• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2011

In traditional Korean medicine, inspection of the tongue is an important method of making medical diagnoses and determining prognosis. We surveyed the fluorescence characteristics of the tongue coat in the ultraviolet light. The tongue coat comprises micro-organisms, blood metabolites, leukocytes from periodontal pockets, large amounts of desquamated epithelial cells released from the oral mucosa and different nutrients. In the ultraviolet light tissues of the oral cavity generally emit weak red or green fluorescence, which is not easily seen by the human eye, but is readily detected. This fluorescence has been proved to be due to the production of porphyrins by oral micro-organisms. While the composition of motile micro-organisms on the dorsum of the tongue is not constant, variations also occur persistingly in the fluorescence characteristics of the tongue coat. But because live bacteria contain a variety of intracellular biomolecules that have specific excitation and emission wavelength spectra characterizing their intrinsic fluorescence, the tongue coat emits fluorescence. the tongue itself, on the other hand, emits very weak or not fluorescence. In conclusion, we suggests that the uncoated tongue area be eliminated from the coated tongue area with the difference between the fluorescence characteristics of the tongue and that of the tongue coat.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.149-158
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• 2011

Objectives: The objective of this study is to compare the colour intensity of tongue body and that of tongue coat under the visible light and the ultraviolet light. Methods: We selected 7 subjects with completely or partially peeled tongue coat among the recruited 94 adults for the experiment. We took each tongue picture under the visible light and the ultraviolet light (315-400 nm) and then extracted sample images from the tongue body and tongue coat regions. Mean, median and mode of colour intensity from the sample images were calculated in 256 RGB system. Results: The green and the blue colour intensities of the tongue coats were significantly higher than those of the tongue bodies under the visible light. In all channels, the red, green and blue, the colour intensities of the tongue coats were significantly higher than those of the tongue bodies under the ultraviolet light. The colour differences between tongue coats and tongue bodies under the ultraviolet light were significantly higher than the colour differences under the visible light. Especially the colour difference under the ultraviolet light was highest in the green channel. Conclusions: We suggested that green colour image of the RGB system taken under the ultraviolet light could be used for more easy separating tongue coat region from tongue body.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.187-197
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• 1999

To assess the usefulness of tongue inspection for evaluating the Pattern identification in oriental medicine, we observed stroke patient's tongue and tongue coat and compared it with Pattern identification. The test group was composed of 85 acute stroke stage patients(within 72 hours of onset). Subjects were randomly selected from stroke patients admitted in the KyungHee University, Hospital of Oriental Medicine from December 1 1998 to June 30 1999. We took pictures of patient's tongue and tongue coat within 72hours from onset and checked Pattern identification at the same time. Tongues colored pale rose or red greatly outnumbered other colors. Tongue shape tended to be prickly or fissured, and tongue condition tended to be unflexible or deviated. Regarding tongue coat color, there were great amounts of yellow or clark yellow tongue coats, which were moist, thick or greasy in substance. The red tongue was significantly related to Fire-heat and deficiency of Yin syndrome, while faint white tongue to Damp syndrome(P=0.006). In terms of tongue coat, thin coat was related to Wind and Fire-heat syndromes, thick coat to Damp and Blood stasis syndrome, respectively (P=0.002). In conclusion, we thought that tongue inspection could be a useful Oriental medicine diagnosis in stroke.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.191-200
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• 2020

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effect of tongue color change due to food ingestion on tongue diagnosis by both Korean Medicine doctors and digital tongue diagnosis system. In order to obtain objective and quantitative data, we used digital camera to collect the data. Prior to our investigation, we conducted a brief survey of 26 Korean Medicine doctors and found out that tongue diagnosis is frequently used and food-stained tongue could be commonly observed in clinics. Depending on their color, viscosity, and amount of intake, various foods caused stains with different colors and thicknesses. Also, duration and amount of food stain on tongue were different from person to person. Since coffee-stained tongue was the most frequently observed one in clinics according to the survey, we used coffee to evaluate the effect of food-stained tongue on tongue diagnosis. Korean Medicine doctors tended to interpret coffee-stained tongue as having yellow tongue coat but their judgement on tongue body color did not differ in spite of the coffee stains. Meanwhile, tongue diagnosis system algorithm tended to judge coffee-stained tongue as having normal but yellowish tongue coat and reddish tongue body. Altogether, food color on tongue can influence tongue diagnosis outcomes. Further research is needed in order to develop more efficient tongue diagnosis algorithm and digital medical service system.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.113-118
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• 2000

Objectives : Stroke patients have continuously increased and many studies have been performed to predict their prognosis. Tongue Inspection is a diagnostic method that has been widely used in oriental medicine. The aim of this study was to examine if stroke patients' motor recovery might be related to tongue inspection. Methods : MBI(Modified Barthel Index) and tongue inspection of stroke patients within 3 days of onset were assessed on admission and at 10 days following admission. Results : Functional recovery was significantly better in those who showed favorable changes of tongue, especially in tongue coat color(P=0.030) and thick and thin tongue coat(P=0.092). Conclusions : The results suggest that tongue inspection can be used to predict a prognosis of early stage stroke patients.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to analysis know the important oral environmental factors which affect halitosis components of the adult in order to provide basic data for halitosis prevention and establish a device to eliminate halitosis efficiently. The 97 adults who visited at the Dental Clinic in Metropolis (M=68, F=30) participated in this study that performed from March in 2009 to in 2010. The obtained results through items as caries status, periodontal status, salivary flow, the viscosity, pH, Snyder test, plaque deposit, tongue plaque and halitosis check were as followings. The average shame of halitosis components appeared at hydrogen sulfide 36.71 ppb methyl mercaptan 31.46ppb dimethyl sulfide 54.33 ppb and Ammonia 22.60 ppm. The normality and the detection comparative result dimethyl sulfide above reverse appeared highly at 46.9%, ammonia appeared highly at 52%. According to the Hydrogen sulfide level was a high relationship among age, CPI, tongue coat status, DMFT index which were statistically significant (p<0.05). According to the quantity of hydrogen sulfide level there was relationship where tongue coat status Saliva flow rate considers statistically(p<0.05). The quantity of methyl mercaptan level there was relationship where Dimethyl sulfide level, tongue coat status, Saliva flow rate considers statistically(p<0.05). The quantity of Dimethyl sulfide level there was relationship where Hydrogen sulfide level, ammonia level, tongue coat status, Saliva pH and Saliva flow rate considers statistically(p<0.05). Ammonia level there was relationship where Methyl mercaptan level, CPI, and Saliva flow rate considers statistically(p<0.05).

