all the various methods the body uses to get rid of body waste.
One of the ways our body uses is the tongue. Ideally, your
tongue should be pink and smooth. Most people get yellow or
white gunk on the surface of their tongue on a daily basis.
This can be exacerbated during the Master Cleanse as your
detoxing progresses. The build-up or coating on your tongue
can be greatly improved by brushing and tongue scraping.
During the Master Cleanse, as the body begins its job of
healing the different organs in the body, you will notice
that your white moss or fur carpet will get thicker. It is
important to help your body by keeping the mouth as clean
as possible with the help of brushing and scraping. I like
to use Oregano Oil on my toothbrush. I prefer a good toothpaste
with essential oils. You can also use baking soda and salt to
keep your mouth feeling fresher and clean. Rinsing with salt water
or a good mouthwash is also beneficial.
Below is an article which will give you a greater appreciation
of the role your tongue plays in detoxing your body!
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Question: Which aperture of the body reflects the internal
organs related to excretion and assimilation? Anus, urinary
tract, ears, nose, or mouth?
Answer: Mouth.
Your tongue accurately reflects the state of your digestive
system- from rectum to esophagus, including the stomach, small
intestines, colon (large intestine), pancreas, spleen, liver
and gall bladder.
Imagine, you don't need a battery of tests to find out what
part of your digestive tract is in stress. You can diagnosis
the whole GI tract and corresponding organ integrity all in
one easy view- just stick your tongue out.
As a whole the tongue reflects the condition of the digestive
system and the organs associated with blood, nutrient
assimilation, and excretion. You can also see how 'hot' or
how 'cold' your internal organs are. Therefore it has a high
value as a diagnostic tool.
Specific sections of the tongue mirror the condition of
particular parts of the digestive system and the digestion
related internal organs.
The following correspondences exist in this relationship:
A- the tip area reflects the rectum and the descending
colon.
B- the peripheral area reflects the large intestine.
C- the middle region corresponds to the small intestine.
D- the back edge region relates to the liver, gallbladder,
duodenum, and pancreas.
E- the near back region corresponds to the stomach.
F- the back region ('the root of the tongue') reflects the
esophagus.
G- the underside of the tongue reflects the quality of blood
and lymph circulation in each corresponding area.
Structural characteristics
Like each particular area of the body, the tongue can be
used to evaluate one's overall condition. Zetsu Shin as it
is called in Japanese, is one of the most important forms
of diagnosis used in Chinese medicine. Two main aspects are
considered in tongue diagnosis.
First is the structure of the tongue. Is it wide or narrow,
thick or thin, pointed or rounded? Such qualities convey
information concerning the individual's basic constitution
and overall strengths and weaknesses of body and mind.
Width:
~a wide tongue reflects an overall balanced physical
and psychological disposition.
~a narrow tongue reflects a lack of physical adaptability
with pronounced strengths and weaknesses. Mentally, thinking
may be sharp but tend toward seeing a narrow view.
~a very wide tongue reflects a generally loose and expanded
physical condition and a tendency toward more psychological
concerns.
Tip:
~a rounded tip reflects a flexible yet firm physical and
mental condition.
~a pointed tip reflects a tight, perhaps even rigid physical
condition and an aggressive or even offensive mentality.
~a very wide tip reflects an overall weakness of the physical
body and a flaccid or even "spaced out" mental condition.
~a divided tip reflects a tendency toward physical and mental
imbalances with the possibility of sharp fluctuations in
thinking and mood.
Thickness:
~a flat tongue reflects a balanced condition and the ability
to flexibly adapt to circumstances.
~a thin tongue reflects a more mental orientation, with a
tendency to be more gentle and easy going.
~a thick tongue reflects a more physical orientation, with
the tendency to be assertive or even aggressive.
In comparison to structure, the condition of the tongue is
influenced more by daily lifestyle and provides information
about an individual's current state of health. Qualities to
look for include:
Color:
Dark red: indicates inflammation; lesions or ulceration;
and sometimes a degeneration of the related organ.
White: indicates stagnation of blood; fat and mucus deposits;
or a weakness in the blood leading to such conditions as anemia.
Yellow: indicates a disorder of the liver and gallbladder,
resulting in an excess secretion of bile; deposits of animal
fats, especially in the middle organs of the body; and
possible inflammation.
Blue or Purple: indicates stagnation of blood circulation
and a serious weakening of the part of the digestive system
that corresponds to the area of the tongue where the color
appears.
The color on the underside of the tongue can also be used to
determine the internal condition. In general, the colors and
their indications listed above are the same, with the
following exceptions:
Blue or Green: In excess, either of these color reflect
disorders in the blood vessels and in blood quality
and circulation.
Purple: In excess, this color reflects disorders of the
lymphatic and circulatory system. It indicates a weakening
of the immune ability and of the blood vessels.
Texture:
a swollen or enlarged tongue: indicates a Jitsu, or
full state.
a shriveled or withered-looking tongue: indicates a
Kyo, or empty state.
Movement:
the flexibility of the tongue also reflects the condition
of the digestive system. Characteristics to look for include:
*a flexible, supple, smoothly moving tongue.
*a stiff, tense, or inflexible tongue.
*a loose or lolling tongue.
*a tongue with a pronounced slant to the left or right
when it is extended.
Pimples or projections of the tongue's surface indicate
the discharge of fat, protein, and sugar.
Where in the body this discharge is coming from can be
determined by the specific area of the tongue on which
it appears. You can find the correlation between the areas
of the tongue and the digestive tract.
The second major aspect considered in tongue diagnosis is
the coating, or moss, as it is called in Chinese medicine,
on the tongue's surface.
Qualities are again divided into antagonistic pairs, and
include moist and dry, excessive and deficient, thick or
thin. The color of the coating reveals a precise information
concerning specific internal conditions.
The guidelines explained above, particularly concerning the
aspects of location and color, can be used for a general
understanding of the different qualities of coating found
on the tongue.
They are especially extremely useful when fasting, cleansing
or when one is ill. A precise understanding of the nature of
the problems can be achieved in seconds.
http://www.hps-online.com/ntongue.htm
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How to clean your tongue using a toothbrush or a tongue brush.
Your toothbrush or a specialized tongue brush can be used to
clean your tongue. To do so, start as far back as possible and
then make brush strokes outward, toward the front of your mouth.
You need to use some pressure but of course not enough to cause
irritation to your tongue.
How to clean your tongue using a tongue scraper.
While cleaning your tongue with a brush can be satisfactory, many
people find that scraping their tongue with a tongue scraper is
more effective. As an added benefit, some people find that they
have less of a tendency to gag when using a tongue scraper rather
than a brush.
You can experiment with the idea of cleaning your tongue by way
of scraping it. To do so, pick out a spoon (smaller is usually
better than larger), invert it, and then go ahead and give tongue
scraping a try. Place the spoon on the posterior portion of your
tongue and then draw it forward. Be thorough but also gentle.
Don't scrape so hard or vigorously that you irritate your tongue.
If tongue scraping seems to be an acceptable technique for you
then you might investigate those products that have been specifically
designed as tongue scrapers. You will probably find that they can
clean your tongue more effectively than your spoon does.
(great animation of tongue-scraping)
http://www.sheffielddentist.co.uk/tongue.htm
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In the end, hopefully your cleanse will have been successful and
awarded you with a pink tongue. Often, if the cleanse was short,
the work has just begun and so it can be advisable to continue
to bowel cleanse and of course, keep your mouth brushed and scraped
so that you are helping remove the wastes that accumulate.
be happy, be well,
Zoe