Your Tongue Never Lies
Tongue Diagnosis has a rich history in medical traditions worldwide.  All ancient medicine employed tongue inspection to detect changes in the viscera or internal organs.  The tongue is layered with immune cells that react quickly to intruders and is also filled with nerve cells and taste buds wired directly to the brain.  It is fed by a complex network of blood vessels that changes the color of the tongue depending on the level of oxygen and nutrient delivery.  A healthy tongue is moist and pink.  A tongue that is red, cracked, or covered with a yellow coating signals an internal imbalance or illness.  

Good Smells for Good Mood
Smell has a powerful influence on our bodies and minds, research has shown.  Stimulating olfactory nerves inside the nose activates the limbic system of your brain, which is associated with memory and moods.  The use of plants with strong scents for healing and wellness, know as aromatherapy, is common among the world's medical traditions.  Aromatherapy uses jasmine to treat depression, lavender for restless sleep, citrus to increase alertness, peppermint for poor digestion, rosemary for pain and muscle tightness, eucalyptus for sinus congestion, and patchouli for nausea.  Essential oils of plants may be dabbed on your temples, at the back of the neck, or directly on acupressure points–or simply boil the herb in water and inhale the steam through your nose.

A Little Help from Your Abs
In traditional Chinese teaching, digestive malfunction is said to account for up to 90 percent of all instances of disease.  That is one reason the first section of this book, What We Eat, is such a lengthy one.  Yet no matter how well we eat or which supplements we take, particles of undigested matter may adhere to the inner intestine, toxifying the system and preventing absorption of our food.  One way to ward off this problem is to perform this simple "inner housecleaning" exercise once or twice a day, at least an hour after eating:  With your knees slightly bent, lean forward and place your hands on your thighs just above the knee.  Press down with your hands, exhale deeply, and draw your stomach in as tightly as possible at the same time.  Holding your breath after full exhalation, use your abdominal muscles to push your belly in and out several times.  Then stand up as you inhale.  Repeat this three times.  You will not notice an immediate effect, but over time every part of your body–from your skin to your brain to your sex organs–will benefit as all the nutrients in your food are absorbed and utilized.

A Brush With Longevity.
A popular practice among centenarians is body brushing, using a dry brush with natural bristles to sweep the surface of the entire body.  Besides eliminating dead skin cells and improving skin hygiene, body brushing can also increase small capillary circulation to the skin, boost skin immunity against infection, and promote vibrant skin tone.  An alternative to brushing is body scrubbing: use a dry cloth or moist rag to vigorously scrub your body from head to toe.

Stress Busting Flowers
Colorful flowers have a powerful influence on moods.  A bouquet of flowers can conjure up love, uplift a patient's mood, and even help combat stress.  A study showed that people who sat near a bouquet of colorful flowers were able to relax better during a five-minute typing assignment than those who sat near a foliage-only plant.  Next time you want to relax or improve your mood, surround yourself with colorful flowers.