Introduction about traditional Tongue Diagnosis with scientific value addition

Introduction: Tongue Diagnosis is a non-invasive diagnostic procedure of different traditional medical systems like Acupuncture, Ayurveda etc. In modern medicine tongue gets importance but no qualitative evaluation has been performed. In Traditional Medicine, along with other traditional diagnostic criteria, TONGUE DIAGNOSIS contributes enormous importance in identification & evaluation of pathological conditions as a whole, also very useful in assessing the structural (Yin) and functional (Yang) status of organ systems. Methodology: After selection of patient for study group (Acidity-Indigestion & Asthma), full case history was recorded as per specific history sheet of Traditional Medicine. Image of face & tongue was acquired before treatment. Routine examination of blood, stool, urine was done to asses the general health condition. After 30 days of Integrated Yoga-Naturopathy treatment repeat image & laboratory examination were done, recorded and condition of patient was assessed. All the Normal & Diseased images are sorted out first. Separate image gallery and database are prepared to develop living interaction with the clinicians for clinical correlation. Result: It is evident that patients are improved by the treatment which is supported by Tongue Features. Normal tongue images (including variations within normal range) show normal clinical findings. In Diseased group, tongue features (color, coating & characteristics) along with other clinical findings vary from normal group. Abnormal tongue features also vary amongst different diseased groups. In statistical evaluation, it is observed that in acidity-indigestion group the complaints of acidity and other associated symptoms show P-value <; 0.05 and all the tongue findings also show P-value <; 0.05. In bronchial asthma group, the asthmatic and other sufferings excepting bladder evacuation show the P-value <; 0.05. Here in tongue findings coating, moisture and special c- aracter show P-value <;0.05. Only tongue colour and size do not show P-value <; 0.05. To determine the p-value, statistical analysis was carried out using STATA 9.0 (College station, Texas, USA). Conclusion: Primary findings of data obtained and statistical evaluation show Tongue features vary with clinico-pathological conditions, which can well be utilized as an important non invasive diagnostic tool through developing a standard database. By integrating IT with TM, this simple technology will provide a low cost, easily available, easily accessible, non-hazardous diagnostic procedure for the service of the broad masses of people to develop and improve health care service as a whole and Naturopathic diagnosis in particular. Moreover, traditional tongue diagnosis definitely is an important indicator for diagnosis as well as assessing the development of different clinical conditions. Further study will enrich the science of non-invasive, low-cost, easily accessible diagnostic potential of both traditional & mainstream medicine.