手少阴，为心之经，其气通于舌；足太阴，脾之经，其气通于口。太阴之脉起于足大指
，入连舌本。心脾虚，为风热所乘，邪随脉至舌，热气留心，血气壅涩，故舌肿。舌肿脉胀急，则舌肿强。
人之五脏六腑，禀四时五行之气，阴阳相扶，刚柔相生。若阴阳和平，血气调适，则言
语无滞，吐纳应机。若阴阳之气不和，腑脏之气不足，而生謇吃。此则禀性有阙，非针药所
疗治也。
若腑脏虚损，经络受邪，亦令语言謇吃。所以然者，心气通于舌，脾气通于口，脾脉连
舌本，邪乘其脏，而搏于气，发言气动，邪随气而干之，邪气与正气相交，搏于口舌之间，
脉则痞涩，气则壅滞，亦令言謇吃，此则可治。
《养生方》云∶愤满伤神，神通于舌，损心则謇吃。
舌，心之候也。脾之脉起于足大指，入连于舌本。心脾有热，热气随脉波于舌本，血脉
胀起，变生如舌之状，在于舌本之下，谓之重舌。
悬痈，为音声之关也。喉咙，气之所上下。五脏六腑有伏热，上冲于喉咽，热气乘于悬
痈，或长或肿。
The Hand-Shaoyin (Heart) Meridian is the meridian of the Heart, and its Qi connects to the tongue; the Foot-Taiyin (Spleen) Meridian is the meridian of the Spleen, and its Qi connects to the mouth. The meridian of Taiyin originates from the big toe of the foot and extends inward to connect with the root of the tongue. If the Heart and Spleen are deficient, they may be invaded by Wind-Heat pathogenic factors. The pathogen follows the meridian to reach the tongue, where Heat lingers in the Heart, causing Blood and Qi to become stagnant and obstructed, resulting in a swollen tongue. When the tongue swells and the vessels become tense and urgent, it leads to a swollen and stiff tongue.
The five Zang organs and six Fu organs of humans inherit the Qi of the four seasons and the Five Elements, with Yin and Yang supporting each other and Gang (firmness) and Rou (softness) generating each other. If Yin and Yang are harmonious and Blood and Qi are balanced, speech will not be impeded, and respiration will follow the rhythm. However, if the Qi of Yin and Yang is disharmonious, or the Qi of the Zang and Fu organs is insufficient, speech impediment (dysarthria) may arise. This type is due to congenital deficiency and cannot be treated with acupuncture or herbs.
If the Zang and Fu organs are damaged and deficient, and the meridians are invaded by pathogens, speech impediment may also occur. The reason is that Heart Qi connects to the tongue, Spleen Qi connects to the mouth, and the Spleen meridian connects to the root of the tongue. Pathogens invade the organs when they are weak and contend with Qi. When speaking, Qi moves, and pathogens follow Qi to interfere. Pathogenic Qi and Healthy Qi interact and contend between the mouth and tongue, causing the meridians to become blocked and sluggish, and Qi to become stagnant, leading to speech impediment. This condition is treatable.
The *Yangsheng Fang* states: "Resentment and fullness damage the Spirit (Shen). Shen connects to the tongue; damaging the Heart leads to speech impediment."
The tongue is an external indicator of the Heart. The Spleen meridian originates from the big toe and connects to the root of the tongue. If there is Heat in the Heart and Spleen, Heat Qi spreads along the meridian to the root of the tongue, causing blood vessels to swell. A structure resembling a tongue forms beneath the root of the tongue, which is called Chongshe (Double Tongue).
Xuanyong (Soft Palate) is the gate for voice production. The throat is the pathway for the ascent and descent of Qi. If latent Heat exists within the five Zang and six Fu organs and rushes upward to the pharynx, Heat Qi invades Xuanyong, causing it to elongate or swell.
The throat is the pathway for the ascent and descent of Qi and the route for respiration of the five Zang and six Fu organs. If Wind pathogens invade the organs and Heat Qi rushes upward to the throat, swelling and drooping occur, hence it is called Chuidao (Drooping Throat).
The Kidney governs yawning. Yawning occurs when Yin and Yang Qi pull and draw. Among the meridians and sinews of all Yang channels, some circulate around the mandibular joint (Hanchhe). Yawning moves these sinews and meridians. If Wind pathogens are trapped within the sinews, the pathogens are triggered by the act of yawning. Due to the sudden onset and urgency, this causes dislocation of the mandibular joint during yawning.