Dry Lips in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Fine (Xi), Choppy (Se)

The tongue body is characteristically pale, sometimes almost white, reflecting the lack of Blood to fill the vessels of the tongue. The body tends to be on the thinner side rather than swollen. The coating is usually thin and white, which is relatively normal, since Blood Deficiency on its own does not typically generate pathological coating changes. In more severe or chronic cases, the tongue may appear slightly dry if Yin is also affected, and the sides of the tongue (corresponding to the Liver) may be particularly pale.

Fine (Xi), Weak (Ruo), Empty (Xu), Slowed-down (Huan)

The tongue body is characteristically pale, reflecting both Qi and Blood insufficiency. It may be slightly thin due to Blood failing to fill the tongue body, or it may show teeth marks on the edges if the Spleen Qi component is pronounced, causing the tongue to become slightly swollen and soft against the teeth. The coating is thin and white, which is consistent with a deficiency pattern without Heat or Dampness involvement. In more chronic cases, the tongue may appear slightly dry if Blood deficiency is more severe, but this is not a primary feature of the base pattern. The undersurface veins should appear normal and not distended.

Fine (Xi), Rapid (Shu), Choppy (Se)

The tongue is typically red with little or no coating, and notably dry. In milder cases the tongue may be only slightly red with a thin dry coating. As the condition worsens, cracks may appear on the tongue surface due to lack of moisture, and the coating may peel off in patches (geographic tongue) or disappear entirely, leaving a mirror-like surface. The sides and tip may appear slightly darker red. The overall appearance reflects the body's inability to moisten and nourish the tongue.

Fine (Xi), Weak (Ruo), Empty (Xu), Slowed-down (Huan)

The tongue body is characteristically pale, reflecting both Qi and Blood insufficiency. It may be slightly thin due to Blood failing to fill the tongue body, or it may show teeth marks on the edges if the Spleen Qi component is pronounced, causing the tongue to become slightly swollen and soft against the teeth. The coating is thin and white, which is consistent with a deficiency pattern without Heat or Dampness involvement. In more chronic cases, the tongue may appear slightly dry if Blood deficiency is more severe, but this is not a primary feature of the base pattern. The undersurface veins should appear normal and not distended.

Fine (Xi), Rapid (Shu)

The tongue body is typically red and thin, reflecting depletion of Yin fluids and the mild deficiency heat that follows. Cracks are commonly seen in the centre of the tongue, corresponding to the Stomach and Spleen area, indicating that body fluids have become insufficient to nourish the tongue tissue. The coating is little to none, or may show patchy peeling (geographic pattern), especially in the centre. In early or mild cases, a thin dry coating may still be present. In severe cases, the tongue surface may appear shiny and mirror-like (mirror tongue), signalling significant Stomach Yin depletion.