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.26-39
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• 1996

The literatual study on the therapy for clearing away heat with apoplexy therapy, the result were obstained as follows. 1. In apoplexy therapy, therapy for clearing away heat is used excessive heart - fire by overacting of the five emotions, liver fire, deficiency of kidney - fluid, wind - heat. 2. The fire of aetiology of apoplexy is used therapy for clearing away eat, in aspect of viscera and bowels, divied into heart - fire, liver - fire, deficiency fie of kidney yin, wetness - phlegm of spleen heat. The treatment is clear away heart - fire, clear away liver - fire, clear away spleen - heat and sthenic water. 3. Symptom of excessiveness symptom - complex is used therapy for clearing away heat that are fever, flushed face, halitosis, heart burn, easy anger, apoplestic stroke, unconsciouness, trismus, paralysis, constipation, red tongue with yellow coat, taut - smooth pulse or full - rapid pulse and symptom of insufficiency symptom - complex that are dizziness, tinitus, blurring of vision, deficiency sleeping, dreaminess, lassitude of the loins and legs, hemiplegia, red tongue with white coat or thin - yellow coat taut - thready - rapid pulse. 4. Therapy for norish vital essence - clearing away heat is availed in excessive fire caused by deficiency of yin of the liver and kidney, therapy for break through phlegm - clearing away heat in stagnant heat therapy for waking up a patient from unconsciousness - clearing away heat in yang type sthenia - syndrom of coma of apoplexy involving viscera and bowels. 5. Commonly used recipes of therapy for clearing away heat are Yang gyolksan(凉膈散), Bang pongtongseongsan(防風通聖散), Sotongseongsan(小通聖散), Jibodan(至寶丹), Supungsungisan(搜風順氣散), Woowhangchengshimwhan(牛黃淸心丸), Chengungsekgong(川芎石膏湯), Samwhatang(三化湯) etc in excessiveness symptom- complex, and are Yukmijiwhangweon(六味地黃元), Jiwhangtang(地黃湯), Palmiji whangtang(八味地黃湯), Samultanggagam(四物湯加減) etc in insufficiency symptom - complex.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.59-67
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• 1991

This study has been carried out to investigate the Cause and Symptom of Ji-Eum ( 支飮 ) by referring to 34 documents. The results were as follow ; 1. Ji-Eum ( 支飮 ) is caused by the Su-Eum ( 水飮 ) storing up thoracic cavity ( 胸中 ), interdiaphragam ( 膈間 ). SimHa ( 心下 ), and stay lung. 2. The symptom of Ji Eum ( 支飮 ) is as follows ; HaeYouk( 咳逆 ), EuySik( 倚息 ), dyspnea( 短氣 ), sleeplessness ( 不得臥 ) edema ( 基形加腫). WhungMan ( 胸滿 ), SimHaChukGey ( 心下築悸 ), GoMoHyun ( 苦冒眩 ), EumSikBulWha ( 飮食不化 ). Pulse HyeonGin ( 弦緊 ). Greasy white coat of tongue.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.37-42
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• 1999

In Oriental medicine, the subjective process of diagnosis often makes it difficult to explain the indications objectively, in spite of its excellent therapeutic value. The authors' objective Was to present more objective indications of Chongpesagan-tang(淸肺瀉肝湯), a prescription predominantly used to treat stroke in Oriental Medicine, We analyzed clinical symptoms of 105 patients who were hospitalized in the Department of Circulatory Internal Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine. Kyung Hee University, Seoul, who were given Chongpesagan-tang and improved without side effects, The symptoms analyzed included general symptoms which are usually checked in the process of Oriental Medicine Diagnosis: the so called Four Diagnosis(四診). We rearranged and selected symptoms which were predominantly found among other symptoms. We found some symptoms of which the patients frequently complained: sweating 84%, red tongue 74%, white tongue coat 65%, constipation 35%, tight pulse 21%, headache 20%, thirst 20%, chest discomport 17%, etc, We believe that these suggest an objective indication of Chongpesagantang.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2018

The coffee demand market in Korea is growing every year, and the adults drink an average of one cup of coffee every day. In order to investigate the effect of coffee on oral malodor, 15 Korean subjects were recruited. There were no significant differences in the values of oral malodor using BB checker(Taiyo, Japan) in the factors of sex, smoking, drinking, feeling oral malodor by themselves, feeling oral malodor by others, periodic scaling, activity of Streptococcus mutans, bleeding on probing, and coffee drinking habits. Patient hygiene performance index, calculus index, index of coat on the tongue, toothbrushing time, toothbrushing frequency had no correlation with oral malodor. The difference between before and after drinking coffee with syrup(17.93±16.54) was significant, but the difference between before and after drinking coffee without syrup(1.13±14.75) was not significant. We suggested the cause of oral malodor after drinking coffee was syrup, but not coffee.