Why do they want to look at my tongue?

The tongue is a map of the body. It reflects the general health of the organs and acupuncture channels. Your acupuncturist will look at the color, shape, cracks and coating on your tongue. Looking at the tongue is especially important for diagnosing patterns to treat with herbals. Try to avoided items with food dyes, coating the tongue with gentian violet, or other medicinals that stain before your appointment.