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The tongue belongs to the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian. (Suwen states: The heart opens into the tongue and fears cold. Neijing states: Heart qi connects with the tongue; when heart qi is harmonious, the tongue can discern the five flavors. In disease, the tongue rolls up and shortens, the cheekbones are red, and the pulse is firm and long. Qiao Yue states: When heart qi is exhausted, the tongue cannot retract, and speech is lost.) It also belongs to the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian. (Li Dongyuan states: The tongue belongs to the heart, yet it can discern flavors, indicating that spleen resides within the tongue. Lingju states: The regular pathway of the Foot Taiyin penetrates the middle of the tongue. Suwen states: The central color is yellow, entering to connect with the spleen; thus, disease manifests at the root of the tongue. Lingju further states: When the Foot Taiyin undergoes change, disease involves stiffness of the tongue root; diseases generated involve pain at the tongue root. Suwen states: If needling the vessels under the tongue is too excessive, causing unceasing bleeding, aphonia results. Note: The vessels under the tongue are the spleen vessels. Aphonia refers to the inability to speak. Sun Jingsi states: The tongue is governed by heart qi and connected by spleen meridians; if these two zang organs are disharmonious and wind pathogen invades, the tongue becomes stiff and speech is impaired; if obstructing heat attacks it, the tongue swells and cannot move. There are also conditions such as double tongue, wooden tongue, and bleeding from tongue swelling, all caused by wind-heat attacking the Heart and Spleen meridians.) It additionally relates to the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian. (Zhang Jifeng states: The spleen and stomach govern the four limbs; their meridians connect to the tongue root and network the lips and mouth. The stomach is the sea of water and grain; the spleen grinds and digests it, so the essence of water and grain transforms into Ying and Wei Qi to nourish the four limbs. If daily life lacks regulation and eating is irregular, spleen and stomach qi become deficient, and the nourishment of Ying and Wei is incomplete. Wind pathogen takes advantage of the deficiency to invade, causing numbness in the four limbs and lips/mouth, and slurred speech. If untreated for a long time, it transforms into flaccidity syndrome. The classics state: To treat flaccidity syndrome, exclusively select the Yangming, referring to the Foot Yangming. Treatment methods should prioritize spleen and stomach herbs and minimize wind-dispelling herbs to achieve recovery.) It also belongs to the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. (Lingju states: The regular pathway of the Foot Shaoyin, the straight branch, ties to the tongue root. Tongue protrusion with drooling and irritability, select Foot Shaoyin points. Xuanzhu states: The orifice below the tongue is where kidney fluids gather. Note: The lower orifice refers to the Lianquan acupoint, also known as Sheben, located below the chin above the laryngeal prominence. Suwen states: Needling the Foot Shaoyin vessel, if causing severe deficiency and bleeding, leads to difficulty in speaking.) It also belongs to the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian. (Lingju states: The liver is the confluence of sinews; sinews gather at the genitalia and network the tongue root.) The tongue primarily tastes the five flavors to nourish the body, relying on the spleen to distribute body fluids to the five zang organs. Thus, the heart's main meridian ties to the tongue root, the spleen's collateral networks the sides of the tongue, and the liver meridian courses through the genitalia to network the tongue root. Deficiency of heart and spleen with wind-heat invasion causes disease. Invasion by wind-cold-dampness causes the tongue to curl and shrink, impairing speech; Xiaoxuming Tang is indicated. If accompanied by heat, Shengma Tang with Jiegeng for gargling, and Bixue applied externally are indicated. Depression of the seven emotions causes tongue swelling and fullness leading to breathing difficulty; U, Xing, Jiang powder from Ben Shi Fang applied to the palms and soles is indicated. Heart heat causes fissures and sores, wooden tongue, or double tongue; Sanhuang Wan with Zhen Puhuang sprinkled is indicated; Longshi San from Sancin, Sanhuang Wan powder mixed with water applied to the soles; Shengma Tang with Jiegeng, Xuanshen, Huangqin. Alternatively, Bai Fan, Dahuang, and Puxiao for rubbing and gargling. Alternatively, Wulingzhi powder, Haihegu, and Zhen Puhuang powder mixed with vinegar applied topically, along with herbs dispersing excess heat from the Liver meridian. Spleen heat causes a slippery tongue with coating; spleen closure causes white coating like snow; Bohe juice, white honey, and ginger slices for wiping are indicated. Liver stagnation causes blood rushing upward; Puhuang or Huaihua powder sprinkled is indicated, along with herbs clearing the liver. Xue Xinpu states: If there is mouth and tongue swelling/pain, appearing skinless, or fever with thirst, it is deficiency-heat of Middle Qi; Qingre Buqi Tang is indicated. If eyes appear smoky, body is fatigued with poor appetite, worsening in the afternoon, it is deficiency-heat of Yin Blood; Qingre Buchxue Tang is indicated. If throat pain and tongue sores, dry mouth and hot feet, worsening in the evening, it is deficiency-fire of the Kidney meridian; Liuwei Wan is indicated. If extremities are cold, aversion to cold and food, or excessive phlegm and red eyes, it is decline of Mingmen fire; Bawei Wan is indicated. If fever with thirst, preference for cold drinks and constipation, it is excess fire of the Intestines and Stomach; Liangge San is indicated. If fever with aversion to cold, dry mouth preferring warm drinks, poor appetite and fatigue, it is deficiency-heat of the Spleen meridian; Jiawei Guipi Tang is indicated. If tongue root is stiff, cheeks and jaw swollen/painful, it is excess heat congested in Heart and Spleen; Xuanshen Shengma Tang is indicated. If excessive phlegm with thirst, mouth/tongue swelling/pain, it is heat in the Upper Jiao; Qingre Huatan Tang is indicated. If excessive thinking leads to mouth/tongue sores and throat discomfort, it is blood injury and fire stirring in the Spleen meridian; Jiawei Guipi Tang is indicated. If excessive anger leads to alternating chills/fever, bitter taste, and tongue swelling/pain, it is blood injury and fire stirring in the Liver meridian; Xiaochaihu Tang with Danpi and Shanzhi is indicated. For blood deficiency, Bazhen Tang plus Renshen, Baizhu, Chaihu, Shanzhi, and Danpi is used; if deficiency is severe, Paojiang should be added.