Traditional Chinese Medicine uses “Tongue Diagnosis” as one of the main tools in determining a patient’s condition, “Bian Bing” and the circumstances behind this “Bian Zheng”.

A “Damp Pathogen” tongue is swollen and has teeth marks on the lateral edges. Extreme Dampness manifests a Phlegm.

In order for a patient to contract an external “Damp Pathogen”, such as is considered to sometimes be contiguous with the modern class of pathogens we term “Viral”, it is assumed that there is some form of corresponding inner dampness.

In TCM, the organ called the “Spleen” is responsible for transforming the dampness in the body, which is partially seen as toxicity from unassimilated food.

The “Spleen” in Traditional Chinese Medicine is also seen as the organ responsible for maintaining a healthy level of energy at the surface of the body that shields the body against external forces and pathogens.

The phenomenon now being called “Covid Tongue” was first noticed by TCM practitioners who were involved in treatment of the first group of Covid patients in early 2020 in China.