Characteristics Of The Tongue And Its Correlation With Spleen Deficiency Syndrome

Glossoscopy is one of the most part of Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnostics, It has great instruction significance for syndrome differentiation and treatment. This research aims at exploring the clinical significance of the teeth-print, so as to provide scientific bases for further study.This thesis contains two major parts.1 .The study on the distribution patterns of teeth-print【Objective】A cross-sectional study was carried out in Beijing Tongren hospital, so as to investigate the incidence and distribution of teeth-print.【Methods】488 people were collected as subjects. Data on age, sex, tongue coating, tongue color were collected. 【Results】There were 164 cases, including 77 males and 87 females. The prevalence of teeth-print was found to be 33.6%. The number of female patients with teeth-print was 35.2%, higher than that in male. We found that the incidence rate is low among those younger than 20 years old and those older than 50 years old. The age peak of incidence was between 20 to 50 years old.Teeth-print is often seen with swollen tongue (61.59%). In addition It is often seen with pale tongue (23.17%), compared with other abnormal tongue color. Along with the severity of teeth-print, there is also an increase of the thick fur and yellow fur. We found that tongue coating is related with the extent of teeth-print.【Conclusions】1. The incidence of teeth-print was higher in the population.2. The number of patients in female was higher than in male.3. The age peak of incidence was between 20 to 50 years old.4. Teeth-print is often seen with swollen tongue and pale tongue.2. The Case-control study on the Teeth-print 【Objective】During August to December, a case-control study was carried out in Beijing Tongren hospital, so as to explore the relationship between teeth-print and spleen qi deficiency and to study the difference of Teeth-print and control group at the same time.【Methods】209 cases aged 20-50 years old entered the study.114 people with teeth-print were selected as case group; another 95 control subjects without teeth-print were selected from the same population. Information was collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire, which includes 25 symptoms related with spleen qi deficiency. In addition, the researcher recorded their tongue body and ttongue coating.114 cases were divided into three groups (mild degree group, moderate degree group, severe degree group), according to photo we had taken.【Results】1.Such factors have notable significance as spontaneous perspiration, borborygmi, stomach distension, and eyelid swelling, loose bowel with shapeless stool.2.There is no significant difference between case group and control group in most of the clinical parameters except ALT. 3.There is significant difference between case group and control group in tongue color and tongue shape.【Conclusions】1.Teeth-print seemed to be related to spleen qi deficiency.2.Compaired with control group,Teeth-print is often seen with swollen tongue and pale tongue.