At a Western medicine clinic, you’ll have your blood pressure checked, felt the cold metal of a stethoscope, and maybe even winced at a needle or two. When you visit a traditional Chinese medicine or TCM practitioner, however, they ask you to stick out your tongue. Then, they gently hold your wrist as if about to foretell your destiny. Ever wondered why a traditional Chinese doctor always checks your tongue and pulse? The answer might surprise you! It’s not just habit—your tongue and pulse are the window into your body’s hidden imbalances.

Learn more from Dr Ong Siew Siew, Senior Lecturer, School of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, IMU University at Ever Wondered Why the TCM Practitioner Keeps Asking to See Your Tongue? (Health Today, 23 February 2025).