seem like a continuous stream of bad news. Similarly, when we first start to face what our tongues are telling us about our internal ecology, it can feel overwhelming.

Ultimately, however, it’s much harder to attempt to sustain something that’s out of balance than it is to maintain something that’s moving toward health. While it may feel challenging, especially in the beginning, to pay attention to the state of our organs, there are important opportunities that arise from tongue diagnosis. There is the chance to understand the source of our personal symptoms and to prevent disease before it occurs. And there’s the opportunity to realize that what is happening with the climate is indeed happening within us.

Many of us, upon examination, would see that our tongues are red. The amount of heat within us has reached significant and toxic levels, denoted by raised red dots, especially on the backs of our tongues. Our internal heat is a reflection of increasing rates of greenhouse gas emissions and their warming effect on the planet. In particular, it’s a mirror of the disproportionate heating and destabilizing effect of the United States on the planet. As we discussed in chapter 2, the United States has five percent of the world’s population but creates about twenty-five percent of global emissions. Just as we are a major cause of a warming planet, many of us have become dramatically overheated as well.

And just as the planet’s ability to sequester greenhouse gases and maintain a cool and stable climate has been compromised, many of us have vertical cracks in our tongues indicating our Yin deficiency. As we also discussed in chapter 2, we continue to cut down vast amounts of forests. Permafrost, ice sheets, and glaciers are melting, and enormous amounts of the potent greenhouse gas methane is bubbling from the ocean floor and being released from bogs. All of this indicates a loss of the cooling effects of Yin on a global scale. And on many of our tongues, the crack goes all the way from the back to the front and can be wide and deep, indicating our systemic internal Yin deficiency.

It’s also common to see an indentation on the back of the tongue. This personal jing deficiency is a small sign of the larger issue of a culture lacking the wisdom to live sustainably. Many of us have tongues that are deviated and have curled sides, indicating internal wind and Liver Qi stagnation. This excess of Wood is an internal condition that mirrors our country’s overemphasis on growth, newness, and conflict. Our internal wind is also mirroring the increasing frequency and force of storms that are the result of our changing climate.

Just as there has been climate change in the world around us, there have been changes to our internal climate. Taking the time to look at our tongues and understand what’s happening within us is of vital importance both to our health and the well-being of the planet. One important way to help the planet is to help ourselves. Understanding the balance of our Yin and Yang and the condition of our Five Phases presents the opportunity to recognize that the heat and lack of coolant that climate science is describing globally is happening within us as well. It also allows us to see that our cultural overemphasis on Yang and undervaluing of Yin is affecting us and our organs.

Not only can Chinese medicine help us understand the larger issues of our warming planet, it can also actively promote personal health and address individual symptoms of all kinds. The good news from looking at your tongue is that it gives you an opportunity to understand what is, and is not, promoting your own health. Similarly, the good news of climate change is that it can be our collective wake-up call to examine and address the deeper issues of the crisis. And these two issues—our internal condition and the state of the climate—are merely the same issue occurring on different scales.