A swollen, pale tongue with teeth marks is indicative of what condition?

A swollen, pale tongue with teeth marks is primarily indicative of Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the tongue is often used as a diagnostic tool to reflect the state of Internal organs and overall body conditions.

When the Spleen and Kidney Yang are deficient, it can lead to problems with transformation and transportation of fluids, resulting in edema or swelling, which explains the swollen appearance of the tongue. The pale color of the tongue indicates a lack of warmth and qi, which is also consistent with Yang deficiency, as Yang is associated with warmth and energy.

Teeth marks on the tongue reflect the presence of fluid retention and the tongue being unable to fill the space left by the teeth, which further supports the idea of a weak digestive system due to insufficient Yang energy. The combination of these characteristics—swelling, paleness, and indentations—aligns specifically with the pathology of Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency, making it the correct diagnosis in this scenario.

In contrast, the other conditions listed, such as Excess Qi or Heat in the Stomach, would typically present with different tongue characteristics. For example, heat conditions often lead to a red tongue, while excess conditions could show a more robust and possibly