Jn tongue diagnosis, it is not only necessary to grasp the basic changes and indications of tongue body and tongue fur, but also pay attention to the relations between the tongue body and tongue fur and comprehensively analyze the tongue body and tongue fur. Only tongue fur or tongue body abnormality indicates simple pathogenic condition or single pathogenesis. For example, red tongue body signifies heat syndrome. Same change of tongue fur and tongue body indicates the same pathogenesis. The clinical significance is the combination of both aspects.  For example, pale tender tongue body and white moist fur indicates the deficiency old syndromes and can be seen in the deficiency-cold body with external cold invasion.

Different changes of the tongue fur and body indicates a complex pathogenic condition or multiple pathogenesis. For example, pale white tongue body and yellow slimy fur shows that yang-deficiency body or blood-deficiency body is attacked by pathogenic dampness heat, displaying a complex cold and heat syndrome. Also see Disorder Activity of Qi.