Yin deficiency has a reddish tongue with little or no moss. In Yang deficiency, the tongue is fat and white. This is the main difference between the two types of tongue coating.
1. Yin deficiency: Yin deficiency is generally caused by deficiency of body fluid, blood and Yin essence. When there is a deficiency of fluid, it cannot glorify the kidneys, thus resulting in a thin and small tongue with little tongue moss and a red tongue; after a blood deficiency, the tongue is light red, resulting in no or little moss; after a deficiency of yin and essence, the tongue is red or light red, mossless, and lack of luster.
Yin deficiency patients are also often accompanied by symptoms such as emaciation, redness of cheekbones, warmth of hands and feet, and night sweating (abnormal sweating after going to sleep, and sweating stops after waking up).
2. Yang deficiency: The functions of yang include transportation of fluids and transportation of water-dampness in the body. If there is Yang deficiency, it will cause water and fluid to remain in the body, resulting in a tongue that will be fat, with teeth marks, a smooth tongue, and white tongue coating.
Patients with Yang deficiency may also suffer from cold limbs, abdominal pain and irregular bowel movements.
If you feel unwell, it is recommended to go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment to confirm yin or yang deficiency, and to be treated under the guidance of a medical professional.